Duende Gabon ebony
Duende : Gold class (master)
In short: A gold-class (master) Duende didgeridoo, in Gabon ebony, in D#, made from a single piece. A stable, directional drone, unrivalled precision and a deep black wood, rare and spectacular.
This didgeridoo: I am incredibly lucky to be able to present such an instrument. It is made from a single piece, bored right through. It is a true sculpture, visual as much as sonic. I don't have enough rating stars to say how wonderful this instrument is.
I now understand why Dubravko's gold class sells at this price: far more than a didgeridoo, it is above all a professional-quality musical instrument. Before receiving it I was sceptical: I had never had an instrument made of Gabon ebony.
It is a dense wood, valued for its durability and resistance to wear, and therefore hard to work. Imagine how long it took Dubravko to finish the bore, as he always works in a single piece. As for playing, I was hesitant at first.
Then, from the first breath, I felt a stable, directional drone, with no loss of sound at all. I quickly let go and was carried away. Its precision is unrivalled: I understand better why Dubravko told me "you'll see when you test it".
Far from the metallic sound you might imagine, this didgeridoo is simply perfect, in playability as in design. The wood has unique grain patterns, superb figuring in its lighter part and a deep black colour, so glossy that it is very hard to photograph.
Comments from Dubravko Lapaine: Many people, when they see an ebony didgeridoo (though few have ever seen one), even in real life, find it hard to believe it is wood. It is simply black. But believe me, it is wood. Hard, tough, metallic, heavy, resonant and extremely BLACK.
In this video I test two ebony didgeridoos of the Magiuš type, a variant of the Magius, slightly smaller and with a smaller bell, but punchier.
Why this price? I select premium instruments for you, for outstanding sound and playability. It is an investment for those who want to move up to the top end, in sound as well as in design and handling.
Remember that this wood is so rare that obtaining a piece like this is almost an honour: I am proud to be able to offer you this didgeridoo.
Why Duendes stand apart: You can compare the world of didgeridoo makers to that of cars: every car takes you from A to B, but the comfort is not the same in a Citroën 2CV and in a Ferrari. With the didgeridoo it is the same: the aim is always to convey a vibration.
After 25 years of playing, hundreds of didgeridoos tested and a great many makers met, if I had to give one didgeridoo the place of the Ferrari, it would go to Dubravko Lapaine's Duendes.
To be a good maker you must first be a good player, and Dubravko is recognised as the best technician in the world. The demands he makes of himself can be felt in his making. It all starts with the boring, which he masters to perfection: no cutting or gluing, so better control of the dimensions.
Imagine boring straight over more than 2 m! He then chooses the densest woods, to contain the vibration as much as possible and offer a richness of harmonics and exceptional playability. The downside: tools that need constant resharpening and an enormous amount of working time.
The air columns are his own configurations, developed over the years and through his concerts, in search of the best compromise between fineness of sound and technical capability.
Finally, the finish, inside and out, makes each Duende a unique piece, a true collector's item: inlays, engraving, pyrography… So yes, Duendes do not come cheap.
But, like a Ferrari, it is a treasure you treat yourself to for a passion: unique know-how, for a unique design, playability and finish.
- Duende: Gold class (master)
- Shipping is free! (France only)
- Didgeridoo Passion also offers you the carry bag free
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.
Duende
Dubravko Lapaine and Danka Tišljar, makers of "Duende" didgeridoos
Here is something I have never done before, but to introduce the subject, I am going to compare the world of didgeridoo makers to the world of cars. With cars, you find all sorts of brands, finishes and engine sizes, all with the same goal in the end: to take us from point A to point B. Yet you will all agree that the comfort is not the same in a Citroën 2CV and in a Ferrari… Well, it is the same with the didgeridoo: the aim is always to convey a vibration.
After twenty years of playing, hundreds of didgeridoos tried and meetings with a great many makers, I now have enough perspective to tell you: if I had to name the Ferrari of didgeridoos, it would be Dubravko Lapaine's Duende. To really understand the characteristics of a didgeridoo, and therefore to be a good maker, you first have to be a good player.
You can see where I am going with this: Dubravko is recognised as one of the best technicians in the world. He is so demanding of himself that you can feel it in every one of his instruments. Why are Duende, in my opinion, the best didgeridoos you can find? It cannot be summed up in one sentence.
It all starts with the drilling process, which Dubravko has mastered to perfection: no cutting or gluing, for much better control of the dimensions. Imagine drilling perfectly straight over more than two metres…
Then comes the choice of wood. Here again Dubravko leaves nothing to chance: he uses the densest woods there are, to contain the vibration as much as possible and offer an extraordinary richness of overtones and playability. But there is a downside: the tools have to be sharpened over and over again, which means a huge amount of work…
There is also the internal configuration of the air columns. Dubravko has developed his own configurations over the years and through his concerts: first and foremost he makes instruments for himself, seeking the best balance between subtlety of sound and technique, so as to perform every playing technique and every sound.
Finally, there is the finish, inside and out. A beautiful paint job makes an immediate impression on a car, and the same goes for a didgeridoo. Each Duende is truly unique: they are real collector's pieces. If you have ever held a Duende in your hands, you will understand what I mean. Inlays, engraving, pyrography and many other techniques add enormous value and bring the instrument to life.
I hope these words help you understand the value of Duende didgeridoos. So yes, Duende are not cheap, but after what I have just written, you can probably appreciate the exceptional value of these instruments. Just like a Ferrari, it is a treasure you treat yourself to for an ultimate passion: unique craftsmanship, for unique design, playability and finish!