todda - 11-29-2005 at 05:20 PM
Hi -
New to the forum... I have read alot of posts about strings and since I am new to the oud I do not have a basis to determine thier spefic qualities (
sound and tension ).
I'm looking for strings specifically for my new Bashir oud ( from Ronny - many thanks for his help and time ). I have a background in some novice
Flemenco playing and like the "woody" tone that the nylon strings create - are there strings for the oud that will help to promote this type of
tone.
I currently have the oud tuned to a Turkish format ( EABead). I understand that the Iragi tuning would be (CDgcf) - I have seen quite a few
variations and depending on type of music and region, this can vary quite allot.
I found a referance to http://www.oud-strings.com, with lots of string types and sets, but with no association to thier sound and quailty, I could spend the next few
months trying them all.
What type and brand is recommended for a "woody" tone yet made for the bashir body style -
I appreciate your help and have enjoyed reading the posts.
Todd
revaldo29 - 11-29-2005 at 05:34 PM
Hey Todd,
Welcome to the forums my man. I don't know too much about strings but I do know that not showing us pictures of your oud would qualify as cruel
and unusual punishment 
. From what I read, most guys that play Iraqi ouds get
custom strings. I think Pyramid is supposed to be very flexible and provides many options.
photos of Yaroub bashir oud
todda - 11-29-2005 at 05:50 PM
Yes - you are quite right! -
That's one of the things I like about searching the forum are photos.. this is a shot Ronny provided for me.
Very smooth action, great harmonics, nice fit in the hand. I'm hopping that some of Ronny's playing experince will rub off on to me while I play.
Todd
Strings
LeeVaris - 11-29-2005 at 10:33 PM
I think thats my oud... its certainly the photo I took of the Yaroub Bashir before I exchanged it with Ronny - great oud... I'm sorry I let that one
go!
Anyway, these are the Pyramid string gauges I used quite sucessfully with that oud:
(low to high)
F - 1035
A- 1016
d- 1013
g- 1007
c- PVF 0.60
f- PVF 0.47
This is for modern Arabic tuning... the classic Bashir tuning would be C,d,g,c,f,F with the low F next to the high f nearest to the floor (if your
holding it right handed- risha in the right hand). The F to f tuning that I used is a little easier to get used to because the progression from string
to string is mostly in 4ths across the neck (except for F to A) and fingering single note runs across all the strings is easy. The Bashir tuning is
easier for double stops and "chordal" accompaniment as well as the sophisticated "finger picking" that Munir Bashir used.
You can find these strings and various other "sets" from Matthias Wagner at:
http://www.lutes-strings.de or http://www.music-strings.de
Rock on 
Bashir new home
todda - 11-30-2005 at 09:21 AM
Hi Lee -
Thank you for the information.
I will try that tuning this weekend. The transion from guitar and mandolin to 4ths and the subtal sharp/flats and mico tones is challenging my pitch (
or lack of ).
If you are ever in Washington State, I'm sure I could arrange visitation rights!
Having bought and sold a few guitars and mandolins over time, I know the importance of getting a well crafted instrument that first time 0 it makes
all the difference for actually playing and progressing rather than frustrating your self. The Bashir is quite a pleasure to play and listen to. -
Sorry, I'm not about to put a sound clip of my playing for quite some time.
Todd