Didgeridoos: PVC vs. Bamboo

Wondering which material to choose when it comes to didgeridoo construction? Well if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford an expensive eucalyptus, or teak didgeridoo, Mother Rhythm Drums offers two very affordable alternatives, which perform and sound great.

If you’re seeking a more organic look, feel and sound, then a bamboo didgeridoo is the route to go. Bamboo didgeridoos are light-weight, easy to play and generally produce resonant warm tones. However, keep in mind that bamboo is a tropical plant, and when introduced to the typically colder, dryer climates of North America, it’s more prone to eventually develop cracks. A cracked bamboo didgeridoo will leak air and, as a result, cannot be played, therefore is rendered useless. One method to reduce the incident of bamboo cracking is to resin coat bamboo didgeridoos with epoxy resin. This can be achieved by filling an elongated receptacle (a 4 inch wide PVC plumbing pipe perhaps 5 feet long and capped off at one end) with epoxy resin, and temporarily submersing each one to ensure the inside and outside walls of the didgeridoo are completely coated, then allowed to hang out and dry. The epoxy resin coating will strengthen the walls of the didgeridoo, thereby reducing he incident of cracking. Many believe the epoxy resin coating results in better tones as well. However, the epoxy resin coating will remove the organic component of the instrument as compared to just leaving it 100% natural.

Comparatively, a PVC Didgeridoo is even lighter weight than bamboo. They’re not affected by climate fluctuation (shrinking and swelling), therefore not prone to cracking (unless you physically damage it). PVC is by far the easiest on which to learn and play, and they also don’t need to be waxed. In addition, the thin walls of a PVC didgeridoo don’t absorb as much energy while played, resulting in a very loud and intense drone. The pitch variation on a PVC didgeridoo is absolutely incredible. If great sound is your goal on an easy to play starter didgeridoo, we recommend you go with PVC.