THIS INSTRUMENT NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH LAOutback.com

This is a serious collectors piece made by Billy Yallawonga of the Roper River region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It may be from the early 90's but I think it's actually a piece from the 80's. I've had this about ten years and really appreciate it for the incredibly beautiful ochre artwork and the patina from years of loving use. It has a few small hairline cracks that had been repaired with beeswax long before it came to my hands. I've done absolutely nothing to it but love it and protect it. This is not a stick to drag out to the beach or leave in your hot car. It's a piece that feels like it belongs in a museum. I'll leave the old wax mouthpiece on there for someone who wants it as a collectors piece, and can include some fresh new wax if you're picking it up as a player and want to switch it out, though even the old wax is comfortable and well formed, and I might try to encourage it's new curator to keep the old wax on it for it's proper character. This is a serious investment in a very fine example of Traditional Aboriginal Art.

This is a low B. The interior is nice and open for excellent vocal projection. Most of Billy's sticks I believe were mago and so were crafted to optimize that Western Arnhemland style utilizing lots of animal calls and such. The weight is 8 pounds 4 ounces which represents the density of the wood not the thickness as this instrument was lovingly whittled down by an absolute master. I really can't believe I'm thinking of letting this go, but bills gotta get paid and art like this is easy to appreciate. Billy is getting old, his production has severely slowed. This instrument is bound to skyrocket in value in the coming years, especially as this whole huge segment of the population are becoming aware of didgeridoo and want their own connection to appreciation and preservation of a shrinking supply of authentic vintage instruments. You do the math. Smart investment? YES!