Mike's Oud Forums

Marice Ouds

FilipHolm - 6-23-2013 at 06:39 PM

Hello.
I've never posted here before so I guess I should introduce myself first.
My name is Filip, I am 19 years old and I live in Sweden.
I've been playing Oud for little more than a year, and in addition to having played guitar 6 years prior I also recently picked up the Armenian Duduk.

I've been playing on a student level Turkish style oud for the past year, but now felt like I wanted to change to a professional instrument, and the more arabic style of oud.
I contacted Maurice ouds (who I've heard is a reliable luthier?) and he said he can provide me with a professional and newly built instrument for about 1000 dollars (case included). It seemed like a reasonable price and I decided to go for it. I got my salary a few days ago and was supposed to mail them again and tell them I'm ready to order, but I only get an error message after a few hours saying the mail wasn't delivered. I've checked so the mail adress is correct (and the same they answered from earlier) and that there's nothing wrong with my account. Just my luck :p

I guess I have 2 questions for you:

1. Does anyone have any experience with Maurice ouds? Do they provide good instruments? Or should I for some reason hit the brakes and contact someone else?

2. If you are in contact with them, have you had the same problem with not being able to send them e-mails lately?

I can't wait to get my new oud so forgive my impatience :p

Regards,
Filip

Jody Stecher - 6-23-2013 at 07:57 PM

For $1000 I would consider a Faruk Tarunz "price point" model (voiced for Arab tuning). There is excellent quality control here and you can be certain what you are getting. For that same amount you can also sometimes find good quality used Arab ouds in Europe. They show up here on this forum from time to time.

Giorgioud - 6-25-2013 at 04:28 PM

Hello Filip and welcome to the forum. You might want to try this great German oud maker: http://www.oud-werkstatt.de and his name is Helge Zwirner. He is based in Schleswig-Holsten, not even that far from you. The great thing is that for that budget he will discuss at lenght any requirement you might have and produce an excellent oud right within your budget. Mattter of fact, i am in the process of discussing the possibikity of a 5-course oud right within that price range. Worth a try, without a dobt....

FilipHolm - 8-2-2013 at 09:22 AM

Thank you for the answers!

I decided to go with a Shehata oud anyway.

There was a little misunderstanding though:
I originaly wanted a "Canadian red cedar Walnut" soundboard, which is at a price of 1000 dollars.
However, as I just wrote "Walnut" they interpreted that as the "Swedish Walnut" soundboard. Price being 650 dollars.

The oud is finished and on it's way, but I'm obviously a bit concerned. How much will this affect the quality of the oud, mainly the sound?
I wanted a professional instrument of high quality that would last me for years, is this price differece a big deal or should I not be worried and just enjoy my new oud? :)

Thanks,
Filip

Here's a picture:


[file]27306[/file]

Jody Stecher - 8-2-2013 at 10:52 AM

I'd be more concerned with how a tree can be cedar and walnut at once,

FilipHolm - 8-2-2013 at 10:54 AM

Well hey, that's what the price list say. I'm no expert. :p

SamirCanada - 8-2-2013 at 11:21 AM

Having been there and purchased ouds from Maurice before. I wouldnt worry about he quality of the ouds he has for the export market are played by the staff there and they make sure it is a good instrument. It looks like a very nice one by the way. Classic Maurice style.

What you have there looks like a spruce soundboard. I can tell you with 100% certainty its not a swedish walnut soundboard LOL. Walnut is probably the wood used for the back of the oud.

I beleive they are good people but more often then not they are completely lost in translation when speaking about english names for wood.



Jody :D good one

FilipHolm - 8-2-2013 at 01:25 PM

I never doubted the skill of Maurices workers. But your words are reassuring :)
Thank you for the answer and the compliments :)

Jason - 8-3-2013 at 09:27 AM

I'd almost guarantee it is a spruce soundboard with a walnut bowl. Looks good!

FilipHolm - 8-3-2013 at 10:44 AM

And how is Spruce wood for Soundboard? Is the sound good?


EDIT: I have done some research and feel that I have good information.
Sorry about my ignorance in this subject, I feel kind of like an idiot asking all these questions. But I learn more everyday and will keep on doing so.

Thanks all

Christian1095 - 8-23-2013 at 08:46 AM

I had Maurice Shehata make me a custom oud a few years ago... I love it. Since my Arabic was not very good, Mike from the forums acted as the middle man for me (thanks again)

I don't think you have anything to worry about in terms of quality from his shop. I had NO problems with them at all....

Here's my post on my Shehata oud
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=9145#pid618...

Sawsan - 9-28-2013 at 02:43 PM

@Giorgioud: I checked the link you posted above out, but it's in German. And only his career-autobiography in Arabic. So, my question, I guess, is how do you communicate with him and how do you manage to use the website? Thanks!

Sawsan - 9-28-2013 at 02:44 PM

FilipHolm: Congrats! Your oud looks nice! Keep us updated on how things go.

Luttgutt - 10-2-2013 at 01:56 PM

Hei Filip!

Og gratulerer med lutten.

P.s. Si fra hvis du er innom Oslo en gang, og har tid...


Dr. Oud - 10-5-2013 at 12:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher  
I'd be more concerned with how a tree can be cedar and walnut at once,
It's grafted. Walnuts are from English walnut upper branches grafted to a black walnut trunk/root system so why not cedar? I'm just sayin'....:shrug:

Jody Stecher - 10-5-2013 at 06:01 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Dr. Oud  
Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher  
I'd be more concerned with how a tree can be cedar and walnut at once,
It's grafted. Walnuts are from English walnut upper branches grafted to a black walnut trunk/root system so why not cedar? I'm just sayin'....:shrug:


You're right. I should have asked how a single board of wood can be cedar and walnut at once.

FilipHolm - 10-5-2013 at 10:04 AM

To end the confusion. What that meant was that the body is walnut and the soundboard is Swedish Spruce. I only have my own ignorance to blame.

It's now been 2 months and I absolutely love my oud.
I'm almost ashamed by this whole thread, and the fact that I had to ask about Maurice, who's reputation and history I learned about shortly after creating the thread.

ultragroove - 10-5-2013 at 03:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Dr. Oud  
Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher  
I'd be more concerned with how a tree can be cedar and walnut at once,
It's grafted. Walnuts are from English walnut upper branches grafted to a black walnut trunk/root system so why not cedar? I'm just sayin'....:shrug:


Sorry to say that, but as a gardener I have to tell you that one can only grafting together two similar species e.g. Prunus Armenica on to a Prunus Domestica seedling. there's no way for grafting a deciduous tree (walnut) to a conifer (cedar). That would only be working with varieties from the same family. But I bet you two members already knew what Filip meant in his post... ;)

Congratulations to Filip for his new oud - happy playing and good health to your hands! also requesting soundfile/video... ;)

Jody Stecher - 10-5-2013 at 05:09 PM

Humor was my intent, but I had no idea what was meant by " Canadian red cedar walnut soundboard". It turns out that "cedar" meant spruce, "soundboard" meant bowl, and "Canada" meant Sweden. That's not an easy code to crack.
Quote: Originally posted by ultragroove  
Quote: Originally posted by Dr. Oud  
Quote: Originally posted by Jody Stecher  
I'd be more concerned with how a tree can be cedar and walnut at once,
It's grafted. Walnuts are from English walnut upper branches grafted to a black walnut trunk/root system so why not cedar? I'm just sayin'....:shrug:


I bet you two members already knew what Filip meant in his post... ;)



Giorgioud - 10-6-2013 at 11:40 AM

Sawsan,
The guy, Helge, speaks pretty good English, so you won't have any difficulty communicating