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Construction Process

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The didgeridoo is an ancient aboriginal tribal wind instrument played by the indigenous Australian peoples. Petroglyphs show a long history of use in excess of 15,000 years. The spiritual use for contacting the Dreamworld after prolonged focus while breathing is its’ highest goal/state. 

 

 Didgeridoos have been shown to provide benefits beyond the physical, from cyclic breathing, increased lung capacity and sound healing. With varied note, their tonal qualities and corresponding chakras energy centers stimulate a cerebral relaxation, leading to stress reduction and a feeling of contentment. Its' energy through resonance slows the mind, heightening a meditative state.

 

 

Didgeridoos handcrafted from ultra-lite Arizona agave results in unsurpassed tonal quality that are  more that artistic collectables. My business focuses on producing high quality, beautifully crafted, musical instruments suitable for all budgets and playing needs. I have tried it all and concluded the Bore Method to be fastest, easiest, structural and ascetically best. The most labor-intensive is the burn out method with the most unpredictable results. This is after doing all the preparatory work that must be done before you start the burn out. Nice results but unpredictable. The biscuit method, where you slice the stoke(quiote) down the center, gouge out and then glue halves back together, allows controlled clean out. This can give a very satisfactory results but labor intensive. 

 

The bore method allows the maintenance of structural integrity with the least amount of work for starting initially. Then starts the fun part of cleaning out all excess material. I tend to not get OCD about smoothing out bore because, I believe, there is a better sound quality, if the sound wave has some turbulence. Think termites. Once this is accomplished, you need to address holes created by insects and birds. Decide whether there will be inlays, stones, color or artwork. I'd like to start by coating the inside to determine note. Then the outside: both get a minimum of two coats.Over the years I’ve dropped a few and have been very impressed with durability. Just about everything is fixable. If you drop a violin, you might need a luthier. You should always strive not to abuse you didge. Right!

 

Got a question, shoot me a message. 

 

Mouthpieces 

I have evolved in mouthpieces from a vision of what I believed to be aesthetically pleasing. I now believe that the best mouthpieces emulates the shape of a wax mouthpiece. This keeps things simple but maintain the quality I'm looking for. I only use Mesquite wood that I have harvest from the desert. Some people like a small opening, some people like it large and I'm here to accommodate both. Tell me the size of the mouthpiece you like and I can accommodate. My default is 1 1/8 inch which the vast majority like. All my materials come from my”backyard” and are harvested long after the plant is dead. I might displace some bugs and scorpions but that's about it.

 

This is an area of personal preference. Once again, anything is possible with input in design. My solution has to be using past solutions, used by those before me. Bees wax is the universal solution. There is one drawback: can get messy or melt. Especially if you have a mustache. Why is it desirable: malleable and smooth. What shape is desirable? It is the shape of wax at the end of a didge.

 

My approach:

 Solution 1:I exclusively use Mesquite Wood from the desert that is shaped, on a lathe, like a  wax mouthpiece, that I call ”wooden beeswax”. That's my creativity shining through. The dynamics of vibrating lips on a mouthpiece, that is not totally smooth, can be like fine sandpaper. Once I have shaped the mouthpiece, I sand it down with 220 and then breakout course steel wool. After all the bers are taken off, I go down to 0000 steel wool. This will give an incredibly smooth surface. I believe, I have the right shape because it feels good on my lips. It is the Goldie Locks Zone(GLZ). Comfort and zero air leakage. I put 4+ coats of tung oil on mouthpieces that seals against moisture and buff out on a wheel for shine. We now have a mouthpiece mounted directly to the end using epoxy.

 

Solution 2: Another option would be to have a bees wax mouthpiece.That's traditional.

Maybe in the future, you decide 1 5/8 is ideal or 1”. I can make a custom wooden mouthpiece. Easy. Mounting might be challenging.

 

It is imperative that you communicate throughout the whole process ON ALL ASPECTS

 

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