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sooooooooo...things are pretty hectic over here in Israel.
and despite the war at the Lebanonese border i had a very good reason to take my Dads car and make the long drive towards the border.
why? coz luthier Boaz Elkayam lives up there.
i spent the day at Boaz' shop ,and it was a wonderful experience!
nothing like i expected it to be though.
Boaz was so kind and open that he didnt do a thing that is work related that day besides shooting one lacquer coat and joining one bookmatched headplate.
we spent the entire day talking, playing, listening to music and discusiing the Kasha/schneider design a bit.
so here are some pics:

first the shop, the "small shop" and the maker :

Wow, cool stuff Udi...

So what do you think of the Kasha guitars?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Must have been a great time spent with such an artist, so much talent and probably one humble man, very inspiring Udi, thanks!

[QUOTE=Alain Desforges] Wow, cool stuff Udi...

So what do you think of the Kasha guitars?[/QUOTE]

Alan,
i had no Olson or a Ryan around to do a fair comparison with Boaz guitars.
but still they sounded great!- full, very loud and well balanced.
actually, the current "evolution" of boaz guitars is what he calls the "clarita", which was originally supposed to be called Kasha/Boaz, but Mr.Kasha was so impressed with Boaz' interpetation and improvments over the existing kasha/schneider concepts that he he refused to let Boaz use the name kasha on the guitar and demanded that he gives it a different name as this is a whole different type of beast.
while i m a big believer in talent,intuition and "feeling", boaz' concepts and "equations & numbers" methods really captivated me.
its all very intersting - the experiments with soundhle placement,spruce tops and backs on guitars, using combinations of different bracewoods on a single guitar to better suit and compliment specific notes - this entire attitude towards building something that is superior to whats been don before, and moreso, being able throught research and science to control, monitor and taylor the tone in order to suit the players needs seems intriguing to me.
aspecially when, to my ears at least, the results speak for themselves.
one of the guitars he showed me had huge massive braces on it, enough to brace two lightly built flamencos, and the tops thickness was 4.3mm!!! and i was just amazed at how big and open it sounded.
i have a pau-rosa set i bent a long time ago meaning to build a classical guitar with it - well, i think ill change my plans and go try some of those interesting ideas myself.

I have showed Boaz the forum, told him a bit about this place and the good people - he said he would love to be a part of this community BUT he is a bit PC illetarate and doesnt even know how to sign into his own e mail account ;) he employs a guy who comes in everyday to checks the e mails.
Boaz said he'll be happy to answer questions, discuss ideas and help in anyway possible - and that he could be reached either by e mail or contact me and ill pass anything on to him.

its 2 a.m - gotta glue some last braces on and hit the bed!

take care!
Udi.

Thanks, Udi, for the photos and impressions. Interesting guy!

I love what i've just read Udi, i love the fact that he feels the wood, that's the same building philosophy i have, a bit of both but willing to experiment a lot ! i'm sure a lot of love goes into each one of his projects and the results are there aren't they?

I think Boaz Elkayam is one of the most creative and innovative Luthiers on this planet. I love the way he breaks with the strong traditions in guitar making... (nothing wrong with tradition though!!)

I have his website bookmarked...

There are two factories/guitar making outlets I very very much long to visit: The Avalon Guitar factory in Newtownards and Boaz Elkayam's "shop"

Ahhh......

Get that Boaz man to sign up with us...he's an inspiration!!!!Sam Price38925.3181597222

Sam,
Israel is just 4 hours away...