NY Oud - 1-3-2012 at 05:19 PM
Hello All,
My name is Anthony and this is my first post on the forum. My fiance just bought me my first oud for Christmas. I can tell that this oud is not
of the utmost quality and she is upset that she didn't get the best for the money. I am now looking into some different ouds of a higher quality. I
will be taking lessons with Brandon Terzic starting this Saturday. Any help would be useful and welcome. Thank you.
Brian Prunka - 1-3-2012 at 05:39 PM
I'm in NY as well, and so is John Vergara (bulerias)
Unfortunately, it's a challenge to find decent Arabic ouds. The good ones tend to be expensive.
For mid-priced ouds, Sukar ouds are the most consistent.
cheers,
Brian
NY Oud - 1-4-2012 at 10:13 AM
I have heard nothing but horror stories about arabinstruments.com on this forum. I was going to contact them about an exchange for a Sukar but the
return period is over. She bought it in November for Christmas. So of course that ate up all the return time. Now I am trying to sell it to get
something better. Good luck to me. Haha.
fernandraynaud - 1-4-2012 at 01:58 PM
And have you looked into what it would cost to ship it back, anyway? In all fairness middle eastern instruments are often not made to e.g. guitar
standards, but still, hearing this story over and over is trying.
NY Oud - 1-4-2012 at 02:06 PM
I am sure it would be costly. As it stands I have an oud that is hardly playable and doesn't really sound like an oud. It sounds like a fretless
classical guitar more than anything. None of the characteristic subtelties in the tone exist. I have my first lesson this Saturday which is fine for
this instrument. however, I do want to get something that sounds and plays like an oud should. I am sure this thing is going to end up being a loss
and sitting in the corner somewhere in the house after i receive my new one.
fernandraynaud - 1-4-2012 at 02:10 PM
Maybe you should post more details and photos. It would be good to know and also sometimes such an oud can be improved.
NY Oud - 1-4-2012 at 02:23 PM
Here are some pics of the oud. One of the biggest construction flaws, is in the nut. The g,c courses are practically on top of eachother as the string
spacing was not measured properly. Across all 6 courses the string spacings are inconsistent at the nut. Surprisingly they got it right at the bridge
end. I put brand new D'Addario strings on it the day I received it. It still does not have the greatest tone and zero sustain.
NY Oud - 1-4-2012 at 02:33 PM
More detail of the nut. The damage you see to the wood on the pegbox was on the oud when it arrived. It looked beaten to hell.
Brian Prunka - 1-4-2012 at 02:51 PM
Brandon may be able to help you find a better oud.
If I was stuck with that instrument, here's what I would do:
-replace the nut and cut the string slots properly
-try to remove all of the finish on the face and fingerboard.
If it's shellac (unlikely), you can do this with alcohol
If it's lacquer, you can do it with lacquer thinner
If it's synthetic, you can do it with sandpaper. Usually the tops on these cheap ouds are thick enough that there is little risk of over-sanding.
The finish on the fingerboard is particularly detrimental. It would probably be easiest to remove that with some kind of scraper. The luthiers on
the forum may have better advice.
John Vergara does work on ouds and may be able to help you, though I don't know if it's worth spending much money on this oud.
If you want to trade up to a high-end oud (I'm talking $1000+), Najib Shaheen may give you some consideration on a trade. He sometimes takes ouds
like this and replaces the face, nut, fingerboard and pegs, and resets the neck, keeping only the bowl and neck.
NY Oud - 1-4-2012 at 04:29 PM
That sounds like a lot of work and time for me to spend on it. I am going to take your advice and try and trade it and money for a better model. Thank
you for your help. I hope being that you are local, perhaps we can meet up and play some time.