Handmade Neys

My approach to making neys is a practical one: I focus on results. I want an instrument that sounds and behaves a certain way and I do not stop working on it until it does - period. Early on, I was completely enamored with, and biased to, neys that had the Turkish style baspare mouthpiece. Ironically, as I got good at turning baspares on the lathe, I began to appreciate more the sound of neys without them. I also prefer the ease of a one-piece ney; they are easier to travel with and have one less piece to worry about. I still turn baspares on occasion, but usually when I’m asked to. On my personal neys I developed a technique for carving the baspare straight into the reed. This is time consuming, but gives me the best of both worlds. I call it the ‘Built-in Baspare.’®

Another characteristic of my neys is that I do not use metal for any of the bindings or decoration (or mouthpieces for Persian neys). I do not care for the relationship of metal-to-wood and instead use nylon twine for my bindings (sometimes, I’ll use hemp or linen / flax; I’ve also turned wood ‘sleeves’). I’ve adapted techniques from the Japanese and Indian flute makers and applied them to the ney for both their aesthetic appeal and their protective qualities. I also use a trick from Western oboists in tying my bindings that ensures a tight wrap from beginning to end. On my personal neys I usually put bindings on each node. I treat the finished ney with a custom blend of natural oils that not only seal the reed, but also cure over time to a hard finish. This process, added to the original ‘heat tempering’ when the reed is first harvested, yields a strong instrument that is virtually impervious to the elements.

Each reed ney I make is its own unique process and I rarely have any ‘in stock.’ The majority of reed neys I sell are custom orders where I make them to the individual’s specs. I harvest reed once or twice a year and usually have some ready to work. Prices vary depending on style, design, decorative additions and any other special requests. Please contact me and we can discuss the details of getting you the instrument you want: ney@jaykruse.com

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