The architecture of this didge is designed for the smoothest transitions and balance of volume when shifting from drone to trumpet or drone to overblown. The top end bore is open enough to keep the note low and project excellent vocals but also narrow enough for exciting percussive action. The addition at the mouthpiece was to drop the tuning to a perfect C, but it want's to stay about 30 to 40 cents high of C. I can just as easily trim it off and bring it to a C# but it plays really nice as it is and tuning changes from person to person depending on their embouchure and pressure so I'll leave it the way it is for the moment (and can change it on request). This is the kind of didge that you can control meticulously through every volume level from the softest whisper to the rowdiest rockin'. Such is the joy of it's soft whisper that you can just breathe through it as you watch the final episode of 'The Colbert Report' or this weekends European Cyclocross races (but not when your wife is talking to you). It's when a didge becomes so much a part of your everyday existance that you begin to express with it effortlessly. The maple walls are thin enough to be translucent in the neck area, like a tight drum skin that interacts with your power in the most responsive way. The walls thicken up through the body of the stick to contain and deliver a well supported note. It weighs in at around 6 1/2 pounds making it reasonable for travel as well. Overall this is a very well behaved and capable didge.