Mike's Oud Forums

Fawzi Munshid oud

Anne Marie - 2-1-2008 at 09:07 AM

Hello everyone

I wonder whether anyone out there can help me. Sorry for the mangled up user name, was in a hurry to register, it should be Anne Marie.

I bought a Fawzi Munshid oud from Ahmed Mukhtar a few months ago, which he told me was being made new for me by Fawzi Munshid in Basra. It is potentially a beautiful instrument, but it also has developped a serious problem, the soundboard is warped, so it has been virtually unplayable. I have to emphasis here that the place where the oud is kept is not cold or damp, as Ahmed has tried to insinuate, but this oud, as wonderful and beautiful as it is, is as I have been told by several oud and instrument makers structurally very fragile and weak. Looking at the inside of the oud I then found that the date was 2002, which means, it is likely that it was not made last year as Ahmed Muhktar told me, but in 2002. In any case it is quite clear from looking at the neck and the face that it is not a new instrument, and not only that, I was told by an Iraqi repairer that he recognised the oud as Ahmed's brother's oud. I really need to get hold of Fawzi Munshid, in order to find out the truth about this instrument. Either it was made this year by Fawzi Munshid, in which case I need to speak to him because it should be under some sort of garantee, or the oud was made in 2002, in which case Ahmed did lie to me and he needs to compensate me. Please, if anyone has any suggestions as tyo how I can get in touch with Fawzi Munshid or maybe can help me to figure out what I can do to salvage this instrument without having to spend enormous amounts of money, please let me know

Thank you

Anne Marie

Jassim - 2-1-2008 at 09:15 AM

dear anne
can you put some pic so that we can see the sound bord

Ronny Andersson - 2-1-2008 at 12:36 PM

Hi Anne Marie. I have Fawzy ouds and I know exactly what you are talking about with warped soundboard. Something that is common with Fawzys ouds, but it doesn't mean that the oud will be unplayable for ever. Please post some photos of label and also of the soundboard (side view) and do tell me how the sounboard looked like when you got it and when it developed the warping.

Mike - 2-1-2008 at 12:53 PM

Hi Anne Marie,
Just fixed your username for you.
Best,
Mike

Ararat66 - 2-2-2008 at 01:22 AM

Hi Anne Marie

Sorry to hear of your oud trouble. I know Ahmed Mukhtar is London based are you in the UK? I'm down in Portsmouth and there are other UK udis dotted around on this forum.

Can't help with the oud I'm afraid but you are definately on the right forum - there is so much in depth knowledge here.

Best of luck

Leon