Duduk, RE, 14 3/4", with Reed
From An Instrument's Home
14 3/4" in length, approximate. Made from mulberry with 7 holes in front and 1 hole in back. Eastern designation of RE corresponds to the Western Designation Key of D. Reed sizes will vary. For a proper fit, use hemp or bee's wax, or sand the reed end to fit.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #7940 in Musical Instruments
- Brand: Mid-East Flutes & Whistles
- Dimensions: 24.00" h x 4.00" w x 4.00" l, .50 pounds
Good for a beginner
This is the first Duduk that I have played and with the price I could not turn it down. It comes with a small bag to keep the body in but nothing for the reed which needs to be protected. It sounds deep and rich and its easy to play. The only problem is the reed does not fit real snug in the body but I was told with sanding it will fit better.
Useless & unplayable
These "duduks" are completely useless. The reeds are too crudely made. 1 in 5 might work so so, but cannot be kept closed since the essential cap is lacking. A duduk's reed is supposed to be kept capped and with the band loose. This forces the tips of the reed together while imparting an arc to the lips. When you get ready to play you are supposed to tighten the band by pulling it back, and open the cap, then wet the reed a bit until it opens up a little, like 1/32". You cannot do these steps with these reeds. If you (instead) close the reed with the band to store it, it gives it the wrong shape. It simply cannot work. If you have the patience to try to find a clip to close it with, you'll run into other problems. All you can get out of these reeds (at best) is duck calls and platypus wails. You might also blow your carotid artery or your lungs, and the reed will fall out to boot. The positive reviewer is either hallucinating or very very kind. Maybe he got that one in 5 that actually makes sounds. The crude soft wood body is badly tuned. If you have never played another, you might think this is how they are, and that it's your fault for not playing it right. Wrong. Duduks are hard to play, but not THAT hard. The clever premise that the manufacturer likely works on is that you will think it's your lack of ability, and put the $2 deduk aside without bothering with a refund. Oh, did you say you paid $30?
Vendor is quite OK. I too might have set it aside and blamed myself. But my reed was cracked. They responded immediately, were very nice, and sent me a whole replacement unit. But the reed was hideously moldy, and under the mold it looked just as bad as the previous one. I could compare the two bodies, though, and found they were drilled very differently, and neither fit the reed. Yeah, sanding ... sure. A real reed comes with waxed thread on it to adjust the fit and tune the length. In the meantime I got a real one and realized what was going on. What a travesty! They refunded 100% when I asked. Nothing wrong with the vendor.
Go look at what real reeds look like, the body too, and compare. Save your money and get a playable instrument, these are to a duduk as a cereal box whistle is to a real flute.
