The Xaphoon is made by Brian Wittman, a Maui resident who invented the instrument more than 20 years ago.

The Xaphoon starts with raw bamboo stalk selected from the rainforests of East Maui. Each is slightly different in its dimensions, inside diameter and consistency, making mass production nearly impossible. The bamboo is cut down to the proper size and dried for at least six months before instrument making begins.

The mouthpiece is done first, formed by cutting the solid end at a fixed angle and then rounding it to a parabolic shape. The inside is then carved out with a great deal of skill -when the reed vibrates, it must form a tight seal with the mouth of the opening. Wall thickness and other variations have a tremendous influence on the quality of the sound.

All the bamboo pieces are slowly "roasted" over a flame, giving them the unique burnt finish.

Tuning the instrument is an art in itself. Without making any measurements, the length, inside diameter, and inside shape of the mouthpiece are examined, and the bamboo is pierced by a red-hot iron at the place deemed appropriate by the creator.

The original Maui Xaphoon (pronounced "zafoon"), is a "Bamboo Sax" for everyone who appreciates awesome sound but doesn't want to schlep around a bulky instrument.

The Xaphoon's sound falls somewhere between a saxophone and a clarinet (a much richer sound than its size would suggest) and was born to be played wherever and whenever the mood strikes.

The experienced player will find the Xaphoon capable of all the subtle shadings and vibrant power of a saxophone.

The beginner will find it fun and easy, and good practice for other reed instruments.

TUNED : G