Mike's Oud Forums

nylgut string review

billkilpatrick - 3-10-2004 at 01:35 PM

i hate to start a new topic on this but i can't find where the thread of these nylgut oud strings first appeared.

i promise to keep hyperbole to a minimum - they're great.

i have two "egyptian" style ouds (as opposed to "turkish") one with a relatively new set of d'addario j-95 oud strings and the other with nylgut. very unscientific this, but by playing one oud, then the other, the first thing i notice is how smooth and evenly balanced the nylgut strings sound in comparison - particularly in transition from 2nd to 3rd course. the 'd'addario strings are not bad by any means but there is a slight change of tone when shifting from metal-wound strings to plain nylon and this doesn't happen with the nylgut.

prior to trying the nylgut i would have said that the d'addario strings have a nice "bright" sound but in comparison they now sound "brash."

though i've only had them a couple of days, i notice the nylgut strings are taking a long time to settle down. this also happened with the 5 string banjo strings i bought from aquila and adapted them for my charango. i probably made a mistake by using these strings for that instrument but the criticism remains - albeit a very small one - nylgut strings take longer to settle.

at eur 20 i don't think they're expensive. i don't know how much they'll cost in the states but if the banjo strings are anything to go on, they'll stay fresh for a very long time.

the last observation i'd like to make is how attractive the opaque white nylon strings look against the oud - much more than their clear nylon counterparts.

it's a small consideration but makes me realize - not for the first time - what a lovely instrument we all have.

Jameel - 3-10-2004 at 01:46 PM

Can you tell us how you calculated the diameters for your oud? Are all the nylgut strings you have unwound, or are just the top two unwound? Can you post a good quality recording of the two ouds' sounds?

Thanks, Bill:D

nylgut string review

billkilpatrick - 3-10-2004 at 01:56 PM

they're what i think is a "standard" set of strings. i have no idea what the technical dimensions are. (and unlike you, i don't think i could calculate those dimensions, even if i tried...) the first two strings are unwound, the rest are wound in metal - silver-alloy, i think. i could probably post a recording of the two ouds but for that i would need the technical assistance of my son and he's in far-off siena at the moment, at school. i'll ask him when he returns.

mavrothis - 3-10-2004 at 02:57 PM

Hi, thanks for sharing. I'm currently waiting for the sets to be ready to come to the US. Looking forward to trying them myself.

Take care,

mav

spyros mesogeia - 3-10-2004 at 03:36 PM

Dear friends,
We have tryed the Arab strings made from Aguila,we still test them,the first impression was very good,the thickness of the 4th string must be a little bit more tested,because she is very apropiate to the 5th,but we still test them...
We believe that Mimmo is a very helpfull person,and I think when they will be finished, they will be a revolution to the strings...
Mimmo we will send you the final results[our opinion] when we will test and the Turkish type strings.....
Regards to all:wavey:

journeyman - 3-10-2004 at 08:59 PM

This is exciting. I love strings. Could you folks tell me how many strings are in a set?

Cordially,
Roy

Zulkarnain - 3-10-2004 at 09:30 PM

11

norumba - 4-1-2004 at 02:56 PM

Ive tried them as well, working with individually selected diameters, which i cant remember now, and that info is on my other computer in the shop! i had posted it here before though. theyre a great string, i wouldnt use anything else...

Brian Prunka - 4-1-2004 at 10:27 PM

I've been using them for a few days, just the 1st and 2nd strings (the plain ones). They sound really good. The tone quality matches the wounds strings better, and they project better. the intonation is also more even over the decay of the string (my labellas tended to go flat shortly after they were struck). They took a few days to settle in, and i still have to keep retuning them every 20 minutes or so, but it seems they'll settle in pretty soon.
the C is .60 cm and the G is .85 cm. The G actually is a little too thick; I might replace it with something thinner . . .

overall, the best strings I've tried.

Assessment of strings

wfspark - 4-3-2004 at 08:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Brian Prunka
I've been using them for a few days, just the 1st and 2nd strings (the plain ones). They sound really good. The tone quality matches the wounds strings better, and they project better. the intonation is also more even over the decay of the string (my labellas tended to go flat shortly after they were struck). They took a few days to settle in, and i still have to keep retuning them every 20 minutes or so, but it seems they'll settle in pretty soon.
the C is .60 cm and the G is .85 cm. The G actually is a little too thick; I might replace it with something thinner . . .

overall, the best strings I've tried.
Nice assessment Brian! Personally I like the Dadario j95 rectified strings. The have a better bite than the nilgut in the treble, but that's just my openion. Verry good assessment.

William F. Sparks

Brian Prunka - 4-3-2004 at 10:13 AM

I think it really is a matter of the character of your oud what strings will sound best . . . I like the d'addarios too, but on my oud (Najarian) I prefer the nylgut to anything else I've tried. I agree that they have more "bite", but I'm more interested in a smooth sound personally.
I'm sure on many ouds the pyramid or d'addario strings sound best . . .

Brian Prunka - 4-3-2004 at 10:17 AM

By the way, has d'addario changed its oud set? when I first got them (1998) they were way too heavy for my oud, so I pretty much ignored them. But I looked the other day at a set and they seem to be using the same gauges as LaBella now . . . anyone know?

DAdario strings.

wfspark - 4-5-2004 at 05:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Brian Prunka
By the way, has d'addario changed its oud set? when I first got them (1998) they were way too heavy for my oud, so I pretty much ignored them. But I looked the other day at a set and they seem to be using the same gauges as LaBella now . . . anyone know?
Hello Brian. The j95 sets are the .22 to .41. They're the rectified nylon. I don't know if they have changed there oud sets, but that's what the gauges are.

William F. Sparks