Why musicians choose Ayasa Handpans?
Our makers
Ayasa Handpans
Ayasa Instruments was founded in 2013 by Ralf van den Bor in Almere, the Netherlands. What started as a personal obsession with sound became one of the most respected handpan workshops in the world. Over more than a decade, Ralf and his team have continuously refined their craft — developing proprietary steel treatments, precision tuning techniques, and a signature sound profile that is immediately recognizable: full, warm, and crystal-like in the upper register.
The name "Ayasa" (आयास) comes from Sanskrit and means iron — a direct reference to the raw material at the heart of every instrument. This connection to Eastern philosophy runs through everything Ayasa creates.
Every Ayasa handpan is shaped by a standardised method which ensures utmost quality standards and afterwards hand-tuned. Obsessed with quality, Ralf and his team ensures that each and every Ayasa instrument complies with their requirements.
Hardly any scale has entered our lives as suddenly as this one. During a visit to Ralf and the team of Ayasa Instruments, we played this special scale for the first time and fel...
Browse the Ayasa Handpans catalogue
Ayasa Handpans models explained
-
Embersteel is Ayasa's most advanced steel material, developed in-house. It produces a warmer, rounder tone compared to standard nitrided steel, with longer sustain and a more forgiving response to temperature and humidity changes. If you play outdoors or in varied climates, Embersteel is the more resilient choice. At Yatao, our Embersteel collection includes both D Kurd and E Amara configurations.
-
D Kurd is one of the most popular handpan scales in the world — and for good reason. Its minor tonality feels both melancholic and uplifting, making it immediately expressive even for beginners. The Ayasa D Kurd is widely regarded as one of the benchmark instruments in this scale: balanced across all notes, with exceptional low-end resonance and a clear, singing top tone.
-
The E Amara scale offers a lighter, more ethereal quality than D Kurd. It sits in a higher register and has a distinctly meditative character. The Ayasa E Amara is a favourite among players who already own a lower-register instrument and want to expand their tonal range, or those drawn to a brighter, more open sound palette.
-
Yes. Ayasa instruments — especially the D Kurd scale — are among the most beginner-friendly premium handpans available. The scales are inherently musical, and the tuning stability means the instrument stays accurate over time without needing frequent adjustments. If you are new to handpan and want to invest in an instrument you won't outgrow, Ayasa is an excellent choice.