Improvments on my Sukar oud (Done :-)

A BIG thanks to you guys, and to Mike and his/this Forum

I have for a couple of weeks now been working on my second most expensive (that I dared!!) Sukar oud. With enormous help and support of many of you (no need to mention names

1- I have removed the shellac from finger board (as described by Fernand). I put several layers of Lemon oil (from Jameel) on it (and waiting to get hold of the damn tung oil
But I already love the result. Agree with you Fernand: much better the the shella crap

2- I removed the nut (took me 4 hours!!) and replaced it with synthetic bone (took TWO days!!!). But the defference is more then what I was hoping for!! Not just better tuning, but also better timber.

3- I rased the distance between sound board and strings (at the bridge) with 2-3mm (yes, the bridge is glued back).
And compensate with lowering the action (I love Sukar for that

4- Put new (yesterday) new Daniel Mari strings on it. Tuned it ONE NOTE lower then my usual tuning to
CDGCfa#d# (7-course, 58,5cm).

And I LOVE the result.

P.S It is NOT the same sound I got when I did "overstringing" (that resulted in 8mm higher strings, and bridge off). But I love it as much

It is to my surprise a totally new sound (to me).

I hope that this new sound it is not a temperary change as Fernand mantioned (it could be, time will show).


I am also hoping that:

a- light Daniel Mari
b- 58,5cm scale
c- tuning a note lower

would together compensate for the 2-3mm raise(?)
What do you say, phisicists

Anyway, I put the strings yesterday. And today they were still IN TUNE (same pich! i.e. no bending on the board, not looser bridge)! So I am hoping this is going to be fine.



So: The SAME oud have already given me THREE defferent sounds by chaging the string hight!!! I think this desurves studying. But HOW??

But guys, without YOU I would have NEVER even thought of doing any of this!!

Thanks to you all

Quote: Originally posted by fernandraynaud

Where w'oud we be without Mike's?