Anyone Identify This Oud and Tunning?

Hello all,
I have just bought used oud. Do not know anything about it.
Not even how to tune it. Anyone tell me a little bit about this instrument?



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This is apparently a typical Egyptian oud made by "oriental Art - Faisal , Tel. ....." written in a very poor handwriting
Nothing is really known about this maker, but the oud looks nice allover. What about the bowl ?
Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb

Good luck
Yours indeed
Alfaraby

Hi rocus 666
welcome to the forums!

Quote: Originally posted by Alfaraby

This is apparently a typical Egyptian oud made by "oriental Art - Faisal , Tel. ....." written in a very poor handwriting Nothing is really known about this maker, but the oud looks nice allover. What about the bowl ? Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb Good luck Yours indeed Alfaraby

Alfaraby,

Thank you so much for your reply...
The inscription from inside the oud was poorly traced by my hand, sorry about the bad handwritting

I have tuned the oud according to your instructions and started playing it. Sounding so warm and has a nice roundness to the tone. It seems very easy and soft on the left hand. According to the previous owner, strings are 15 years old and it was never previously tuned by him. I have ordered the set of La Bella Oud Arabic Tuning 12 string set (w/ opt. High F) OU80A

Hope these strings will work.

I come from a classical guitar background and I own some nice high-end instruments from all over the world. I am proficient with some makam systems, balkan music(based on makam), tamburitza, saz, bouzouki, alternate tunnings on all of them etc.
Playing this oud just seemed natural to me, like I have played it before but never did before...It is all about music after all, instrument is just a vessel of expression. And this one seems to nicely fit for expression of Balkan.

I could be wrong about the quality of this instrument, but I will not know until I try different ouds. The previous owner told me he got it in Egypt at least 15 years ago.

I will take some more high resolution pictures.

Is there anything else I should know about this instrument?
I do not care about the value as I do not intend to sell it.

Thank you all, and I am glad this community exists!

Quote: Originally posted by Marcus

Hi rocus 666 welcome to the forums! Quote: Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb from high to low!! Cheers, Marcus

Thank you Marcus, glad to be here

Oh, now you got me confused here for a second with the tunning

Is this from high to low pitch or from high to low string ?!

If the string on the bottom with the nighest sounding pitch is labeled 1?

So therefore the strings labeled 654321 should be - CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb ?

Is this correct?

sorry for the confusion.

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

Looks like a Fathi Amin oud.

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

Yes, but dont use the high F. like Jody said, cc is the highest string you should put on there. so you may only have 5 courses (10 strings) that are suited for the oud. its an ok tuning but many people add the bass C single string course

Now I am more confused...

As it is now, the oud has 12 strings (6 courses)

I would like to have bottom C string...

So I am still confused. Do I have to get an additional string when I omit the high F ?

What is the proper set of strings/model I should put on this instrument?
Still new to strings...

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

Yeah thats a good string set for your oud. I am sure Brian the owner of oudstrings.com can give you further guidance as to what you want. Basically, this is a very good string set for the price and you can see what your oud sounds like with them. I started using these ones however http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=... the pyramid lute strings. they are phenomenal but you need to pull out your checkbook because they arent cheap. to me they are worth it though.

Quote: Originally posted by rokus666

How long does the set last? I know when I am playing classical guitar a lot, I could change the strings every week or two...

Dobro dosao na forum.

Strings may last longer on a oud then on a guitar as there is no rubbing against the metal frets.

Strings typically last me 4-6 months depending how much I play. That said I have kept strings on a oud which I dont play too much for a year or more to no real detriment except for a little less brightness and very much tarnished silver wound strings. Old strings dont harm the instrument just dont give you the best projection.

I think the oud you have should sound very sweet, Abadi el Johar used to play a similar oud to yours many years ago and it had a great sound. It has been aged to so typically that improves the sound of a oud.

video below
http://youtu.be/eZqZ38oh-Ew

another one:
this is a lesson on how to sing a play oud at the same time. what a legend, love this song.
http://youtu.be/FgUnlAszrk0

Quote: Originally posted by Branko

Quote: Originally posted by rokus666   How long does the set last? I know when I am playing classical guitar a lot, I could change the strings every week or two... Dobro dosao na forum. Strings may last longer on a oud then on a guitar as there is no rubbing against the metal frets.

Hvala Branko. Drago mi je da nas ima.

I have just ordered a pair of strings from oudstrings.com
I just realized they are very close to where I live...
Pretty sure I can find a person that fixes and sets up ouds in NYC just in case it needs some playability adjustments.

Can't wait to get started!

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

Strings typically last me 4-6 months depending how much I play. That said I have kept strings on a oud which I dont play too much for a year or more to no real detriment except for a little less brightness and very much tarnished silver wound strings. Old strings dont harm the instrument just dont give you the best projection. I think the oud you have should sound very sweet, Abadi el Johar used to play a similar oud to yours many years ago and it had a great sound. It has been aged to so typically that improves the sound of a oud. video below http://youtu.be/eZqZ38oh-Ew another one: this is a lesson on how to sing a play oud at the same time. what a legend, love this song. http://youtu.be/FgUnlAszrk0

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

No! dont do it. the scale length on your precious old oud is certainly at least 60. if anything tune down! thats where the beauty will sing best not higher. if you want to play higher get a turkish oud.