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Nice mago, personally selected on my trip to Arnhem land in 2008, at an excellent
price! Often, low pitched mago lack the "passive vocal" kind of roughness in sound
quality that typifies the traditional mago sound, but this one has quite a
bit of it, coupled with a slightly "pipey" character. Quite satisfying for playing
those" Dit-m-ro" mago style rhythms with good medium backpressure relative
to the pitch. Painted in natural ochres |
rb090103 Maker: Russel Brian Key: C# Length: 49" Bell size: 3 1/2" Mouthpiece: Wax Weight: 5 lb 5 oz Price: $350 |

Nice middle of the road easy playing, trad sounding mago, personally selected on
my trip to Arnhem Land in 2008. Medium volume, medium traditional sound with
some good harmonic complexity, and medium response to "passive" vocals. Easy
playing moderate backpressure typical for mago. Painted in natural ochres in
the handprint, "body painting" style prevalent from the area.. Bargain price! |
rb090101 Maker: Russel Brian Key: D Length: 51.75" Bell size: 3 1/8" Mouthpiece: Wax Weight: 5 lb 5 oz Price: $350 |


My experience when visiting with the Gurruwiwis is when it's time to go cutting yidaki,
Djalu's son Vernon goes fishing. I have seen him help a little bit with
drawknife and sand paper, but very rarely. This is the first yidaki I have ever
seen made by Vernon, and it is fantastic. It is a real ripper, very fast with
lots of edge, grit and growl, excellent playability and a very easy toot.
It is a light enough weight to have good natural resonance, but the sleek shape
keeps it from being boomy. An excellent yidaki for an aspiring trad player of
any ability level...ripper!!! |
mar090901 Maker: Marritngu (Vernon) Gurruwiwi Key: F, Overtone F#-G Length: 54.25" Bell size: 3 3/4 x 4" Mouthpiece: 1 1/8" Weight: 6 lb 5 oz Price: $550 |
Purchased directly from Bill, I have enjoyed this instrument immensely, and am reluctant
to sell it, but I have another almost identical in all respects. Though
Bill's playing style is unique, this didge is very mago like in character with
stellar tonal balance, good bass resonance, moderate backpressure and nice vocal
response. Just a solidly performing didge, and at this price a nice bargain! |
har090901 Maker: Yiduma Bill Harney Key: E flat- Length: 48.5" Bell size: 3 3/8" Mouthpiece: Wax Weight: 6 lb Price: $375 |

Trad voice all the way, internalized tone, great reaction to tonguing and throat
accents, easy playing backpressure, super easy toot transition, very fast response
especially for the pitch, Medium in volume and power. A ripper for Yolngu style
playing. |
guy050502 Maker: Guykurda Mununggurr Key: E Flat, Overtone: E Length: 61.75" Bell size: 3.5" Mouthpiece: 1 3/16 x 1 1/16" Weight:10 lb Price: $525 |


A good basic yidaki at a great price. This one has medium backpressure, medium loudness,
slightly flat playing feel, and enough edge for good " Dith dhirrl" response
with good technique. The sound is well balanced with good harmonic
and vocal response. Musical third/octave toot intervals also make this one a good
cantidate for more modern playing styles. Gur**r**uy just recently passed away,
so this is a bit of a rare opportunity to buy one of his remaining instruments. |
gur060608 Maker: Gur**r**uy Munyarryun Key: D, Overtone: F# Length: 59 1/8" Bell size: 4 1/8" Mouthpiece: 1 1/4" x 1 3/16" Weight: 6 lb 15 oz Price: $325 |
A somewhat uncharacteristic yidaki for Djalu's typical style being so skinny, but
this stick is a ripper, packs a sonic punch, and was a favorite of the boys at
Gunyangara. It has high backpressure, great sensitivity and a toot transition
that is almost too easy. If you already have strong technique, it is easy
to overpower this instrument. The sound is well balanced, bright, rough and gritty
and if pushed turns downright rough and nasty. Painted in ochre (colors)and
acrylic (white) by Dhopiya. |
dja060603 Maker: Djalu Gurruwiwi Key: F, Overtone: F Length: 58.25" Bell size: 3.25" Mouthpiece: 1 1/8" Weight: 7 lb Price: $525 |

A solid yidaki with medium solid backpressure, a fair bit of blunt playing character,
and aggressive bright somewhat rough gritty sound. This one responds well
to strong technique with a lot of pop, edge, and prominent passive vocal response.
The minor third toot interval and very complex harmonic response add a dark
brooding tonalty to an otherwise bright sounding instrument... a fascinating and
unique comination. The ochre rarrk work on this yidaki is even finer than most
of Djul'djul's work. It is a very high level art piece as well as being a fantastic
player. |
bur090101 Maker: Burrnguburrngu Wunungmurra Artist: Djul'djul' Gurruwiwi Key: F, Overtone: A flat Length: 53.25" Bell size: 3.75" Mouthpiece: 1 3/16 x 1 1/8" Weight:8 lb 9 oz Price: $725 |


yal060601 Maker: Yalyal Munyarryun Artist: Rerrkirrwanga Munungurr Key: E-, Overtone: G+ Length: 54.75" Bell size: 3.5 x 4" Mouthpiece: 1 1/8" (Sugar bag) Weight: 6 lb 5 oz Price: $725 |
An incredible yidaki that crosses the line between traditional and contemporary character
beautifully. It has an open bore, but brilliant medium backpressure and
enough edge to react to traditional style toungings and accents. Also has brilliant
harmonics, clear vocals and a very musical octave second toot for contemporary
style playing. It was repainted with exceptional Djapu minyt'ji (sacred
design) art by Rerrkirrwanga Munungurr, a rare design for yidaki. The same design
is used by Dhalwangu on bark paintings and log coffins. A very special instrument.
|
dhu050710 Maker: D***gur*n Gulungurr Key: F Length: 44.5" Bell size: 2 5/8" x 3" Mouthpiece: wax Weight: 3 lb 10 oz Price: $550 |
Wonderful and just excellent lightweight mago from my personal collection. Small
in size but not sound. It has a very classic mago tonality, a bit dry with respectable
bass response due to its light weight and thin walls, prominent harmonics
and nice passive vocal response. It also has nice backpressure for it's unassuming
shape plus can take a lot of push. Nice rarrk artwork in ochre. |
