Oud's Dimensions

The Bashir models that Mohammed Fadel created were based on the Italian classical Napoli mandolin which means a floating bridge, a bent/curved soundboard/ shallow bowl and a string length of 57 cm. The Bashir models by other makers uses to have the same body size corresponding to the string length, but most other makers prefer a more traditional ¨flat¨ soundboard and that is something I belive is a big mistake. Because I have noticed that Bashir ouds built with a ¨flat soundboard have lot of problems with sunken bridges, splitting of soundboards. So what they do the makers, is to use reinforcements that is very negative for the sound and really I consider the original design by Mohamed Fadel be superior in structure and sound than what any other maker have produced. I will post some photos of various Bashir ouds to show their sizes and I start of with a bashir model by Foad Jihad and one by Fawzy Monshed. N.B. that the one by Fawzy is a large model by Fawzy and he use to build same size as Foad. Nasser Shamma’s first Bashir oud was built by Fawzy and it was smaller and I will scan photo of it when I had that oud for some period.
The Iraqi have a tradition of ouds from two worlds, the Turkish with their smaller instruments and then the classical Arabic oud with its huge body and longer string length. The Bashir models are Based on the Turkish traditions and in Iraq it has been infected between various musicians about this oud...

Thanks Ronny & Haluk for the detailed info...

hey ronny - i agree with you about the curved top: it's a necessary feature on those bashir style ouds. but i must say i for one like the increased neck width on my bashir oud. it reminds me of a guitar's neck... then again, i am a guitarist..

I dream of owning one of those Fawzys....Remember me Ronny?

But just by looking at the width of those necks at the nut, I am more keen on an oud with a wider neck, I guess for breathing space between each course. I have the same model Foad as above (with minor aesthetic changes) and I find the 38mm width at the nut a little too narrow but not uncomfortable.

While we're on the topic I was considering a 50mm width at the nut for my next custom oud. Is that crazy? Ronny? After all an extra 12mm, is only something like 2mm extra between each course...I guess it would be difficult if you're playing Paganini caprices, but I only play slow pace taqasim

yes I do the Fawzy oud has a wider neck and he problem is most likely due to the string set up I am using with the F bas in 1st position and with the C (D 2nd)as 6th, that makes for me little bit uncomfortable fingering in C# D# positions and it is more comfortable than with the Mohammed Fadel Bashir that has a very narrow peg box and neck.
Sounds as a real horror to have 50mm neck but I am getting a 8 course Fawzy and that oud has some neck....

Quote:

Originally posted by Melbourne I dream of owning one of those Fawzys....Remember me Ronny? But just by looking at the width of those necks at the nut, I am more keen on an oud with a wider neck, I guess for breathing space between each course. I have the same model Foad as above (with minor aesthetic changes) and I find the 38mm width at the nut a little too narrow but not uncomfortable. While we're on the topic I was considering a 50mm width at the nut for my next custom oud. Is that crazy? Ronny? After all an extra 12mm, is only something like 2mm extra between each course...I guess it would be difficult if you're playing Paganini caprices, but I only play slow pace taqasim