Recommendation for good affordable ouds

Hey Fernandraynaud , chill.

Welcome to the forum Doc. The ouds you posted look good for the price. The things you really need to look out for are 1) the action. If the action is too high the oud will be difficult to play. 2) the pegs. If the pegs do not hold firm the oud will be difficult to keep in tune.

After this then it really comes down to the sound you are after. I think the first 2 ouds would be ok for the purposes you mentioned, the 3rd one looks a little too cheap, like for a complete beginner. Then again you may get lucky and the cheaper oud could sound better.

If you go for any of the ouds you posted they are Turkish so remember not to tune turkish with an arabic string set as this is will give too much tension. I hope this helps. Keep looking on the forum for ouds for for sale there are always some for sale here.

@ charlie oud:

Thanks man!!

Now THAT's what I expected. Simple question, simple answer.

Yes I want the arabic sound. I have, of course, read about the different tunings and will be carefully. It's just that I do not want to buy complete trash. Just a "good enough" oud. Only for recording purposes.

Ok, thanks a lot bro!!

@fern:

Ok, ok, now.. I guess it's time to point out something:

Look, the oud as I want to use it is meant to play LITTLE lines of a few seconds in the complete arrangement of Arab pop - again - P.O.P. songs. As I said we are talking music like Amr Diab, Samira Said and the more modern stuff of this region.

I did NOT intent to play incorrectly, did I? You are talking to a professional musician who releases albums worldwide via professional labels in Spain, Australia or Japan. I am not Quincy Jones but do not tell me that I want to play "incorrectly" only because I ask for a reasonably-priced oud!!! I was not looking at the cheapo stuff but at the affordable instruments. Nothing less.

I should add: I own around 15 guitars (USA made G&L, Kramer, Ibanez, Fender etc.), basses (rare Schack, Peavey) and acoustics (upper series Yamaha), up to 10 different amps and preamps as well as 4 - 5 professional synthesizers (Rolands, Korgs) - and those only being my PHYSICAL instruments. I do not want to talk about the VST's and the studio itself. That does not belong here. But: All these instruments differ from $400 instruments to way more expensive stuff depending on what I use regularly and what is only needed for that "spice" in an arrangement.

So bottom line: Neither is my intention to play incorrectly (or not to respect the whole Arabic world - I should add my girl friend is half-egypian!) nor is it to study 8 hours a day for fifteen years only to play the oud like Naseer Shamma.

And please take into account: I am a musicologist and guitarist (since 17 years) and as such have definitely lots of insight into music theory. So understanding the oud and its physics is not a problem at all for me. We are talking about getting into the playing just to such a degree that lets one record correct and classy oud lines for - again - P.O.P.-arrangements. I do not want to record solo records with the oud. This I do with the electric guitar only. So I cannot understand the discussion and the stressy ambience you are spreading.

I have no intention to debate here any longer about what I do or compose. I am a musician and composer and just NEED the oud sound in the arrangement. But I cannot justify paying $1500 for a wonderfull killer oud which only gets used on those Arab Pop productions (which make up 15% of my productions a year). My main musical sector is Metal, Blues, Fusion, New Age and German Pop music.

Ok I hope you have understood this now. I needed to point this out as I realize that you are very stressed about oud-newbies asking questions and not wanting to spend $5000 for the perfect oud. The oud may be YOUR main instrument and so you have YOUR views but for me the main instrument is the electric guitar. The oud is a great instrument, too, and I will have a lot of fun getting into it just as I did lots of years ago when I started out on the lapsteel. But: It is only a secondary instrument in my arsenal.

So, please, drop this discussion now as my question has already been answered and you will probably not see another post of mine here on this forum. I have no time for hanging around here 12 hrs a day. It is just a forum with nice people helping each other - and thanks again to charlie (U rule!)!

So peace up, chill and relax!
Doc

@fern:

THX for your link and final cilled out mood ;-)

Quote: Originally posted by doctorrockter

I just expect - as written in bold letters - a recommendation on where to a good oud in central Europe. Mike said that here are lots of European people. So I expect someone to just give me some names.. of stores.. or brands... Nothing more, nothing less... Just names of addresses where to buy and where definitely NOT to buy..