Mike's Oud Forums

Bridge buzz

madzub - 5-14-2005 at 03:46 PM

Hi folks - I have a Turkish (Cancaya) oud which has developed an intermittent buzz after 3 years of gentle playing. It gets triggered by loud volume, and can be quietened by pressing hard on the soundboard just outside of the treble end of the bridge. It will go away for awhile, then return.

Does anyone know if this might be a problem with the bridge itself or the bracing beneath?

Dr. Oud - 5-14-2005 at 06:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by madzub
Hi folks - I have a Turkish (Cancaya) oud which has developed an intermittent buzz after 3 years of gentle playing. It gets triggered by loud volume, and can be quietened by pressing hard on the soundboard just outside of the treble end of the bridge. It will go away for awhile, then return.

Does anyone know if this might be a problem with the bridge itself or the bracing beneath?

This sounds like a cracked or delaminated (unglued) brace. If the bridge were loose it would come off the face, usually taking some of the face with it. You might try tapping lightly around the face with the side of your thumb and see if you can hear the difference in the area you suspect. The repair requires removing the Rose and re-gluing the brace or gluing the crack. You need a special long clamp to close the joint reliably. There are some qualified oud repair people out there, where are you?

reply to droud

madzub - 5-15-2005 at 08:08 AM

thanks for your reply Richard. I'm in the other Vancouver (BC Canada) so I'm not THAT far away....Your speculation would confirm my own presumption (though I was kind of hoping it might somehow be an invisible problem with the bridge which would mean an easier repair).

Is there any way of giving me a ballpark estimate on such a repair, should it turn out to be a loose brace? you can e-mail me direct at peterchloe@shaw.ca or post a reply here. thanks again