Maintenance tips

Your instrument needs you to take care of it as it will take care of you…

Please note the advice below is generic, and does not apply to all categories of instruments, for more information do not hesitate to contact me!

Recommendations for use, precautions and generic maintenance:

For Eucalyptus didgeridoos: do not play your instrument immediately upon receipt. I know it's difficult to wait, but you have to give the wood time to take the temperature of your apartment.

- Start with about 5-10 minutes of play per day, and then build up to longer periods over several weeks.

- Give the wood time to adjust. It is necessary to do a "preheat", the wood needs to absorb the moisture from your breath to develop the best tone.

- You can treat your instrument with linseed oil type oil upon receipt and once or twice a year: once before winter, once before summer. However, this rule does not apply to all didgeridoos but mainly to Yidakis, so do not hesitate to contact me after your purchase.

When you're not playing:

Place your instrument at a slight angle in a safe corner, in a temperate room, protected from any possible falls. Never place your didgeridoo precariously balanced, or near a busy passage. Do not store it facing the sun indoors near a window. (It is possible to play outside in the sun, just do not store it in the sun if you are not using it.) Also avoid any thermal and hydrometric shock (windows, electric or other heaters, drafts, etc.).

When you play:

If possible, avoid placing or rubbing your didgeridoo on rough ground. This will eventually damage the wood or varnish that protects your instrument, paving the way for cracks and other problems. If you have to play in the street, take a piece of plasticized floor covering with you to place the end of your instrument on it, this way you will preserve the varnish optimally. After playing, wipe the inside of your instrument with a tissue to remove excess moisture.

When you carry your instrument:

Protect it as much as possible from climatic variations, the ideal being to place it in its waterproof and padded cover. Do not leave it in the sun or in a hot car.

Cleaning other types of wood:

Damp cloth and mild soap (optionally) for exterior and interior. Dry cloth to finish, do not use oil or thinner.

Why can wood crack?

- Wood is hygroscopic, which means that it constantly absorbs humidity and reacts to the surrounding environment.

The traditional yidaki, eucalyptus didgeridoos are wooden instruments and are likely to split during changes in humidity and temperature. Nothing can completely guarantee that an instrument will not crack with use or seasonal, environmental or climatic changes.

- Wood shrinks as it dries, and expands as it absorbs moisture, if different parts of the same piece of wood expand or contract at different rates, stress builds up between the wood fibers . If the effort overcomes the strength of the wood, it splits.

- The instrument is subject to various climatic variations. It's frozen below zero in a plane's cargo. Freezing causes ice crystallization which increases wood.

- The period of greatest risk of cracking is when the instrument is made and then exported, but a crack can occur at any time in the life of an instrument.

For prevention, it is useful to treat the inside of the instrument.

The typical scenario for yidaki used by the Yolngus:

The Yolngus value things differently than we do. It is easy to find new yidakis for aboriginal people. If it cracks, it doesn't matter, they'll make another one. At first problems with cracks and air leaks, Yolngus repair with wax, (which is not a permanent repair), epoxy (which may be permanent) or wrap the instrument with tape Self-adhesive plastic. Crack problems are common among the Yolngus, they like to play with a wet instrument, so traditionally they pour water into the yidaki before playing.

Our situation is very different. We spend a lot of money on an instrument and want it perfect. Pouring water into your instrument would be the worst thing, cracks guaranteed.

Our guarantee: Instruments guaranteed for 1 year by Didgeridoo Passion.

Most of my didgeridoos are directly guaranteed by the manufacturer itself. If necessary Didgeridoo Passion takes over (note: regarding yidakis or magos, nothing can guarantee that the instrument will not crack, which is why it is important to treat the instrument). The 1-year warranty is valid from the date of delivery, it includes labor and repair of cracks, splits or air leaks. If, due to natural causes, cracks appear on your instrument Didgeridoo Passion will repair it free of charge. The buyer is required to return the instrument to Didgeridoo Passion. All return transport costs as well as insurance are the responsibility of the buyer. The buyer must contact Didgeridoo Passion before returning the didj under this guarantee to receive authorization. This warranty does not cover mistreatment, neglect, misuse, abuse, whether accidental or not of the instrument. If a didgeridoo is returned for repairs and there are visible signs of mistreatment, the buyer will be responsible for all costs associated with repairing the instrument.