Mike's Oud Forums

Used Oud Project (1st for me)

bassicmelodies - 3-12-2011 at 10:19 PM

Hello Everyone!

My name is Christopher, I'm new forum. I'm also new to Ouds. I was interested because of the fretless nature (I'm a bassist). So, tonight I picked up an Oud off of Craigslist in my area (Portland Oregon). I payed $200.00 for the instrument. Curious as to if I got ripped off, but it's the past. I do need help with some things. I can't identify it, may not be worth the effort to clarify the builder.

The top piece was replaced due to a crack during travels. It's a book matched spruce top. It isn't finished, which the owner claimed to be "traditional". I believe the saddle is rosewood or an imitation. The saddle has only 11 holes in it, using the bass string as a single. The bracing under the top piece is simpler than I imagined. An X-brace under the bridge and saddle, and a single brace (across the width between the sound hole and fingerboard.) Is that typical? The scale is just shy of 24 inches. 12 tuning holes with 11 ebony tuning pegs. The tuning pegs go directly into the headstock, which I found to be strange. Is that typical as well, nothing holding them in place, no metal or anything of the sort? The tuning pegs would not stay put with strings on them, I did a bit of reading and saw that soap or chalk could be a solution. Here are some approx. measurements: 14.33" across 9" deep

So I know there are some different styles of Ouds, it'd be nice to know what I working with. Any opinions? The other question I had was strings, as a bassist I was a huge fan of Tomastic and Infield, which they make Oud strings to my suprise:

http://www.juststrings.com/toi-315e.html

They worth it? I guess the question is, what should I look for in strings?

Last but not least, these are just the observations I made with my own experiences. Anything I should be looking for that I didn't mention, details I'm missing?

Thanks so much for helping me out. I'm excited to learn a new instrument and take ownership in the condition of it.

Here is a link to the photos I've taken:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=56128&id=100000570803468


Peace & Love

CJF

BaniYazid - 3-13-2011 at 04:34 AM

Hello

and welcome in this forum.
You can follow this link about Tomastic strings
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=11094#pid76...
I've no experience with this strings but search on the forum, you'll find that they are not as good as there guitar sets.
"So I know there are some different styles of Ouds, it'd be nice to know what I working with."
If I'm not wrong, 24 inches equal 60.96 centimetres, it's an "arabic scale". It's better to use arabic string sets than turkish, even if it's possible.
take a look to this resellers, they are member of this forum and helpful :
http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php
http://www.music-strings.de/index.php?k=33&lang=eng
http://www.ostriemusicsupplies.com/oud-strings.htm

Personally, I'm a six months beginner, I tried those string sets on my arabic ouds (60-61 cm scale)
-Pyramid 650/11-w ( http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=... ) => i don't really appreciate this set

-Pyramid 665/11 http://www.music-strings.de/index.php?a=8395&lang=eng => I really appreciate this one! warm sound

-Daniel Mari arabic oud set http://www.ostriemusicsupplies.com/marioud-ar.htm => Like them too, brighter sound than Pyramid 665/11, and inexpensive set. Better quality/price I found yet.

There are many string set, many personal set you can make, many materials, ... combine them with many ouds, type of wood, personal feeling, experience,... a life is not enough perhaps.

I understand your excitation, the better advices I can give you are :
- read a lot in these forum, search by key words (sleeping pegs, string length, ...) you'll surely find questions other asked before you
- buy an arabic string set, tune it (low) CFFAADDGGCC (high), the most common arabic tunning
- look for a teacher or/and buy LEARN MAQAMAT on OUD http://cgi.ebay.com/LEARN-MAQAMAT-OUD-VERSION-2-OUD-BASICS-/2507018...
- play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play

Hope it can help

Salam

Brian Prunka - 3-13-2011 at 06:25 AM

Hi Christopher, welcome to the forums!
Quote:
It's a book matched spruce top. It isn't finished, which the owner claimed to be "traditional".


That's true. The top should be unfinished, in most cases a finish will detract from the sound.
Quote:
bracing under the top piece is simpler than I imagined. An X-brace under the bridge and saddle, and a single brace (across the width between the sound hole and fingerboard.) Is that typical?


No, that's not a typical oud bracing, but sometimes people do experiments. I'm curious how it sounds.
Quote:
The tuning pegs go directly into the headstock, which I found to be strange. Is that typical as well, nothing holding them in place, no metal or anything of the sort? The tuning pegs would not stay put with strings on them, I did a bit of reading and saw that soap or chalk could be a solution.

That's also traditional. It's the same on violin, viola, and cello . . . not "strange" really. Your pegs look okay, but you need to press them in a bit when tuning it up (not too hard). The friction should hold them in place.

I'd have someone who is used to ouds try it before sticking soap or chalk on there. In my experience, it's rare that ouds need anything on the pegs.
Quote:
So I know there are some different styles of Ouds, it'd be nice to know what I working with.


As mentioned, you have an Arabic oud, it should be tuned CFAdgc' (low to high, the low C is the one on your bass's A string, the high c is middle c, two octaves up.)

Quote:
The other question I had was strings, as a bassist I was a huge fan of Tomastic and Infield, which they make Oud strings to my suprise:


As a guitarist, I love Thomastik guitar strings, but their oud strings were not of the same quality when I tried them. It's been several years since I played them, so it may be they have improved them in the meantime, but I doubt it.
They are not bad, but don't go by your experience with their bass strings.


It looks like you got a decent instrument, $200 is a very reasonable price I think.

There are many options for strings, as mentioned. Different ouds and different players will have different preferences.

bassicmelodies - 3-13-2011 at 10:25 AM

Thanks you two for the responses. I didn't realize until now that I'd be learning quarter tones. This really excites me!! Here are the strings that I ended up purchasing:

http://www.juststrings.com/lab-ou80a.html

When I get it up and running I'll be sure to record it so we can discuss how the bracing has affected the sound.

I'll be in touch. Thanks again!

CJF

Brian Prunka - 3-13-2011 at 10:46 AM

Those strings are for tuning FAdgcf, a higher tuning than the "standard". Nothing wrong with that, plenty of people use it (such as Anouar Brahem).

It is worth considering what tuning you want to use, though.