Armenian duduk lessons #82. Apricot duduk vs. Ebony duduk

[@vladochiflidzhanov5045]

Hi! I like the ebony one a little more, because the sound is more refined, delicate. Also more clear and consistent, without any extra noise (too many overtones on the apricot, at one point I wonder if I hear the tone or the noise more). Because ebony is way denser and harder, it actually projects clearly the sound of the reed, rather than resonate too much, as is with apricot and lighter woods. The inside bore of hardwoods can polish better, which helps also projection. Uneven bore creates more resistance, hence the noise. A long topic to discuss. If you're interested in experimenting with other woods, feel free to connect. I handcraft professional Bulgarian woodwinds (kaval, bagpipe), but used to make duduk also. I use primarily exotic hardwoods - African blackwood, ebony, mopane, kingwood, etc. And I can say ebony is at the rear end of all these. Best regards!

[@heliopijpe]

To me from this fragment, the ebony has a little bit more focused, directed sound, but it's very difficult to percieve if not A-B compared , the Apricot , is still more rounded, more diffuse in the treble frequencies, I don't know if there is a difference in volume / projection because of this .. thank you for the comparison

[@ronental6424]

the Ebony is more steady but I liked the apricot more it has more nuances and its less "pure" which I like

[@booogoman]

Отличное сравнение! От себя скажу, разницы в звуке практически нет, разница скорее всего большая, именно для исполнителя! Знаю из опыта игры на гитаре, с накладкой на гриф из палисандра, клёна или чёрного дерева, как раз в ощущениях и это сказывается на удобстве и нашем развитии как музыканта! Ещё стоит отметить, если Каруна говорит что Эбони более стабильный, значит их этого дерева стоит рассмотреть дудук низких строёв, тем более чёрное дерево очень плотное и возможно позволит создать цельный инструмент!

[@peterflute2817]

I like the two but the apricot has that sound when you put you fingers on the holes that duduk sound that we all know and the half notes too like you said that ancient sound❤

[@eduardarz9464]

Hello Karuna, do you know a duduk master who make extended range Duduks ?

[@KarunaDuduk]

Earlier Georgy Minasov used to make them and was famous for it. But he passed away, maybe someone makes after Minasov - I don't know. But what I know for sure is that Arthur Grigoryan makes such duduks these days but not as many additional keys as Minasov used to install. Arthur installs 3 add.keys at max (one on top of duduk and 2 at the bottom)

[@viviencharrier1984]

Who made this duduk karuna ?

[@cemsevgi]

I am making

[@patrickbateman3146]

Ebony sounds more clear. Like a clarinet. Too clean, actually. I dont like it as much

[@viviencharrier1984]

I mean the ebony wood one

[@KarunaDuduk]

Arthur Grigoryam

[@viviencharrier1984]

@@KarunaDuduk I didn't know he was making ebony ones

[@KarunaDuduk]

​@@viviencharrier1984 I think every good maker should be able to make it. Just not everyone of them wants. Too much effort.

[@viviencharrier1984]

@@KarunaDuduk yeah, also too much cost compared to how many ebony duduk you will sell. Ebony is a very expensive wood and intensive labor cost too...I am not so sure so many customers would buy a ebony duduk because apricot is much desired and way cheeper. What I mean is that despite a crafter has the knowledge and experience to craft ebony, maybe he will not anyway, because not enough customers for it, and too many labor costs and time so you have to sell the duduk 600$ to get your fees back and earn son money on it.

[@KarunaDuduk]

@@viviencharrier1984 it is true. It happens only on demand and if the maker at all feels like to do it.