Time - 1-13-2006 at 11:26 PM
I am just wondering how to identify a piece of wood as acoustically sound.
I will be ordering Dr. Oud book soon, but I am not sure if wood acoustics is explained.
I want to build my own oud for scientific study.
regards.
Hatem_Afandi - 1-14-2006 at 08:21 AM
Hi Time,
Try this company:
http://www.gilmerwood.com/Gilmerwood%20instrument_wood.htm
Ebay had beautiful bone and bony violin pegs that could be used in ouds.
Good Luck & Best Regards,
Hatem
Time - 1-14-2006 at 11:34 AM
To give my question a little more depth! I actually wanted to know how can I tell if this piece of wood is going to sound good when it is used.
All the appearance dependents I know are:
1- Straight grain
2- Density
3- No runouts (more for the top wood)
4- Growth rings (closer means slow growth and wider means fast)
5- Rings spacing if used in two identical instruments (wide for bass narrow for treble).
Is there some thing else?
Jonathan - 1-14-2006 at 11:40 AM
The woods used for everything but the face and braces of the oud have very minimal effect on sound quality. Some would say close to none. In fact,
some ouds bowls have been made experimentally out of plastic (shudder), and are said to have sounded very good.
I would stick with woods that you have seen used traditionally on ouds, because they are used for good reason (some woods just won't bend nicely, or
break easily, etc.) Walnut, mahogany, etc.
I still haven't completed my first oud, but I started another just to put into use what I learned on the first. I am using mahogany this time around,
and it seems like an incredibly good choice.
Walnut is everywhere. You can probably even find some on old furniture that is otherwise headed for the trash, and reclaim it (I did). And that
would be a nice wood to work with, also.
Time - 1-15-2006 at 11:00 AM
Jonathan your respond has surprise me!!
I hope there is more we can learn.
I would like to know more about this if some one can help.
Dr. Oud - 1-16-2006 at 10:11 AM
Jonathan is correct about wood types, only the face or soundboard wood has affect on the sound. Ramairez, a master guitar maker once made a guitar
made from paper mache (newsprint glued together) to form the back and sides. He would play it behind a curtain and no one could tell the difference
from a wooden guitar. The density and type of wood used for the face can be compensated for in the construction of the face itself - the thickness,
brace design. High density tone wood allows a lighter construction, which in turn will vibrate longer giving more sustain or a longer note. Aged woods
are harder, which makes them flex more as a plate producing more volume than the more flexible unseasoned woods. Different tonewood types have
different tonal characteristics, so it can help to know what you want the oud to sound like to select the type of tone wood.
Time - 1-16-2006 at 11:14 AM
very interesting Thanks Dr. Oud
I hope to receive your book before the weekend.