Mike's Oud Forums

ALI KHALIFEH OUDS

Koukla - 12-21-2005 at 09:40 AM

Hello

Does anyone out there know of a way to reach the folks who are now making Ali Khalifeh Ouds? Like Ali's nephew Mouwafaq? I would like to contact them, preferably by email. Or do you know exactly where they are located?

I need to contact them regarding their ouds.

Thank you
Koukla

SamirCanada - 12-21-2005 at 02:08 PM

They are located in the Jobar district of damascus syria. I dont think they have a email. So unless you have there phone number you have to go there to reach them.

Koukla - 12-21-2005 at 02:58 PM

Darn...

Thank you for your response.

SamirCanada - 12-21-2005 at 03:48 PM

are you interested in one there ouds? or do you have a particular question for them?

Koukla - 12-21-2005 at 03:55 PM

Yes, I have purchased their ouds through a 2nd party, and I have some questions that only they can answer.

SamirCanada - 12-21-2005 at 04:04 PM

Good luck and all the best.

Koukla - 12-21-2005 at 05:07 PM

Thank you.

Lebanon - 12-21-2005 at 07:36 PM

Koukla Hi don't wait for there answers.They will never answer your questions.NO SPEAK ENGLISH :):) I emailed in the past other people and never got any answers from Syria except Samir Azar where he is a very
responsible person.
Go to Ebay and type oud try to find a guy by the name of AshrafMahdi from England.He buys Ouds from them he can help you in how to reach them .Or there are a couple of Ouds on ebay by a company US located they sell Khalifa and might help you.I was bidding on one of there ouds there. But someone else got it for $129.00....Good Luck
Regards Samir

Lebanon - 12-21-2005 at 07:45 PM

Kouka...Here is his Email I bought something from him. ashraf_mahdi@hotmail.com
hope that this will help you.
Regatds Samir,Ca

Koukla - 12-22-2005 at 08:34 AM

Samir

Thanks for the email address. That's a big help. I knew I could count on this forum. You guys are awesome.

Very briefly, here is my situation. I have recieved 4 hand made small ouds from an ebay U.S. Seller which were made by the Khalifeh family, and all 4 were received severely damaged due to extremely poor packing. They were 2 separate shipments. The second shipment was supposed to be a replacement, but the 2nd time they were packed even worse. Would you believe that they actually tried to squeeze 2 ouds back to back in one small box with practically no protection at all! I couldn't believe my eyes. I don't blame the US seller, as it really wasn't his fault. So now I'm stuck with 4 ouds that are nothing but JUNK, and that are certainly NOT worth fixing, not to mention the expense.

The real sad part is these were supposed to be a Christmas present for my twin nephews. His Dad, Uncle, and Godfather all are professional oud players, so these ouds would have been the most perfect Christmas gift for both of them. My whole family is so dissapointed. Also, the kids were going to hold them in the family Christmas card along with the dumeks I once bought them. Oh well.....

Anyway, I will try to contact them directly. I am also considering posting the damaged ouds on this forum, if that's ok with Mike.

Thanks again
Koukla:(

SamirCanada - 12-22-2005 at 09:07 AM

Hey koukla could you show us the damage? a few people here make/repair ouds and depending on the extent of the dammage I could also help you out. Iam a university student so I somewhat have time to spare on a repairing project :cool:
so If your interested I could probably take one and fix it up. Of course it wont be ready for christmas but it could be worth a shot.
let me know

Koukla - 12-22-2005 at 09:42 AM

Okay. I will post them. It will may take a few days, with the Holidays, and all. There are quite a few, however, so I'm not sure about how much I am able to post on this site. Are there any restrictions?

Elie Riachi - 12-22-2005 at 09:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Koukla

I couldn't believe my eyes. I don't blame the US seller, as it really wasn't his fault. So now I'm stuck with 4 ouds that are nothing but JUNK, and that are certainly NOT worth fixing, not to mention the expense.
Koukla:(


Hey I sympathise with you. These ouds would still have been junk my friend even when not broken. And they would have brought frustration on Christmas to a student and a professional alike. I am not surprised at how they were packaged either. May be it is a greater Christmas gift that your relatives are spared the headaches which come with these junk ouds.

Merry Christmas.

Koukla - 12-22-2005 at 09:57 AM

Thanks for your feedback Elie Riachi. I recommend using caution to anyone out there who is considering buying a recently made oud that has the Khalifeh name on it. It will not be made by the original oud maker, Ali Khalifeh, who was a great oud maker, and is now diseased. Also, it is an absolute shame that his name is still being placed on these ouds. It is not fair to his memory.

Andy - 12-22-2005 at 10:39 AM

Hi Koukla, can you describe exactly the damage to each oud, separated broken ribs, cracked neck or pegbox, cracked or broken soundboard. I know Peter will tell you they are not worth repairing but the repair may not be that extensive depending on the damage.
http://www.geocities.com/antronig/oud.html

Koukla - 12-22-2005 at 11:05 AM

Hi Andy...There are 4 ouds altogether, and they are at home. They really need to be in front of me so I will get back to you about each of them later. If you mean Peter Kyvelos, I haven't contacted him. Believe it or not, he actually lives walking distance from my house.

Andy - 12-22-2005 at 04:03 PM

With all the talent on this site maybe you can get some ideas and do it yourself. BTW, are you the person that was looking for an all original Karibyan.

Koukla - 12-22-2005 at 05:01 PM

You know, Andy, I actually thought of that. Yes, that was me. I was looking for an orginal Karibyan for a professional oudist friend of mine. You are very observant. That was a long time ago.

Andy - 12-23-2005 at 06:25 AM

I recall only because I know a professional oudist & all around great musician who was and is looking for an all original Karibyan. Up untill this thread I thought you were him.

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 08:54 PM

Okay, I am going to try to post my damaged Khalifeh ouds. Here goes...

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:00 PM

Okay, I am going to try to post my damaged Khalifeh oud photos. Here goes...

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 4 SMALL OUDS.

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:14 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:20 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:22 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:23 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 1

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:24 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:25 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:26 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:28 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:29 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 1 Oud 2

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:30 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:31 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:33 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:34 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:38 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:39 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:40 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:41 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:42 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 3

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:44 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:45 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:46 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:47 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:50 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:51 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Koukla - 12-26-2005 at 09:52 PM

Damaged Khalifeh ouds Shipment 2 Oud 4

Jason - 12-27-2005 at 06:25 PM

That is ridiculous. I think you are being too generous by calling it "shipping damage". Anyone can tell by looking at those glue joints some stuff was VERY wrong before the ouds were shipped.

Jonathan - 12-27-2005 at 06:33 PM

I agree with Jason. Look even at the slot on the neck for the peg box--looks pretty sloppy to me. And the glue on the face. It's not all shipping damage.
Could just be my eyes, but it almost looks like the braces were just snapped off at the ends, and not really even fitted.

Elie Riachi - 12-27-2005 at 07:25 PM

Did the shipping boxes show signes of damaged on the outside? If not then I would say for sure that something stinks here and that maybe some in Syria have it in for the people in the US and are taking it out on the ouds. From what you show in these pictures I am not sure it would be worth repairing, you very much would have to reconstruct an oud so you are looking at ~$70 each in material and whatever the reconstruction labor costs.

I would try to get the money back and deal with the Nile shop next time.

I agree with Jason and Jonathan: ridiculous and you are being too generous.

chaldo - 12-27-2005 at 08:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Elie Riachimaybe some in Syria have it in for the people in the US and are taking it out on the ouds.


What I think, is that this line is ridiculous Mr. Elie. I think its irresponsible, premature and too easy, blaming "some" syrians and sticking it to syria's current political tension to this. that said;

What most significantly ridiculous is that what you got from this syrian oud maker is degrading first, just by cheking the initial quality of the ouds. shameful. I am totally astounded watching these pictures and reading your comments. Definately you should speak to them direcly and show them the pics...

best of lucks my friend
chaldo

SamirCanada - 12-28-2005 at 05:30 PM

Its fair to say that Ali Khalifeh's ouds are on the lowest end of the ouds available here so its no surprise that they are built with restricted attention to detail. Well they are cheap for just that reason. I have owned a recently made khalifeh and I have sold it. It wasnt a bad oud at all for what I had paid for it and for what it was used for wich is learning on. I dont think they pay attention to sound quality etc.. but the one I had was built solid and it didnt break after many close calls. If they were put in a box with no foam peanuts. BACK to BACK! wich is concentrating all the pressure on the spot the backs touch. Plus they had strings on. I think shipping a oud is not somthing to take so lightly if you are really interested for it to arrive safely. I havent ended up paying less then 100$ to ship a oud all locations combined. It always worries me when they advertise shipping for 30$ or so... It must be a small package. wich probably means they didnt use as much protection as possible.

Koukla - 12-29-2005 at 12:08 PM

Samir, you are absolutely right about shipping. Both shipments were in small boxes, with NO foam peanuts.

I just thought they would be the perfect type of oud for my little 3 year old twin nephews to learn on, with adult supervision of course. They love the instrument. That's why I bought these particular ouds. The seller who sold them to me (not Khalifeh), hopefully will send me 2 more with the proper packing materials. I am waiting for his response.

Thanks for your input,
Koukla