Hi
My arab oud has a 60 cm scale. I want to try aquila strings but I don't know if I need normal or light tension.
Can somebody help me please?
Thank youRamii - 1-24-2017 at 12:20 PM
Hi Andalusi
Depends on the type of oud, new or old, Floating bridge or not, personal preference etc.
I use "new nylgut arabic tuning" from Aquila on a floating bridge, as i understand it floating bridges require higher tension, so it could be they
wont fit your oud.
I do find the treble strings a bit weird, but i think that its just me, not being used to the sound of emulated gut, i wonder how other players feel
on treble strings & brands.
Good luck.Andalusí - 1-24-2017 at 01:04 PM
Hi Ramii
My oud is new, with a "classic" bridge. I´m afraid that too much tension will damage my oud.
Thank you for the tipsJody Stecher - 1-24-2017 at 02:49 PM
I suggest that you read the past conversations here on Aquila strings before you do anything. In the past Aquila "normal" tension was too high for
safety. It might be different now. And of course if you buy as set intended for C tuning and tune it to F tuning, your oud will collapse even if the
label says "light".newlife_ks - 1-24-2017 at 02:58 PM
Hello Andalusi!
I have an oud with classic bridge strung with an Aquila 130 set of strings for some weeks now. The high c string sounds a little too sharp when played
open but that's ok with me. Apart from that the strings sound very clear and strong, not very soft. If you prefer softer sound maybe other strings
like Pyramid are better for you.
I like those strings though because of their clear sound which on the other side lacks a little of wooden sound as the Pyramids. Depends on your
taste, but I believe they won't do any harm to your oud if it's of good manufacturing. I'm not through with searching the best strings. If I'd find a
Pyramid set with that kind of high tension as the Aquila 130 I would maybe prefer those if they have that wooden sound in spite of high tension which
I prefer for playing.
What I definitely like is the red coating of C F A and D strings which really does not seem to wear off and makes your strings always look like newly
strung. Cool!Brian Prunka - 1-24-2017 at 03:08 PM
Aquila no longer makes different tension oud sets. They make a set for fixed bridge, CFAdgc' tuning, and a set for floating bridge FAdgc'f' tuning.
The floating bridge set is slightly higher tension if the scale length is equal.
Their standard 13o set for fixed-bridge ouds has fine tension for a 60cm oud, relatively light. Etman - 1-24-2017 at 05:42 PM
I totally agree with "newlife" , I have not tried the pyramid or krucshner yet ! Only cheap Chinese set that came with my oud which has 60cm scale
& then switched to Aquila I30 CFAdgc .. which was huge difference and sounds really nice Clear & Strong
... it is nylgut & sharp " g & c " does not sound so stringy but nice feeling though
Tension was fine !
Definitely like the red color of the copperwound strings
YasserAndalusí - 1-25-2017 at 08:05 AM
Thank you everyone. I will definitely try the aquila strings. I usually tune my oud like an andalusí north Morocco: DEAdgcnewlife_ks - 1-25-2017 at 08:32 AM
Ok. You'll have higher tension on your sixth string compensated by lower tension on your fifth string. Any good oud should be capable to handle that
that, I believe. Maybe you'll have a little more buzz on your fifth string because of lower tension.Andalusí - 1-25-2017 at 12:43 PM
newlife_ks, you´re right: the fifth string buzzes a little bit. But I don´t mind.MattWilks - 1-30-2017 at 09:16 PM
