charlie oud - 1-18-2018 at 04:58 AM
Considering fretting one of my ouds. Just wondering if anyone has done this and how they got on. I play renaissance lute with a plectrum but am
curious to hear the difference between this and a fretted oud tuned with lute gauge strings in renaissance tuning Gg Cc Ff aa dd g. 6 course lute has
octave tuning on the lower 3 courses and the first course is single.
MattOud - 1-18-2018 at 05:08 AM
i've seen a few examples of this on youtube.
Here is a way to 'TRY' frets before actually having them permanently done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aItqGZ0zJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs_pXOoBVLU
seems to be a good way to test it out first! 
Does one even need frets? See here for some info: http://luteshop.co.uk/body-frets-who-needs-them/
charlie oud - 1-18-2018 at 06:37 AM
Thanks Matt will check it out but I already know how to tie frets. I did not mean fixed metal or wooden frets. I mean the same as on my lute, tied gut
as in the videos. I am curious to hear an oud with tied frets. Wondering if anyone has recorded such
SamirCanada - 1-18-2018 at 06:43 AM
our dear forum member John Downing made a reproduction of an early ud with tied frets a while ago. It is certainly possible to do it but I think you
have to put a little shim (about 1.5m or 2mm) behind the nut so the strings can clear the first fret.
I doubt the sound would change much other than be a bit sharper and perfect unison. Unless of course you play with pinched fingers like a lute.
charlie oud - 1-18-2018 at 07:37 AM
Yes a shim under the nut would make sense and what you say about the sound is probably true. I guess the open string sound/tone unfretted is basically
what we would get on all the notes just higher pitch. Thank you.
majnuunNavid - 1-18-2018 at 09:07 AM
I've tried this on my cumbus, and it's very fun. Unfortunately no recording. Cumbus action is higher under the nut so I didn't need the shim. Try it,
would love to see the end result.
Microber - 1-20-2018 at 01:43 AM
Our friend Samir Abbassi has recently made an oud with frets.
Sound and pictures on his facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/samir.abbassi.35/posts/10213973479467619
Note that the tied frets don't go around the neck but through a sort of tunnel.
Branko - 1-31-2018 at 01:13 AM
I had my oud fretted. Shim under nut is required. Sound was more akin to lute than oud. Took frets off shortly after. Not worth doing it.
Jack_Campin - 1-31-2018 at 06:33 AM
There are a few articles by Amine Beyhom on how this was done in the Middle Ages. It's a bearpit of complications if you want to be historically
authentic. I think most of Beyhom's work is in his book, which I have but I can't imagine ever reading cover to cover.
https://www.decitre.fr/livres/theories-de-l-echelle-et-pratiques-mel...
674 pages and that's only volume 1.
Jack_Campin - 2-8-2018 at 03:36 AM
Look on http://lit.gfax.ch and you will find an article by Beyhom about it, under the title "In French--Frettage Du Ud" - it's 6.6Mb so I can't upload it
here.
MattOud - 2-8-2018 at 06:20 AM
Hi Jack,
I am so extremely thankful to your above link!!! So many great pdf's that I have been needing to see!!! There is a section of persian radiff and
scales that fascinate me to read and learn as well, so thanx for this link!!
Matt