Introducing the birth of the Bamboo Multi Drone didgeridoo! The idea of assembling multiple diameters of bamboo struck me like lightning one afternoon while brainstorming new materials for the Multi Drone shape. I dropped all wood projects at the time and dove head-first into developing these into something I could record and tour with. The quality of instrument I was able to develop blew me away! I always had a negative perception of bamboo instruments based on what I had played in the past. I was used to seeing single pole, straight bore bamboo instruments that were not well suited for contemporary styles of playing. I Learned that when treated like wood in regards to shape, design and selection of the right bamboo, the playability transforms and rivals some of the best contemporary didgeridoos out there today.
These new creations feature the same hand carved mouthpieces that I craft on my wood instruments. For me a good mouthpiece is the most important part of a didgeridoo. As a player who likes to play many notes – and play them fast – the density of the bamboo offers a very solid clear projection of whatever power I throw into it. Each one is an all around dream for learning the multi drone technique and each one ripples with energy as you play it. Prepare to be amazed by the transformation of an unlikely material!!!
The Birth of MOB Didgeridoo and the Bamboo Multi Drone
Soon after creating the first Bamboo Multi Drone instruments back in 2010 I began setting up a new company that would allow me to make Multi Drone instruments more available. The bamboo crafting process was taking me almost the same amount of time as my wooden instruments and because of the material’s bad reputation in the didgeridoo world, there was no market for it yet. I decided to team up with a couple other didgeridoo crafters and old friends to create the crafting environment I had always dreamed of. I always wanted to see multiple crafters working together under one roof so that innovation and productivity could multiply. I knew that having more minds working together would speed up new inventions and allow for a workflow that made things more affordable.
Mob has since grown into it’s own beast. I mostly help shape and design the instruments before they are assembled. Once the body of the instrument is finished I personally hand carve every mouthpiece. I know it’s a matter of time before MOB Didgeridoo is continuously evolving without me having to touch it. I see it being the source for many new innovations in the evolving contemporary didgeridoo world. I have been working with several well known crafters in the US, including Chad Butler and Dan Flynn, to develop the next stage of MOB into mixing some very interesting styles of crafting and materials. More on that later…