Budget O'Meara 113
Why is this didg takes part of the Selection Gauthier Aubé? In addition to being a long-time friend, Gauthier is in my eyes one of the most inspiring musicians on the current didgeridoo scene. It was therefore quite natural that I proposed to him to collaborate on a selection of instruments.
The idea is simple: Gauthier chooses and recommends didgeridoos of didgeridoo-passion that he particularly likes. Each selected didgeridoo corresponds to its requirements: balance, playing comfort, sound richness, precision... Gauthier is recognized for his technical insight but also for his pedagogical approach, which makes him an excellent guide for all enthusiasts looking for a good instrument! For each model in this selection, you will find a video of Gauthier playing it and his commentary, so you can hear his potential and better feel what he has to offer.
Comments from Gauthier : This one is in B a fairly low note. That means lower backpressure, which can be tricky at first. But once you get past that, you’ll enjoy a well-rounded instrument with a defined drone, rich harmonics, and a warm, soft tone. Perfect for meditative or gentle rhythmic styles.
My comments: So here is the O'Meara Budget category. They are all made by hand with the help of a few power tools for sanding. They are finished externally with several coats of polyurethane lacquer, UV resistant and flexible.
Why this category of instruments? Quite simply to allow as many people as possible to have access to an authentic and quality termite eucalyptus instrument for a moderate budget!
What is the difference with Top didge class? The type of trunk mainly used. Please note that budget didges and top didges come from the same cuts of wood. However, the manufacturing requirement of the top didge class means that Tristan has put trunks aside. The type of internal air column, and very often the length, did not allow Tristan to produce a top-class instrument. He then decided to launch a new category with the surplus trunks: The Budget didge class , ideal for getting started with the didgeridoo with a quality instrument that is, above all, easy to play. Or simply for a player wanting to get their hands on a versatile eucalyptus instrument on a low budget! However Tristan cannot spend the same time on finishing the instruments at this price, he does his best to obtain a suitable finish by prioritizing the acoustic quality of the instrument. All Budget Didges have a wooden (camphor) mouthpiece.
- Shipping costs are free! (only for France)
- Please note: carrying case not included, available here
Classification
This scale is the result of an air column/bell start ratio If we divide the diameter of the bell with that of the beginning of the air column we get a number between 1.5 and 3.5. We can classify all the didgeridoos in 4 large families. Each family groups the instruments with a similar character, simply based on the overall shape of the air column (conical/cylindrical) and on the diameter of the column (wide/narrow). The result is a simple and very reliable reading grid, making it easier to search and purchase on line.
The diameters are measured with a caliper, start of the air column after the mouthpîece. This ratio is very reliable for a didg having a air column with a 'smooth' internal work, in the case of a hollowed eucalyptus instrument it give an approach of the instrumental character.
Tristan O'Meara
A musician at heart, Tristan has been making didgeridoos for over 10 years
What started as a hobby has become his livelihood: making didgeridoos of the highest quality.
Who is Tristan O'Meara?
"My name is Tristan O'Meara. I have been a musician and singer-songwriter for over 10 years, and I now live in Byron Bay, Australia. I was lucky enough to be introduced to the didgeridoo by Wuduri Wiriundjara, a renowned Aboriginal artist from the Cairns area.
Over time I have learned what each player needs from a didgeridoo, depending on their style: big stage, outdoor or indoor playing, acoustic solo, recording studio, street performance or travel! I do my best to find the instrument that suits each player best. All my instruments are made from the finest eucalyptus (the ones that don't suit me end up as firewood, and they burn very well…). Each didgeridoo is worked and carved while listening for its best resonance.
Back when I was learning didgeridoo techniques, I was looking for different keys to suit my music, but I couldn't afford to buy them all. So I decided to travel to the Northern Territory. There I was lucky enough to meet several traditional owners, who showed me how to make a didgeridoo and how to find good logs properly hollowed out by termites in the Australian bush. These people kindly shared their time, skills and knowledge with me. It was a long and often very difficult apprenticeship that lasted several years.
Over the last ten years I have made didgeridoos with Aboriginal people, but also for renowned makers. I have spent countless hours perfecting my techniques, keeping everyone's ideas and improving my method day after day.
How does Tristan make his didgeridoos?
All my didgeridoos are made entirely by me, from start to finish. They are handmade, with the help of a few power tools for sanding. The inside and outside are soaked in a blend of natural wood oils, left for 24 hours. This saturates the wood and brings out its natural colours, but the oil also penetrates deep into the fibres to harden and crystallise them, which increases the density of the wood and the quality of the sound. The outside is then finished with several coats of high-quality, flexible, UV-resistant epoxy resin."