While over the Hang’s short span of production, prior to its retirement by PANArt in 2013, “Mystique” levels surrounding the Hang grew to the point where folks were near offering up their first-born-children, for the chance to get their hands on one of PANArt’s creations - in the beginning, PANArt needed to find ways to get their new fledgling instrument before the eyes and ears, and into the hands, of those who would become the early pioneers of Hang music. And with this in mind, PANArt set about creating an international dealer network that would span the globe. And between 2001, and 2005, PANArt established distributors in Austria, Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the U.S.A. as well as several music stores in the Hang’s home country of Switzerland.
From 2006 onwards, with the birth of the second generation Hang, and demand for the Hang beginning to reach the crazy-highs that would surround it until it was retired (and arguably still exists despite the many newer makers - Hang appearing for sale via Handpan Bay continue to command roughly five times more attention than any other offering) - PANArt began to move away from their network of dealers, now requiring those looking to purchase a Hang to write to PANArt directly, expressing their interest.
And the following images are relics of that early Hang dealer network - and a tiny slice of Hang history. From before the days of “Hang-Mania”, and before the “Handpan”, was even a thing…
PANArt Hang Promotional / Informational Material
Photograph of a PANArt Hang informational / promotional flyer - from back when they were being sold in the U.S. by distributor, Ron Kravitz, believed to date from 2003/2004. Ron Kravitz was the sole USA distributor for the Hang from 2002 to 2007.
More promotional / instructional material from early Hang sales. This time associated with the former German Hang distributor: Anklang Musikwelt. Acquired alongside Hang #1482 - purchased in 2003.
