Dubravko Lapaine’s Spirit in Eb
Origin: Croatia
Material: Bloodwood Eucalyptus (Australia)
Key / Toots: Eb / Eb, Bb, E, G, B
The Blade
Order Process:
The few instruments Dubravko makes you can receive from himself. I never saw a Duende instrument in any shop.
Duende Didgeridoo is an example for the resources I found early researching the web, did not really pay attention to and then recognized a second time later on, this time understanding what they really mean to the didgeridoo community.
On the Website you find the different instrument families they offer (next to a lot of useful information). If you are interested in an instrument from Duende you can easily discuss your ideas with Dubravko and he will tell you, what is possible. My impression is: if something is possible technologically and in terms of craftsmanship without spoiling his maximum quality standards, it will be done.
There are two “basic models” you can buy off the shelf:
All your inquiries you send to duendedidgeridoo@gmail.com.
It is easy to work with Dubravko: just trust his advice. He is open for all questions. I asked him for example to assess how the instrument we talked about would fit to my existing instruments. He told me in an unpretentious way it would not be fair to compare. Like: “No matter what your expectations are, they will be satisfied”. The delivered product proofed his statement.
I received updates from time to time regarding the progress of the instrument. No photos but written status updates.
The Didgeridoo was shipped securely packed. I took me 22 minutes to unpack…
Sound & Playing:
This is, what made me calling it ‘The Blade’ in the headline (although its surname is Spirit!). Even I as a didgeridoo greenhorn immediately recognized this stick produces sound in a clarity and precision witch is unmatched by any other instrument I played or heard before. It can become extremely loud and so soft in a still precise way … In whatever volume the sound is full and rich. It is easy to switch the level of volume: it is very loud in the one second and soft in the next.
Pushes and drum sounds hammer out of the bell. The harmonics you produce on back end will be heard duplicated and amplified out of the bell.
The Spirit quickly taught me to do toot one and two – something I could not do before. The awesome point is: it does not sound like squeaking but like a french horn! Love it.
On the other hand I know what others are able to play on this very instrument (thanks for the sound sample, Du!) what makes me realize, I gonna need years to exploit the Spirit’s full potential.
Well, I am not a professional musician but this instrument I would assume to meet one’s standards. It is absolutely inline with everything you find from and about his maker Lapaine, who seems to be driven by the search for performance improvement. The Spirit does what you do. There is no distortion or other unpredictable adulteration.
It is probably only the second best choice for traveling… And it would not be my first choice to spend a hour in the night putting myself into meditation by playing a didge, either. For anything else it is.
Spirit Sound Sample
Look & Finish:
The Spirit has a glossy finish, made of PU coating and oil. Inside PU is used. On the mouthpiece and on the bell walnut is used. The mouthpiece has two rings of aluminium incorporated, looking great with the slightly reddish eucalyptus and the brown walnut. You find the Duende Didgeridoo emblem let in near the bell. Great crafmanship shaped this instrument.
- Length: > 190 cm
- Weight: 4.5 kg
- Bell inner diameter: 13.5 cm
- Mouth peace inner diameter: 29 mm
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