Become Julian Bream with This Guitar!! 2007 Kevin Aram, "Isla May"

Please contact: [email protected] for questions and purchase! 2007 Kevin Aram, “Isla-May” Top: Premium European Spruce, featuring dramatic bearclaw figuring Back & Sides: High-grade Central/South American (CSA) Rosewood. This is perhaps the wildest and most beautifully figured back I have ever seen in my life, boasting an incredibly rich, dark pattern. Finish: Hand-applied Oil Finish, characteristic of Aram’s signature style, allowing the wood to breathe and resonate completely unrestricted. Tuners: Premium, hand-engraved Rodgers tuners (a set of these costs around $1,000 today). Scale & Nut: 650mm scale length / 55mm nut width Case: Premium Hiscox hardshell case Price: $5,000 The Luthier Kevin Aram is widely regarded as one of the finest contemporary British luthiers, celebrated for his highly refined craftsmanship and lifelong dedication to traditional Torres and Hauser designs. Based in Devon, England, Aram’s work carries an endorsement from one of the most influential classical guitarists in history: Julian Bream, who personally performed on and owned multiple Aram instruments. Aram famously applies a signature natural oil finish to his guitars—the very same finish found on Bream's personal instruments. Another unique and deeply artistic touch is that Aram gives each of his guitars a distinct female name, treating every instrument as an individual with its own unique soul and musical personality rather than just a production number. The Sound The moment you pick up this guitar and play just a few notes, you feel completely transported into the legendary sound world of Julian Bream. It projects a huge, expansive voice with a spectacular level of openness that is intimately tied to its ultra-thin natural oil finish. Unlike many traditional builds, it delivers a deeply unique, cross-cultural acoustic character that sets it apart from almost any other Hauser-style instrument you will ever play. The Voice: A massive, completely unrestricted concert presence that captures the absolute best of elite British lutherie. It behaves essentially like a turbo-charged Torres with immense depth. The Basses: Powerfully robust, firm, and deep. These are signature Hauser-style basses that provide an authoritative, dark foundation without ever bleeding into or muddying the mid-range. The Trebles: Remarkably silky, thick, and velvety, reminiscent of a fine French guitar. This vocal, liquid warmth is an extraordinary rarity for this style of instrument, letting the melodies sing with an incredibly sweet, pure, and rounded clarity. Condition and Playability Though configured with a wider 55mm nut width that offers generous left-hand separation for intricate polyphonic music, the neck profile is shaped so masterfully and ergonomically that it feels remarkably comfortable and fluid in the hand. Note on Condition: The bearclaw spruce top has developed a few hairline cracks over the years. These have been completely and meticulously addressed—fully stabilized, reglued, and cleated by an elite master technician. Additionally, historical thin cracks on the back were flawlessly repaired by the legendary Yuris Zeltins, and a minor binding adjustment was expertly handled by Guitar Salon International (GSI). Because of the natural oil finish, these old repairs blend beautifully into the grain and are structurally rock-solid, having absolutely no impact on the guitar's magnificent projection, openness, or acoustic longevity. Final Thoughts The 2007 Kevin Aram "Isla-May" is a truly magical instrument that represents a rare opportunity to own a world-class, Bream-caliber concert guitar. Because of its expertly stabilized historical repairs, we are able to offer this British masterwork at a major, highly accessible discount. It is a deeply sensitive, unique artistic vessel that effortlessly combines a powerful German-style bass with the charming, velvety sweetness of a French treble—making it a perfect companion for any serious performer or collector.