Mike's Oud Forums

Need help buying an Oud!

zeeku777 - 8-9-2012 at 02:33 PM

Hello all!

I've been searching these forums for weeks and decided it was time for me to get an account. A little introduction - I live in Vermont USA, and am going to college for Jazz (2nd year). I play Mandolin professionally, and have done lots of middle eastern adaptations over the past year for Mandolin which have been a BLAST to do!

However, now I am looking to buy a great Oud from a reliable luthier. From what I have researched I am looking for an Arabic/Egyptian Oud. I have been looking around the forums and came up with a few possibilities - but - I really have no clue which builders are good and are reputable. So with much praise I ask Mike's Oud forum for some help?

I have about $600 to play with right now, and these makers seemed good buys?

http://www.oud.net/acoustic.htm

http://www.mauriceouds.com/home.htm

http://www.samir-oud.8m.com/products.htm

I haven't been able to find prices on any of these, so maybe they are beyond my price range? I hope not!


A million thanks to everyone who has any information to share!
~Henry Clark




(P.S. - I know Arabic Ouds have larger bowls, is this ever an issue? Is the bowl on some Arabic Ouds large enough to become uncomfortable/difficult to play with? I am 5"9 so I don't think I'll have an issue, but it's always good to ask)

John Erlich - 8-9-2012 at 03:20 PM

Hi Henry,

The only professional quality ouds that I know of that sell for $600.00 are Sukar's: http://www.oudsukar.com Unfortunately, given the current situation in Syria, I seriously doubt he is currently able to do business. I personally didn't love the Sukar ouds I tried, but some Arabic-style players swear by them. Maybe you could get one though Ebay?

Najarian is in the USA (So. Cal.) and charges much more than $600.00 (I paid $1,200 over decado ago for his cheapest model, if memory serves). You might be able to get a Maurice Shehata for a bit more than $600 (I paid $750 in 2000 after an hour and a half of hard bargaining in his Cairo shop).

Good luck,
"Udi" John

Oudbedis - 8-9-2012 at 03:56 PM

About the Bowl , I played with different Arabic Ouds , with different sizes of bowls , I must admit that I had some problems at first because It's a new Oud , larger one , comparing to mine , but soon I got used to them , It is all about how you will put you arm on the upper side of the oud . As you may noticed , Oud players generally put their arms ( precisely , at the first point on the left on this photo , see attatchment ) , but how putting your right arm resting on the Oud reterns essentially to you , there is no strict rules on how you will do it , as you can see in this video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TiZ_piHJ68&feature=relmfu ) at the end , in addition , 6" is really perfect , I do not think that you will face a problem .
Good luck so !
I hope you will get a great oud :)

Bedis

bras-gauche---jeu-complet--[1].jpg - 6kB

conroystoptime - 8-9-2012 at 05:26 PM

You can find a good Arabic oud for that price, but only if you are very patient. I bought a Sukar I really like from a Mike's member for $500, but it took some time.

If you're willing to go up to the $850 range, Mavrothi Kontanis (he's in the NYC area) has some really cool ouds. He generally carries Turkish ouds, but he may still have one left from an order he placed with a Tunisian luthier.

I played one of them a month ago. They're simple, but very well built, with a nice, dry, balanced sound.

Video here: http://www.oudsforsale.oudcafe.com/Arabic_Ouds.html

Contact info is on the same site.

Bedis's input on arm technique is smart, by the way!

Oudbedis - 8-9-2012 at 05:55 PM

Thank you conroystoptime , I am planning to post a new topic about that , soon , I have a lot to say as I have some questions about as well

Oudbedis - 8-9-2012 at 07:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by conroystoptime  
You can find a good Arabic oud for that price, but only if you are very patient. I bought a Sukar I really like from a Mike's member for $500, but it took some time.

If you're willing to go up to the $850 range, Mavrothi Kontanis (he's in the NYC area) has some really cool ouds. He generally carries Turkish ouds, but he may still have one left from an order he placed with a Tunisian luthier.

I played one of them a month ago. They're simple, but very well built, with a nice, dry, balanced sound.

Video here: http://www.oudsforsale.oudcafe.com/Arabic_Ouds.html

Contact info is on the same site.

Bedis's input on arm technique is smart, by the way!


I played one of Ridha Jendoubi's Ouds , A oud of 450 Euros , a month from now , it's not a bad Oud , but Abd Al Hamid Al Hadded's Ouds in Tunisia are better ,for price and quality , I would advice to buy one of Haddad's Oud's if someone is interested in the local-built Ouds in Tunisia .
Bedis

zeeku777 - 8-11-2012 at 02:56 PM

Thanks everyone for all the great information!

I got a message from a member recently talking about a couple different options I could look into. Sounds very promising - thought I would check on here to see what others thought!

First one recommended was Helge from Germany, his site is here:
http://www.oud-werkstatt.de/index.html
Wondered if anyone else has good experiences with this builder? His work looks just plain gorgeous, and apparently very affordable

The second is Fathy Ameen, a well known luthier and apparently in my price range give-or-take a little.

Both look like positively amazing builders, and I'll probably be wanting to buy an Oud from one of them. Just wanted to check and see what kind of feedback they get!

Thanks again everyone! Such a wonderful forum!
~Henry