I am excited to reveal a major custom ocarina batch that has been in the works and initial planning for the better part of a year, and I am pleased to finally unveil a look at the results! This set, batch #30, consists of five exquisite bass C4 ocarinas (SN 085-089) made from an utterly stunning selection of fiddleback claro walnut, flame birch, and curly old growth redwood.
Each ocarina exhibits the same combination of extraordinary woods, yet each carries its own personality and beautiful aesthetic. The highly figured claro walnut is top-grade stuff, featuring a dazzling array of iridescent fiddleback figure on top of beautiful flowing walnut grain. The hues and palette of the walnut are simply incredible. Pairing with this amazing wood is an equally amazing top from a rare selection of top-grade flame birch. The warmth of the toasted golden-brown color is further complimented by the beautiful flowing birch grain, and incredible deep waves of flame curl ties everything together. While birch can be found with curly figure, it is rare and difficult to find figured birch of this high caliber with such deep iridescent waves of figure, and this is the finest birch of its kind I have been able to find for a build like this so far. Finally, the entire look is tied together with the beautiful rich hue of my classic curly old growth redwood mouthpiece.
The tone and response of this batch is exceptionally well matched across every instrument, with each ocarina playing with the same tone, timbre, color, breath pressure, breath curve, and overall response. Like all of my bass ocarinas, this ocarina is characterized with a beautifully warm, woody tone, playing effortlessly across the range, from earthy lows to pure highs. With the larger voicing of the bass ocarinas, by leveraging proper technique and breath control you can move between a more breathy warmth to a richly woody, clear tone.
As soon as I saw the utterly exquisite raw wood for this special custom build, I immediately knew that I had to keep one of these ocarinas for myself for my own personal collection. This is not only some of the most beautiful figured walnut I have worked with to date, but paired with such a beautiful and rare birch top makes for a stunning master-level ocarina that will stand out in any collection. Each ocarina is truly unique and special – an utter gem that captures the incredible beauty of North American hardwoods, singing with a warm, soulful voice. These ocarinas are truly a rarity, and with my customer and myself selecting one ocarina each from this set, that only leaves three left of these works of art!
Batch 30 Reveal – Custom Bass C4 Inline
Ye Banks and Braes O’ Bonnie Doon – Custom Bass C4 Inline
