arsene - 5-21-2007 at 11:37 AM
Hi everyone,
I just got myself an Ud made by this Turkish luthier from Izmir. I haven't got any information on this builder except for the Ud I now call my own.
I understand he builds entry-level uds (I am a beginner myself) but I would like to know more about him and what other uds he makes ...
...anyone?
Melbourne - 5-22-2007 at 03:31 AM
I'm sorry I can't help, but the name Ilyas interests me, as it is a Christian name, however this luthier can't be Greek, one because I dont think any
Greeks remained in Smyrni after 1922, and two because Cakan doesnt sound like a Greek surname. A bit off topic I know, but that's one of the
fascinating avenues that this forum opens...
arsene - 5-22-2007 at 05:14 AM
Hey man, I've been thinking exact the same thing. Ilyas is a Jewish/Christian name (Elias)... but Çakan seems Turkish though. He may be of mixed
descent? Interesting indeed.
Doesn't help me any further concering his ouds though 
aytayfun - 5-22-2007 at 05:48 AM
He is a turkish luthier in Izmir.
abusin - 5-22-2007 at 06:24 AM
Hi folks,
I just couldn't resist joining this post, and my input is regarding the name origin.
yes the name has been used by Jewish and Christians, its also very wideley used by muslims. Its the nineteenth prophet, Elijah (Hebrew: Eliyahu) was
a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BC. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, Christian Bible, and the Qur'an. According to the Books of
Kings, Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from heaven, and ascended into heaven on a whirlwind. Based on a prophecy in Malachi, many Jews still
await his return as precursor to the coming of the Messiah.
This is just to explain the name which have many other ways to spell and pronounce according to languages and cultures.
As for the origional question, it has been answered by Dr. Tayfun Aydin above.
best regards to all
Awad
arsene - 5-23-2007 at 12:33 AM
Thanks everyone for the input!
Dr. Tayfun Aydin, do you have some more info on him? I know that he is a luthier from Izmir as that is what it says on the label. But I was wondering
if I could get some info on the woods he uses, other instruments he makes etc.
thanks again!
- Andi
aytayfun - 5-23-2007 at 11:34 PM
I will try to search for you.
Let me have some time. When I finished my work in the department I will look to my luthier Ercan Bilir shop. As I remember there must be a Ilyas Cakan
oud and he can give more information maybe.
arsene - 5-24-2007 at 09:26 AM
Thank you Doctor! I am already very grateful!
michoud - 5-24-2007 at 09:40 AM
Hi arsene!!
I have an oud made by Ilyas Çakan from Izmir.I don´t know nothing about him but later I´ll post some photos of my oud
arsene - 5-24-2007 at 09:49 AM
Hey michoud... I will post some pics soon then too!
By the way, I just found out my oud has a 1/4" jack output, so I checked it out, plugged it in, and my guess is there must be a small contact mic just
under the bridge. Nice.
hakeem.ram - 5-24-2007 at 10:37 AM
Hi All
Just for your interest.... I have and Izmir oud too. Made by Hassan Çelebi.
Dr Tayfun perhaps u might be able to help me with this too.
Many thanks!
michoud - 5-24-2007 at 11:16 AM
Hi arsene! this is my Ilyas Çakan oud
arsene - 5-24-2007 at 12:35 PM
Nice one! Looks like it cost a bit more than mine
Here's mine! (Sorry for the large pic!)
How do you like its sound? I am not an oud expert, but I really like the way mine sounds. It has a full-bodied sound, with sustain you wouldn't expect
at the price. It's my first oud, by the way.
arsene - 5-24-2007 at 12:40 PM
And michoud, do you know by any chance what wood your Oud is made of?
The seller only knew the name of the woods in Turkish, and while I could work out what paduk is, I didn't understand the name for the top wood.
But I guess it must be spruce, or cedar?
aytayfun - 5-25-2007 at 12:01 AM
Hey guys,
There are only limited number of luthiers use cedar for top in Turkey.
All the others use spruce for top.
The tops on on this section are made of spruce
arsene - 5-25-2007 at 02:35 AM
Thanks, doc! Do you know the wood used for the fingerboard? Rosewood perhaps, like guitars?
Ilyas Cakan oud
rabab-lover - 3-27-2014 at 09:29 PM
I was browsing idly thru' the forums, and came across these old posts re Ilyas Cakan. 'Surprised you did not look at the label, which gives his
address and telephone number in Izmir. It is now March 2014, and I am happy to report he is alive and well and not only making rather nice ouds
(hardly "beginner"), but also electric ouds. I will try to attach a few pix, and he is on YouTube.
I have one of his 1993 ouds, and the seams are tight, the construction high quality, and very good materials. The pegs appear to be dark walnut. The
annular ring count on the face is 27 / inch center to 14 / inch edges, set up for 11 strings, typical Turk scale of 23".
For those of you who are interested in that sort of thing, it was rescued in neglected and filthy condition from a Christian Greek cafe > normally
I would not mention this, but I observe how some of you digress from ouds into all kinds of side alleys. ; )
- Daniel O'Donnell in Portland Oregon
[file]31007[/file] [file]31009[/file]
reminore - 3-30-2014 at 04:01 AM
ilyas is the arabic form of the name elijah...