Mike's Oud Forums

NEED an adsvice Left handed oud

syrianoud - 8-25-2005 at 07:34 PM

I saw a Shahata oud left handed......Is it posibble to just change the strings and make it right handed.I am afraid to buy it and then it wont work...Best regards , Samir ...California

SamirCanada - 8-25-2005 at 08:48 PM

The reason why its left handed its because left handed players have trouble getting around the first peg of the oud. Because its too close to the hand to get the notes that are close to the nut. So if you change the strings.. to play with your right hand then that first peg is gona be in your way. but other than that I dont thinks its major changes.
Correct me if Iam wrong please.
Samir

syrianoud - 8-25-2005 at 09:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada
The reason why its left handed its because left handed players have trouble getting around the first peg of the oud. Because its too close to the hand to get the notes that are close to the nut. So if you change the strings.. to play with your right hand then that first peg is gona be in your way. but other than that I dont thinks its major changes.
Correct me if Iam wrong please.
Samir


Thank you . but the seller is saying that it was a special order by Shehata, not sure you can see it on Ebay...Best regards allah maak.Samir

Haluk - 8-25-2005 at 10:20 PM

Hi,

The oud should be produced as left handed as the situation of the pegs.

Regards.

Greg - 8-25-2005 at 11:00 PM

Would it not be possible to use the (normally) unused peg at the top end of the pegbox (lower) and move all strings along one position, thereby allowing for the removal of the unwanted peg from the first position?

Are there any other structural differences in left-handed ouds (such as bracing)?

Regards,

Greg

Left Handed Oud

spyrosc - 8-26-2005 at 12:21 AM

There is evidence that some of the oud makers (Nahat, Manol etc) made provision in the bracing for the heavy strings. Some old ouds even have the bridge at a slant to compensate for the heavy strings.

Since the heavy strings are traditionally farthest from the floor, if you simply turn the oud around and re-string it, the "heavy string" braces will now be closer to the floor, and the lighter strings would be where the heavy ones were. This will certainly have a negative effect on those types of oud. I don't know what Shehata does.

In my opinion, the best thing to do, rather than speculate here, why not get in touch with Shehata through Yahia, or through his Web site, and ask him about that specific oud. I'm sure he will know since the oud is newer, and there aren't a million of left-handed ouds he made in the last couple of years.

Good luck
Spyros C.

syrianoud - 8-26-2005 at 04:34 AM

Well if you go to Ebay and look at the pegs the way they are setuated , I am sure now that you cant convert it unless you change the whole peg box....There is a picrure there and I was looking at my Shehata pegbox the pegs are setuated deferent , i don't think that i will bug with it. Thakn you all for your help....Best Regards Samir.California

Dr. Oud - 8-26-2005 at 07:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Greg
Would it not be possible to use the (normally) unused peg at the top end of the pegbox (lower) and move all strings along one position, thereby allowing for the removal of the unwanted peg from the first position?

Are there any other structural differences in left-handed ouds (such as bracing)?

Regards,

Greg

The braces on Manol and Karibyan Turkish ouds are shaped off center toward the treble strings side. The thickness of the soundboard is also slightly different on each side. Restringing them for left hand play would definitely compromise the balance of the sound.

Nahat oud's braces seems to be symmetrical, but the face thickness is graduated differently. Many of the more common factory built ouds are symmetrical, and reversing the strings wouldn't affect their sound.

If your oud has 12 pegs, I can see no reason why you couldn't skip the first peg. If you have only 11 pegs, the pegs must be reversed or you would have difficulty playing in the first position. The pegbox would need to be filled and redrilled, of course.

syrianoud - 8-26-2005 at 11:04 AM

THANK YOU ALL. Looks like it wont work, I checked it out and even the guy has send me a respond that it might not work,But his Oud is a buety by Maurice Shahata. You can see it on Ebay....Best regards Samir