Hicks Sticks, Traditional Aboriginal Yidaki and Mago

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

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!

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.