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Hand-Crafted
Didjeridus
With the split and hollow didje method, the crafter
is in total control of the bore shape throughout,
and therefore, the playability of the finished
instrument. Ant has been using this method since
the early 90's, using carefully selected English
timbers, and in this time he has come to learn
what makes a great split didje. Our
standard didjes tend to reflect varied playing
styles, and there's usually a good selection of
these to try for yourself at UK didje festivals,
and also various didje clubs throughout the year.
When making custom didjes we use a different approach.
We can either make a didje as close to your specifications,
or you can visit us in person to discuss your
requirements.
Our basic, CrUnch and custom didjes are now being
used by top players throughout the U.K. and in
mainland Europe.
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Tuning
: A word or two from Ant...
Due to the fact that most didjeridu/yidaki players
use different pressure and embouchure, exact tuning,
in my opinion, is almost impossible without the
person present. Therefore all of the didjeridus
for sale as "standard" are tuned to
my style of play/pressure which from experience
I consider to be average.
If you're a trumpet player or
other high pressure brass instrument player I would advise discussing this with
me before choosing an instrument. Adjustments can be made to any stick. Examples...
Whenever
I make a didjeridu for street busker Richard Bridge I always drop the note
by 25 cents. This ensures a bang on key for his style as Richie plays with an
amazing amount of power bringing the fundamental note up unusually high compared
to most players.
Stan from Didgethings plays my didjes 50
cents higher than my self while his toot can be
50 cents lower on some sticks and I'm sure this
has a lot to do with Stan being a trumpet player
in the past.
Pete
Wise, a trumpet player from Bournemouth, actually plays a didje a whole semi-tone
higher than myself... scary!"
Bring It On" Bob always
played my didjes 10 cents lower than myself due to his very subtle, quiet and
low style of playing.
And lastly Kev Howard will play a didje in
the same note/pressure as myself.
So as you can see exact tuning isn't
and can never be guaranteed. If you do require a didjeridu tuned to an exact pitch
I recommend that you visit us in person.
Saying that, my didjes are generally
within the acceptable limits for most players which is 10 cents either side of
the key.
Therefore, in my opinion, claims of "off the rack" didjeridus/yidaki
being concert pitch become meaningless.
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Woods
Used
Although we specialise in yew wood, we usually have available
a wide range of other timbers including, Alder, Ash, Buckthorn, Elder, Hazel,
Holly, Oak, Silver Birch, Sweet Chestnut and Sycamore.
Occasionally we
do get other woods, so please contact us to see what we have available and to
discuss your needs.
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After
Care
Most
of our didjeridus are sealed inside and out
with Danish oil. This does two things... first,
it stops moisture entering or leaving the wood
itself, keeping the wood stable, which reduces
the risk of cracks developing. And secondly,
the oil once set on the inside of the didje
brightens up the sound giving it a clean crisp
resonance, so you can pull out those lovely
top end sounds.
However,
if you prefer the dry gritty sound I'd recommend
that you do not re-oil your didje.
My own personal didje was last oiled 5 years
ago.
Along side our standard oiled didjes I now produce
a range of didjes using extremely seasoned (10
years +) pre-cracked yew wood that are not sealed/oiled
on the inside as it's the only way to achieve
the required tonal quality.
Oiling the inside of your
didjeridu
First
leave your didje to dry out completely of breath
moisture, (by not playing it for a day or two),
and then seal up the mouthpiece end with an
old rag or paper kitchen towel. Take your Danish
oil and gently pour into the didje from the
bottom end, slowly twisting the didje around
to make sure you cover the inside completely.
Once you are happy that you have done this,
stand the didje on some old newspaper and let
the excess oil run out for an hour or so, cleaning
off any residue gathered on the outside. Let
it settle for a day or two, and it'll sound
great!
After
doing this once or twice, you'll get the feel
of when your didje needs treating again.
Some
do's and dont's
Never lean or leave your didjeridu against or
close to a heat-source such as radiators.
Don't
leave your didjeridu inside a car on a sunny
day, as the heat is a sure way to crack a didje.
Always
make sure air can travel through the didjeridu
after playing. This will prevent mould developing
on the inside.
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