Mike's Oud Forums

Update on Oudcafe.com

Mike - 11-10-2003 at 06:07 PM

Hi everybody,

Go check out Mav's update on his website. Go to the Makam Page, and the lessons. A new Semai is up there with sound files and sheet music. Sweet job Mavro! :applause:

Mike

mavrothis - 11-10-2003 at 06:09 PM

thanks for all your support man!

mav

Redesigned the oud cafe

mavrothis - 11-21-2003 at 10:58 AM

Hi. Just letting you know the oud cafe has a new look. Let me know what you think.

mav

Jameel - 11-22-2003 at 04:59 AM

Nice color scheme, Mavrothis. But that new font is a bit hard on the eyes. :cool:

Jameel - 11-22-2003 at 03:19 PM

Hey Mav,

I just noticed you bought one of Mike's Shehatas. I was this close (holding my fingers apart about an inch:D) to buying that same oud from him. I think it sounds fantastic on that taqasim you played.
:bowdown: I'm jealous!!! Why are you having it redone by Rapakousios? I think it sounds awesome. Removing the rose was a good idea though, I think. It looked kind of goofy to me.

Ronny Andersson - 11-24-2003 at 09:49 AM

What is then left of the original oud?

about the ouds

spyros mesogeia - 11-24-2003 at 12:00 PM

I think that the oud is a very personal thing...as for the what has left from the oud,I believe that not the oud plays well,but the oudist...A good player plays well and with a not very good[quality speaking ] oud....how many from us can say that they are very good players?I am not....I don't know about you....I like the good ouds[expensive materials, wood and sound quality],but I repeat,how many of us do they think that they are that much good players so they can judge other players or instruments or even oudmakers?
I am not.....maybe one I will be,but untill than I have to work hard......
Regards brothers
Spyros

Ronny Andersson - 11-24-2003 at 12:19 PM

Why are you upset Spyros?

Dear friend

spyros mesogeia - 11-24-2003 at 12:33 PM

Ronny,I am not upset at all,I just have a diferent opinion,if sounds like that than I apologise....
We are in the same side my friend...we love something in comon....the oud
Regards

Jameel - 11-24-2003 at 03:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ronny Andersson
What is then left of the original oud?


Good Question, Ronny. Do you know how much effect back shape has on the total sound? I always thought, as with most instruments of this type that the majority of the sound producing elements were part of the soundboard/braces. (Maybe that's why it's called a soundboard) When Issa Boulos critiqued my oud (one I built), he noticed that when he played on it the back vibrated. You can feel it with your hand when you place it flat on the bowl. He said this was undesireable, it may create dissonant overtones. I guess the way to eliminate it would be to make the back thicker, but I always thought that the best ouds were very light and thin-backed. Especially Nahats. Any ideas?

Ronny Andersson - 11-25-2003 at 09:30 AM

>Good Question, Ronny. Do you know how much effect back shape has on the total sound?

A lot, compare the oud with professional made renaissance lute and you will notice the huge difference in weight. The present ouds are without any doubts heavier than the few preserved early ouds. You mentioned your Nahaat copy have ¨undesirable¨ overtones due to the light bowl. The renaissance lute is rich with overtones and they are ¨light¨. They were made many times of ¨soft¨ hardwoods that one never finds on any modern oud. I assume that during the 20th century lot of new woods were introduced in oud making. If you want to reconstruct early ouds then you need to build light and accept the overtones.

Ronny Andersson - 11-25-2003 at 09:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mavrothis
Yeah, i think it's agreed by everyone that the top, braces, and bridge are the most imp. for sound, but the back gives tone coloring i think. like walnut is a crisper sound when compared to pallisander, let me know if i'm mistaken.

Quote:

What is then left of the original oud?


Ronny, i love ouds, but when i invest in an instrument, i want it to be perfect for me. this is why i'm changing the shehata. the ribs, neck, pegbox, fingerboard are beautiful, and very light, almost as light as my najarian oud, which was very surprising.

but when these changes are done, it will be an amazing oud but custom to my specifications, that's all. mr. shehata made a great oud, but he didn't know that i was going to buy it. if i had ordered a custom oud for me, he would have made it like i wanted...as with anyone.

anyway, i look forward to getting it back...soon:)

ciao



I let changed the soundboard on Shammas ex.oud but I noticed the Bashir model by Fawzy Monshed can't handle the high string tension. The Bashir ouds are still in the early ages..

I look forward to see the result,

Best wishes