I bought an oud in Istanbul by a builder names Ibrahim Eken. There is no label inside but the store told me that he was the builder. Does anyone
know anything about this builder and his reputation? The oud is quite lovely and I have gotten some very nice compliments on it. Thanks!Greg - 9-6-2007 at 07:28 PM
I bought my Turkish ud in Istanbul in 1998. At the time, this Forum did not exist and I didn't have any musical contacts in Turkey. I found out
about Galip Dede St. (the music store street near Galata Tower. I went there and only found one ud in one store that I liked. They asked for $975
and refused to bargain. I was crushed...
I was walking back to my hotel in Sultanahmet and, passing a rug store, noticed 2 uds hanging in the windows. I went in. It turned out that the
owner of the store played ud and had two or three instruments he wanted to sell.
Two hours of tea drinking, jamming, and hard negotiations later, I walked out with an ud for which I paid $550 ($750 was his initial price).
The instrument does not have a proper label inside, just a piece of tape with the name "Ibrahim Eken" and a phone number. The seller claimed that the
instrument was about 10 years old. It was in generally pretty good shape, though the wear and tear on the pick guard suggested to me that someone
must have been banging the hell out of it while playing somewhere like in the live Rom music seafood restaurants in Kumkapı. It has a beautiful,
mellow tone, which is less "bright" than most Turkish uds I've played. I am mostly an Arabic-style player, so I play it with an Arabic tuning
(C-G-A-D-G-C low to high).
I am not sure whether Ustad Eken built the instrument or substantially refurbished it at some point.
I have attached an old recording studio picture of me with this beautiful instrument (and a bad haircut).
Peace,
JohnJohn Erlich - 1-10-2008 at 12:10 PM
Excuse me...Shareen...not Shireen
-JEdaniyel - 12-2-2009 at 06:05 AM
Hi everybody,
this is my first post, I'm very happy to begin with my oud : it's a brother of
yours, a turkish Eken oud.
It was bought under my request by a friend of mine (a conservatory's teacher) at Istanbul in 2001, in the zone of Sultanahmet .... in 2006 I visited
the store where it was purchased and I asked informations about the oud-maker Eken: the owner of the store said to me that Eken worked for him some
years ago. I can look at my diary to find which store, ASAP I will post the name of it.
Mine have cedar soundboard and maple/walnut bowl; the rosettes are made by bone, the pickguard and the fingerboard by ebony. Like said by John, inside
the instrument there's a piece of tape with the name Ibrahim Eken and a phone number.
Cheers
Daniele
John Erlich - 12-2-2009 at 10:34 AM
Buongiorno Daniele,
Welcome to the Forum! (Forum being another word invented and popularized by your ancestors.) Nice to see that my Turkish ud has "siblings." Yours
looks like a beautiful instrument. How is the sound?
All the best,
JohnFLIPAX - 12-2-2009 at 02:41 PM
Hi John!
I Like your Oud especially the fingerboard inlay. Which material the Inlays where made from?
Sir Can u post some close up pictures of your fingerboard? It really looks astonishing!
BTW which pick-up system do you used? I saw that you attach it at your oud....
Cheers
Philipdaniyel - 12-3-2009 at 01:57 AM
Ciao,
the store where my Eken oud was bought is: OTAG muzik merkesi in Sultanahmet, Alemandar Caddesi 18/2.
John, also my Eken has a mellow tone with a fantastic sustain; I use on it pyramid strings tuned in arabic style (D G A d g c).
Now I need to change only the first low string: according to you can I use strings made for classical guitar (it's difficult for me to find ud's
strings)?
Ave atque vale
DanieleSazi - 12-3-2009 at 02:25 AM
Hey Daniyel, you can get oud strings in Italy from Mimmo at Aquilacordes, here is the address:-
I don't know the Aquila strings and that are made in Italy! What do you think about the quality of Aquila compared with Pyramid?
Ciao
DanieleSazi - 12-3-2009 at 03:46 AM
Ahh, well, personally I prefer Pyramid... I've tried a few sets of Aquila and wasn't happy with them. But there are many here who swear by them.
You'll just have to try them for yourself to know how they are for you, as everyone has different styles and ouds.
If you want Pyramids try Matthias Wagner in Germany, you can order on-line, you'll find his contact details here:-
I've tried a few sets of Aquila and wasn't happy with them.
Hi SAZ!
Can u tell me my friend why you r not happy with aquila Sets?
Is that the Light tension? What is your tuning?
Cheers
PhilipSazi - 12-3-2009 at 04:05 AM
Hey Flip
Well, I find they're not consistent in the tuning, open strings in tune then up the neck they're out of tune! this happened with three sets! I not
waste any more money on them.
Also I think that as they are acoustically the same as gut they are maybe more suitable for oldschool playing on classic ouds, (where you don't really
go up the neck too much anyway) whereas now I play floating bridge Iraqi style Fcdgcf, so for me the Pyramids (lute strings, not oud) with pvf trebles
rule!
this happened with three sets! I not waste any more money on them.
Hi saz if you're generous enough maybe you can sell the strings to me. send it here in dubai. I will pay u in cash. I Can Send the money thru bank
transfer. If u can spare the time. I never had a chance to try aquila sets. Its hard to get here in dubai.
BTW I ordered PVF Strings from hank and it came today on the mail can't wait to try the strings from Musicaravan.
Cheers Bro!
Philip
Just U2U me about the aquila strings.daniyel - 12-3-2009 at 05:18 AM
I will try the more expensive Pyramid, but there are a lot of arabic set type for my style of tuning (P18, P19, P14): which one? I don'y understand
the differences
Thanks
DanieleSazi - 12-3-2009 at 05:30 AM
Yes, that's what I use for my 57cm floating bridge oud, I had some Pyramid oud strings on an oud when I bought it but I don't know if they were the
ones you linked to.
I'll have a look at those other sets... is your string length 58.5cm?
The sets you mention are for different length ouds, personally I find Matthias' string sets a little high tension, so I go for something for a longer
scale, maybe try the P19 set and see how it feels, you can order more or less tension strings depending on how they turn out, but give them a good
week or two to really settle before you make a final decision.daniyel - 12-3-2009 at 05:38 AM
.... ehm??? I don't know, I will take a misure, but ..... from bridge to nut?
DanieleSazi - 12-3-2009 at 05:44 AM
yep!FLIPAX - 12-3-2009 at 05:50 AM
Hi Daniele!
Yes Measure it from Bridge to nut. to get the String length of your Oud.
And Also check Matthias about Pyramid Lute strings this is more better quality of sound and superb playability. It has a Slick feel into it. and also
try PVF trebles to match the wounds.this will be a good kick of sound to your oud. It will brighten and expand the harmonic qualities or your oud
especially the Overtones.
You can also check this one out. He has good Quality Strings.
Cheers
Philipdaniyel - 12-3-2009 at 12:02 PM
Ciao,
my oud has a lenght of 58 cm.
According to you, can I use the turkish tuning with my Eken oud with no problem of tension on the bridge (and so buy another set od strings)?
: it's a brother of
yours, a turkish Eken oud.
