Mike's Oud Forums

Marcel Khalifes oud

hamed - 7-5-2005 at 10:17 PM

hi everyone, i'm not sure if this question has been answered or not, forgive me if it already has. I would like to know what string length Marcel Khalife uses on his Bashir oud, judging from his dvd footage and the sound of his oud, i don't think its 57 cm like most bashir ouds. If anyone has the exact measurement i would be very greatfull.




thank you

samzayed - 7-5-2005 at 10:50 PM

Hi Hamed, I've asked this question too, since it is a very interesting inquiry to say the least. I don't think anyone has offically responded, but here's my theory . . .

I think Marcel probobly uses a longer string length (59, 60?) since he tunes traditional arabic tuning (C F A d g c') I can't confirm this, but his sound is very traditional even though his oud has a floating bridge. This is just a guess based on theoretical assumptions.

However, I will going to the Arab Music Retreat next month, where Marcel's cousin and fellow oud collaborater Charbel Rouhana will be there (he's in the dvd). I will definitely ask, and post my findings.

jazzchiss - 7-6-2005 at 12:16 AM

I have an old vinyl of the Arabesques collection that says that Bashir’s ouds are 585 mm of string.

Now that I have a Turkish oud of 58 cm and a Syrian of 61, I encounter that is necessary a period of adaptation to pass from one to the other. Do you think are possible to dominate both or are better to specialize in always playing with the same length of string?

hamed - 7-6-2005 at 12:36 AM

thank you samzayed, i was thinking along the same lines, i wanted to say it was 60 cm or so, but i wanted to make sure. if you ever find out the real info from Mr. Rouhana be sure to look up this thread or start another, i would be most greatfull.

jazzchiss, i'm sure you could master both stringlenghts with minimal adapting time between youre turkish and syrian oud, i think it depends on how good youre ears are too.

thank you

Ronny Andersson - 7-12-2005 at 01:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by hamed
hi everyone, i'm not sure if this question has been answered or not, forgive me if it already has. I would like to know what string length Marcel Khalife uses on his Bashir oud, judging from his dvd footage and the sound of his oud, i don't think its 57 cm like most bashir ouds. If anyone has the exact measurement i would be very greatfull.
thank you



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