ALAMI - 4-30-2010 at 05:00 AM
It is always a pleasure to find an old oud.
This oud was made by Garbis Awadikian in Beirut in 1939, the oud looks all original, the face has a slightly glossy finish.
I found that Awadikian was mentioned twice on the forums:
once when someone found one in very bad shape:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8260#pid530...
And he was once mentioned by Dr oud in a bracing discussion:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=4221#pid278...
I know nothing about him, hope that Richard can give us more infos.
The label is written in Arabic, Armenian and French
"Awaad" means oud player and/or oud maker in Arabic.
Many Armenian families who came to Lebanon changed their family name to a name related to their craft but keeping the Armenian suffix "IAN", it is
logical to think that Garbis may be the son of a oudmaker or at least not the only oud maker in his family.
The oud is a 5 course
Stringlength is 62.5 cm
Bowl is 51 X 35 cm with a depth of 20 cm
the holes are 11 and 4.1 cm
The face has finish and has some cracks and a slight billowing. The pegs need some work before being able to restring the oud correctly.
Luttgutt - 4-30-2010 at 05:14 AM
Yes... and it is a nice old one!
How does it sound like?
Jonathan - 4-30-2010 at 05:21 AM
very cool
ALAMI - 4-30-2010 at 05:43 AM
The sound looks very powerful even with the old junk strings, will have to work a bit on the pegs and put new strings during the weekend. The problem
is that it is not playable beyond the neck due to the face deformation. I can try to make the strings higher at the bridge but the action is already
high.
I am thinking that in order to make the oud fully playable and with low action it would need a tapered new thin fingerboard over the actual one with
a new nut and an added bone over the bridge.
Thanks Jonathan, please feel free to post it on your great website, it'd be my 3rd oud on your website and another luthier saved from being forgotten.
Jonathan - 4-30-2010 at 06:39 AM
I really, really appreciate it. I was just about to send you a u2u asking permission.
Thanks again. And again.
I am having some computer problems, but hope to have it updated and include this oud within the next week.
Faladel - 5-1-2010 at 08:57 AM
Dear ALAMI:
Can you post the sound of this OUD.
Thanks
ALAMI - 5-1-2010 at 11:57 PM
Jonathan, don't mention it, your site is a great reference.
Faladel, I am still trying to reach an understanding with the pegs, we're still negotiating, today I warned them that if they don't cooperate I'll
take to the doctor who has big needles.
Faladel - 5-2-2010 at 12:26 AM
Dear ALAMI:
Oh .... these pegs should be very careful, since the doctors we are very cruel ..... I have to wait until this illness should treat ....
) 
cordial greetings
ALAMI - 5-2-2010 at 03:38 AM
Well, menace with some talc, soap, cutter and sanding paper, seem to work.
Again, a quick raw recording with brand new strings (same Pyramid Lute Matthias set p25), and same recording settings.
This oud has punch, and long bassy resonance, a completely different timbre than the Abdo Nahat even though they look very similar and have almost
same age, size and string length.
Attachment: Awadikian.mp3 (708kB)
This file has been downloaded 304 times
Ararat66 - 5-2-2010 at 05:39 AM
Hi Alami
Now that sounds really nice - also your playing has come on so much, very nice sound. The oud has a lovely shimmering sound and sounds very
responsive and resonant and even slightly untamed :-) I'd love to try that one one day.
Does this make you an oud magnet???
Leon