Mike's Oud Forums

oud picks

oudplayer - 9-7-2004 at 06:22 PM

hi all
this i really need i was using pyaramed picks for my oud and both broke within like 3 months or so i really need one that one break i was playing tonight it it broke in my hand so i need good quality can some one tell me wherei cane get some not to ex pensive
thx
sammy

Elie Riachi - 9-7-2004 at 07:07 PM

Hi,
I will have some for sale in a couple of weeks. I expect them to be excellent quality. I will have them in thicknesses of: .020" and .040". And a little over 1/4" wide and 5" long. The thin ones are red tortoise color and the thicker ones will be pearloid color. They are all made from celluloid, the best material for picks in my experience. I am not sure what the price will be yet.

I also have plain white ones made out of vinyl material which is very durable and I'll sell each for $1, buyer pays shipping. These are .04" thick. I prefer the sound of the celluloid.

Let me know if anyone is interested.

mavrothis - 9-7-2004 at 08:40 PM

Hi Elie,

I'd be interested in trying a few of the celluloid. Let me know when they are ready. ;)

Take care,

mav

samzayed - 9-7-2004 at 10:04 PM

I am intersted in a few. Please let me know

Elie Riachi - 9-8-2004 at 04:22 AM

Hello Mav and Sam,

I sure will let you know when I get them. I will post a picture also.

Do you know if you want the thin or thick?

Elie

mavrothis - 9-8-2004 at 10:46 AM

Hi,

I'd probably like the thick best, but I would want to try both probably. :)

Take care,

mav

samzayed - 9-8-2004 at 11:20 AM

same here, I like the thick, but I would like to try both. Can this material be sanded ?

Elie Riachi - 9-8-2004 at 01:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by samzayed

Can this material be sanded ?


Yes, but do not use a highspeed sanding wheel.

Elie

samzayed - 9-8-2004 at 03:25 PM

Elie, are these picks you are referring to made by Pyramid? I actually have some of the newer ones they've made, and they're not bad.

If they are not made by Pyramid, then I'm still curious.

Either way, THANKS Elie!

Elie Riachi - 9-8-2004 at 04:49 PM

These plectrums will be made by none other than yours truely.

I did not know that Pyramid makes picks.

I am going to end up with more plectrums than I will probably use up in a while, so I thought if someone is interested in trying them I will sell the extras at cost.

Elie

samzayed - 9-8-2004 at 05:34 PM

Cool :D Count me in!

oudplayer - 9-8-2004 at 06:00 PM

hey thx agian
sounds like a plan count me in
thx sammy

david - 9-8-2004 at 07:59 PM

:DKeep me in mind also!!!!!!!!!

Jonathan - 9-8-2004 at 08:30 PM

I could use some if you have more available.
Thanks

Elie Riachi - 9-9-2004 at 01:35 PM

Hello,

You are all on the list on a first come first serve basis. I will confirm with you with details as soon as these picks are ready.

Best wishes,
Elie

Material is here

Elie Riachi - 9-18-2004 at 07:06 PM

I am ready to ship the celluloid plectrums, rihis or oud picks. The picks are 7 mm wide and about 5 inches long. They come in two gauges Heavy and Extra Heavy. My favorite is the Extra Heavy, it is loud and makes my cheap Syrian sound almost like a studio recording, but you might want to try both, the heavy has a nice sound also.

Prices are:
Heavy, red tortoise color----- $1 each
Extra Heavy, Pearloid color---$ 1.50 each

Buyer picks up shipping costs.

If you are interested, send me an email to eriachi "the at symbol @" swbell.net. Put RISHI in the subject line. Please specify the type, the quantity of each and the address to which I should mail the items. I will send you an email with my mailing address after I receive your email.

Regards,
Elie Riachi

Strange

Elie Riachi - 10-11-2004 at 04:28 PM

Last night I sent out 3 emails to people who are interested in buying these picks and since then I have recieved over 300 returned undilevered SPAM messages the are sent by someone else, but somehow I end up getting the undelivery notices and spam messages here and there. I am capable of tracking the spamer down, but I do not have time right now (although a fine of $500 per message might be worth the trouble of tracking the spammer.) I sure hope that the spammer is not a brother oudist becuase this is a sure way to poison this wonderfull forum and destroy it.

Has anyone had the same unfortunate experience?

Regards,
Elie

oudplayer - 10-11-2004 at 06:34 PM

this is harable
I dont know what to do is there anything i can do i just wanted to know i fyou got my check and if you sent them out i am a lil slow anyhtin gi can do email me
thx
sammy

Elie Riachi - 10-11-2004 at 06:49 PM

Hi Sammy,

I did get your check and mailed your rishis last Monday by first class mail so you should be getting them soon then you'll have to post a recording of you playing the oud with these rishis. Let me know what you think.

Take care,
Elie

oudplayer - 10-11-2004 at 07:05 PM

hey thx again i am sure they are amazing
sa soon i get them i will send a clip of my playing.
thx
sammy

Oud Picks

oudmad - 10-18-2004 at 09:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elie Riachi
Hi Sammy,

I did get your check and mailed your rishis last Monday by first class mail so you should be getting them soon then you'll have to post a recording of you playing the oud with these rishis. Let me know what you think.

Eli: I am interested in buying two of each. Please advise payment/shipping details. I dont have a grip on the workings of this forum, so please send me the info at freshair234@ubbi.com. Thanks, Al

Take care,
Elie

Elie Riachi - 10-18-2004 at 03:57 PM

Hi Oudmad,

I am all sold out. I will post when I get more. These things are a lot of work, but I do not mind because I think it is about time we had some decent alternatives to the other common materials.

Elie Riachi

Late!

Khyam - 10-21-2004 at 01:28 AM

Hi Guys,

It's a shame I am too late to catch your offer Elie!

I am just looking for some new picks now because all of mine are rubbish!

Does anyone know where I might be able to order some online?

Thanks,
Khyam

Source for risha/oud plectrum material

LeeVaris - 10-21-2004 at 09:30 AM

For those that might be interested, I've found a source for Delrin strips. This material is similar to the tortex plectrum sold for guitar picks. The material is sold in 1/2" wide strips that are 5' long you can cut the strips into 10 - 6" rishas for about $1 each. The supplier sells these for use as harpsichord plectrum. here is the link:

http://www.fortepiano.com/plectra.htm

Scroll down the page to find the Delrin strips - you're looking for Thick, Medium Thick and Medium... these gauges should cover most stiffness preferences from medium stiff (Thick) to soft (Medium). I tried the "Black" Delrin –as far as I can tell, this material, in the Thick gauge, is exactly like the plastic risha that Afif uses. Phone to order – you will end up talking to a very German sounding gentleman!

I actually prefer something a little stiffer but these sound good, they are easy to cut and shape AND they last a long time!

Elie Riachi - 10-21-2004 at 03:41 PM

Hello,

My offer may come around again in a few months. I am just swamped at the time working from 6:00 am to Midnight every night trying to make a living.

I have few questions. How stiff are horn rishas? And how do you folks like them aside from breaking often?

Elie

Horn Rishas

LeeVaris - 10-21-2004 at 05:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elie Riachi
How stiff are horn rishas? And how do you folks like them aside from breaking often?


Horn rishas can be very good or very bad depending on the quality of the horn. They can also be of any thickness. I've had good luck and bad with rishas from Nile Shop (mostly bad but 1 was good out of a batch of varying thickness- it happened to be a fairly flexible one)

I have some excellent horn rishas from Ronny that I like quite a bit. Good horn can last quite long. Typically they have a softer attack with a smoother sound - less "click" than plastic. I prefer fairly stiff rishas and the horn rishas I have give me a kind of soft "punchy" sound (somewhat reminiscent of Basel's soft rishas without the bottoming out click) – a contrast to the sharp "clear" sound of the quill rishas I've been experimenting with. As soon as I get some extra time I will put up some photos and sample sounds for my collection of rishas.

It is my belief that you can get a good sound out of all kinds of different risha with the proper technique - much of it is personal preference.

Ronny Andersson - 10-21-2004 at 08:28 PM

> a contrast to the sharp "clear" sound of >the quill rishas I've been experimenting >with. As soon as I get some extra time I >will put up some photos and sample >sounds for my collection of rishas.

Lee, the eagle quill rishas that I have are very soft and much softer than horn rishas. The eagle rishas are known to be very difficult to master and I'm refering to the Iraqi way of making and playing them.

Elie Riachi - 10-21-2004 at 08:51 PM

How would horn and quil rishis each compare in flexibilty or stiffness relative to guitar pick gauges (Thin, Medium, Heavy, Extra Heavy)?

Ronny and Lee, when you say Eagle rishis are very flexible, are they equivelant to Thin guitar pick or even more flexible?

Regards,
Elie

Ronny Andersson - 10-22-2004 at 12:36 AM

Quote:
.

I have few questions. How stiff are horn rishas? And how do you folks like them aside from breaking often?

Elie


Elie, horn rishas made of good horn quality doesn't break. Horn rishas are superior plastic in tone production.

Where to buy Celluloid

Khyam - 10-22-2004 at 01:12 AM

Elie - It seems that the easiest way to get hold of some new Rishas is to make them yourself so I was wondering if you could pass on the details of the Manufacturer and Specs of the celluloid you bought to make those Rishas in the photos.

Lee - Thanks for the Delrin tip. I think I will probably order some of that too and just make a bunch to see what's best.

I don't know much about rishas etc... but I will post a review of the materials and photos once they're all tried and tested.

Thanks all for your help
Khyam

Elie Riachi - 10-22-2004 at 04:45 AM

Ronny, How do they compare on flexibility to guitar picks. Are they equivelant to the Thin picks, Medium, etc...?

As for rishi material I made the lighter gauge ones using the pick gaurd material from LMI. Make sure you get the celluloid ones.

Regards,
Elie Riachi

Ronny Andersson - 10-22-2004 at 12:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elie Riachi
Ronny, How do they compare on flexibility to guitar picks. Are they equivelant to the Thin picks, Medium, etc...?

As for rishi material I made the lighter gauge ones using the pick gaurd material from LMI. Make sure you get the celluloid ones.

Regards,
Elie Riachi


Elie, I don't know because I have never played with guitar picks on guitar and I don't know anything about guitar picks. A eagle risha of model used by Bashir has a width of 4mm -5mm and a thickness of 0.6mm - 0.8mm.
A horn risha made with these dimensions is unplayable and one need to increase the thickness up to 0.20mm - 0.25mm to obtain any playability. The structure of the eagle risha seems to be very different horn because a eagle risha last much longer time than a horn risha. It's a unique material when it's thin, slim, flexible and extreme strong.

LeeVaris - 10-22-2004 at 02:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elie Riachi
How would horn and quil rishis each compare in flexibilty or stiffness relative to guitar pick gauges (Thin, Medium, Heavy, Extra Heavy)?

Ronny and Lee, when you say Eagle rishis are very flexible, are they equivelant to Thin guitar pick or even more flexible?


Its very hard to draw any definite conclusions. Eagle risha are a completely different item. They are roughly as flexible as thin guitar picks but, because the shape is so different they have unique playing characteristics. They are very flexible but somehow manage to have a very hard surface. As Ronny points out, they are very durable.

They are also very hard to come by!

I have managed to make very serviceable risha from turkey quills but these are still not quite like eagle risha. My attempts using Pea<b>rooster</b> quills didn't work out as well (at least the ones I had). I had a chance to examine Gassan Bashirs eagle risha when I met him a few months ago – it was very flexible but had a subtle "spring" to it that is hard to mimic with any other material. Eagle risha are very narrow and require a bit different technique to get the most out of them.

Again, as soon as I get some time I will take some pictures and post some sound "bites" of some of my risha experiments. I encourage you to try different things but don't get too obsessed. You can make great music with almost any kind of risha if you learn how to use it well!