james123 - 2-22-2010 at 11:24 AM
I have an Oud that has been in my partners family since the early 70s. We have very limited knowledge, well, none really about this type instrument
and are struggling to value it, can anyone help?
This is the information that we have
We believe it was made in Istanbul by Isleyen Saz Evi there is also another name which is Maeit Isley Wapildigi which has no significance to us, the
date it was made is 8/8/1973, there is also another name Kapak Degisle, Istanbull 2/2-c, again this is of no significance to us. There is also a lot
of Arabic looking writing that we can not translate.
It has ten strings, is inlaid with mother of pearl, I can't tell what wood it is made of. It also comes in its own original wooden box.
Some pictures are below, thank you for any help.
Sorry I don't seem to be able to post pictures, any advice would be welcome.
ExtreamTarab - 2-22-2010 at 01:10 PM
Hey James,
Pictures must be less than 1 MB each, try to reduce the size and you should be able to post them.
Regards,
Ibrahim
fernandraynaud - 2-22-2010 at 07:59 PM
Pictures also cannot exceed 850 by 1500 pixels. If you have photos, try opening on your computer and look for a way in the program to shrink them to
under 850 by 1500. 640 by 480 is not a bad size, 800 by 600 is good too. Check that the file itself is no bigger than a megabyte.
If you use the full Post Reply button to the right rather than the quickie form at the bottom, you will see a button for Browse. You pick the file
that way and when you Post the message it creates a thumbnail as below in your message that users can click on to see the larger picture.
THIS IS a photo thumbnail example, NOT the oud for sale
suz_i_dil - 2-23-2010 at 09:03 AM
It may be an egyptian made oud wich has been sold in Turkey by the shop named on the label.
I may be wrong but I never saw this kind of work on turkish made instrument, and it may explain the arabic writing on the label.
Can you take a picture of the label?
james123 - 2-23-2010 at 10:48 AM
Thank you for the help, I have resized the pics and they should be below (I hope!)
suz_i_dil, thanks for your comments as much as I have tried I can't get a decent pic of the label, hope the other pics help.
fernandraynaud - 2-23-2010 at 02:03 PM
Wow, that box sure has a funereal look to it! Does the oud only come out at night?
suz_i_dil - 2-23-2010 at 02:15 PM
Oh sorry, I thought your oud was the one on the picture posted by Fernand Raynaud.
I never seen an oud like yours before...
It doesn't have the look of a well made oud, the wood of the soundboard doesn't seem to be of a good quality, moreover made of 3 pieces at least, but
try to string it with a new set to have an idea of the sound...Take it out from his funeral box and bring it back to life.
The bowl remind me of tanbur bowl, I don't know what it worth on an oud.
ExtreamTarab - 2-23-2010 at 03:10 PM
I have seen an oud with a similar back at http://www.veyselmuzik.com made by Armenak Kalfayan in 1826. I think it really looks nice. You should try stringing it and finding out how it
sounds, bring it back to life as suz_i_dil said 
Let's wait for the turkish oud experts and see what they would say about your oud.
james123 - 2-24-2010 at 01:57 AM
Thanks everyone, yes the box scares me too! No wonder my mother in law hid it in the shed for so long, I wouldnt know how to string it let alone
bring it back to life by playing it, anymore advice would be welcome. My late replies are because I am UK based if anyone knows of a specialist based
in England (london?) I would be grateful.
gephel - 2-28-2010 at 06:03 AM
Hi James,
I live in London .......am no specialist......but can string an oud & pretend to play.......
Richard
james123 - 4-15-2010 at 04:55 AM
Hi all
After some research we have established the Oud was made in Istanbul,
Turkey in 1973 by Macit Isleyen, does this mean anything to anyone? I have done a google search on this but not speaking turkish is a problem so any
help would be great. Thanks.