EXOTICA
The Boaz Clarita Negra
Innovation is rare in the world of classical guitar design, but Israeli-born
luthier Boaz Elkayam hopes to
change that with his Clarita Negra. The $12,00 nylon-string
instrument - a steel-string version is available for $8,500 - is based
on the design principles of Dr. Michael Kasha, a scientist who views
the guitar top as a mechanical impedance-transforming device, and who
proposed radical new ways to couple the strings to the top to produce
more volume.
Kasha's theories - one of which states that top braces should be divided
by the bridge, instead of the usual practice of locating the bridge
on top of one-piece braces -
are quite controversial, but it's worth noting that the late master
luthier Richard Schneider embraced Kasha principles, as does guitar-maker
Steve Klein. Classical guitarists Liona Boyd and Kurt Rodarmer have
praised Boaz's Kasha-based instruments,
and Joni Mitchell has owned a Klein/Kasha steel-string since 1977.
Body and Soul
The Clarita Negra is a maverick
instrument in nearly every sense. It features a floating back; a thick
(4mm) redwood soundboard; top braces tuned to various pitches; and a
paper-thin, maple/walnut laminate bridge designed to flex laterally
as well as longitudinally. Strings are tied inside the body via a removable door at the tail of
the guitar. The long-scale (70cm) ebony fretboard features nonmetal
Delrin frets (for reduce fret noise and extended fret and string life),
and the Honduran mahogany neck incorporates a 1/4" by 3/4" steel stiffening
bar for maximum string-energy transfer. Instead of a soundhole, the
Clarita sports an oval
port on the upper bout.
The two-tone appearance of the Clarita Negra's Brazilian rosewood
sides is due to the wood's high sap content. Cosmetic touches include
maple side strips, a V-shaped ebony strip that divides the two-piece
redwood back, and multilaminate trim on the top. A peel inside the body
reveals a system of finely carved tension strips and floating braces
designed to strengthen the back by keeping its radius constant. This
combination of elements allows the top and back to move together,
which is not typical for acoustic guitars.
Nylon Nirvana
The Clarita Negra sounds loud, deep,
and encompassing. The fact that the top and floating back radiate sound
so efficiently - combined with the lack of a conventional soundhole
that would produce a more directional sound - gives the guitar an extremely
three-dimensional presence. It sounds as if it were being played right
next to you - even from across the room - and its mid-range complexity
and low-end power are stunning. The Clarita's design also
provides consistently even sustain at all 22 frets - a tough trick for
traditional classical guitars.
Players who are willing to trade convention
for enhanced performance will find the Clarita Negra to be a brilliantly
executed instrument. Cosmetically, Boaz's instruments range
from subtle to eye-poppingly ornate, and in keeping with his third-generation
violin-maker roots, he builds entirely with hand tools.
Back
Contact Boaz
Guitars
To order, please contact me directly at: boaz@boazguitars.com
|
