Scolecite - 8-17-2010 at 06:07 AM
1. How will an OUD differ (sound or feel wise) from a 24.4" (62 centimeter) string length to a 23.4" (59.5 centimeter) string length?
2. I want a typical OUD, should I get 11 courses or 12? Whats the norm?
3. Im worried about getting the right set of strings for the OUD. Does the string length matter when selecting a set? Is there a default quality set
to buy?
4. Is ebony the preferred fretboard material?
Thanks! I hope you havent given anyone cause to pull their hair out 
)
fernandraynaud - 8-17-2010 at 08:16 AM
1 length alone is not the issue, generally Arabic style ouds are long scale and Turkish are short scale. Different in other ways.
2 no structural diff. You can usually string most ouds either 10, 11 or 12. The most common now is 11.
3 no standard, but D'Addario J95 or LaBella O80 or Daniel Mari Arabic Long are good. Most strings are around 36" long, Mari longs are 44", give you
more options.
4 generally yes, but it gives a bright sound and long sustain. This is a complex and not fully understood topic, but the deep percussive Arabic sound
we associate with Farid El Altrache and Riyad Al Sunbati is usually rendered on an oud with a softer fingerboard wood.
Scolecite - 8-17-2010 at 09:28 AM
Thanks! Just the info I was looking for.