🎶 My First Handpan (2015) vs a New One: Sound Comparison After Many Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o21nrpiwCQs

After many years, it is finally back in my hands.The very first handmade handpan I built in 2015.

This instrument represents the beginning of everything: years of research, experimentation with materials, and deep study to understand how to build a professional handpan with stable tuning and a rich, balanced sound.

Today I want to compare it with a new D minor handpan, so you can clearly hear how experience and material evolution make a real difference in sound quality.

🛠 The First Handpan I Ever Built

This was the first instrument I ever sold.I built it for a friend who works with children with disabilities and special needs. For years, it was played intensively — sometimes with very strong hands, sometimes even with sticks.

And that’s normal. A musical instrument lives through the people who play it.

Technical Features of My First Handpan:

• Material: DC04 mild steel

• GU hole cut without internal reinforcement structure

• Shorter sustain

• Different price and quality level compared to today’s standards

• About two months of daily work to complete

Before building this handpan, I spent years studying handpan construction techniques, but this was the first instrument I successfully completed.

🔥 What Happens to a Handpan After Years of Use?

After years of intensive playing, especially in educational environments, it is normal that:

• The tuning may lose precision

• The sustain becomes shorter

• The tone becomes less clean

• The structure may require maintenance

This shows how important it is to choose a professional handpan made with stable, high-quality materials.

🎵 Sound Comparison: 2015 Handpan vs New D Minor Handpan

In the video, I compare:

• My first D minor handpan (2015)

• A new 11-note professional handpan built with advanced materials

The difference is clear:

✔ Longer sustain✔ Greater tuning stability✔ Deeper and more balanced harmonics✔ Better dynamic response

After building thousands of instruments, material research has allowed us to use treated steel that ensures:

• Long-term tuning stability

• Greater structural resistance

• Controlled harmonics

• Lifetime warranty on our instruments

🌍 Why Material Choice Is Crucial

The first instrument was made of DC04 steel, a material with completely different acoustic properties compared to the steel we use today.

Today, our professional handmade handpans are designed to:

• Maintain tuning for years

• Offer long, balanced sustain

• Deliver stable sound quality

• Reduce the need for frequent retuning

The difference is not only in the sound — it is in the longevity of the instrument.

❤️ A Special Moment

Seeing my first handpan again after so many years was emotional.

Every handpan maker remembers their first instrument.

Today, after crafting thousands of handpans, I can say that every instrument is the result of research, experience, and passion.

🎶 Looking for Your First Handpan?

If you are a beginner or ready to upgrade to a professional instrument, I will be happy to guide you in choosing:

• The right scale (D minor, Kurd, Saladin, and more)

• The number of notes

• The best material

• A learning path to start properly

📩 Contact me for a personal consultation and find the handpan that truly fits you.