Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:45 PM
Hello folks
Here's a happy saga and a longish thread - I hope you enjoy this.
It's been a busy week so I'm a bit late posting this considering I received my oud from Tasos Theodorakis on Tuesday. It is the most beautiful thing
I've ever seen (apart from Anna & the kids), and we have always referred to it as the 'blondie'. Tasos is a really lovely guy and wonderful to
deal with, I totally recommend him.
I ordered and specified this oud about 5 months ago. I have spent my life making things for other people (I work as an artist) and realised this is
the first time I have had something made for me from scratch to my specification, so I feel so privilaged to be able to do this.
It has taken me a long time to take the plunge and invest in my second oud - my first was from Haluk Eraydin which has a wonderful sound particularly
as it has now opened up. So I have looked to go further and ended up for one reason or anoher with Tasos, I think it is his very individual approach
to making and his earthy, woody, artistic sensibility.
So we agreed on woods, (cedar top, flame maple bowl with ebony stripes) and he was happy to adapt his pickguard design to a drawing I sent him which
aluded to my Armenian heritage on my mother's side (which is after all what got me into the oud in the first place) and the design incorporates
pomegranates in various stages of flower and fruit with Tasos's pea<b>rooster</b>.
Anyway the oud came the other day and it is just gorgeous - it also sounds wonderful even though Tasos has emphasised that it will take a while for
the sound to reach it's full volume ... it's not exactly quiet now so god help the neighbourhood. I'll post a sound clip soon when the strings, and
myself !! settle. So here are the images for now - thanks Mav for your help and thanks Tasos for your artistry, you make really special
instruments.
Tasos oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:48 PM
Some images from Tasos and me
Tasos oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:49 PM
Front
Tasos oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:50 PM
Mape back
Tasos oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:51 PM
Bowl, with diamond motif
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:52 PM
Pegbox - this is really delicate in reality, the oud is so light, only 920 grams !!
Tasos oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:57 PM
The bridge slopes upwards towards the bass strings - there is a lot of interesting geometry in this oud, it is not entirely symetrical ... beyond the
simple fact it is handmade there subtle adjustments within it's geometry which must relate to bracing, intonation and tone!
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:57 PM
Bone Rosette
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 03:58 PM
Face showing custom pickguard
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 04:00 PM
Tasos pickguard I adapted (taken from Mavrothis' photo from his beautiful tasos oud)!!
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 04:01 PM
My drawing
Tasos Oud
Ararat66 - 3-14-2008 at 04:05 PM
... and Tasos' interpretation - I'd like to know how he does this - the pickguard is only small, about 5 1/2 inches wide. the light areas are maple
again so the design integrity is consistent.
Greg - 3-14-2008 at 04:08 PM
Congratulations Ararat. This is a stunningly beautiful instrument. If it sounds half as good as it looks, it will be a gem.
Play it in good health.
Regards,
Greg
Jameel - 3-14-2008 at 05:04 PM
Wow. That's is some very nice work. Lovely woods, and very tastefully designed.
One observation. The string pairs looked widely spaced at the bridge (the spacing between string pairs, NOT between courses). How, if at all, does
this affect playing? Maybe it's just the photo too....
Andy - 3-14-2008 at 08:28 PM
Ararat66, that is a very beautiful work of art. I love the choice of maple and looking forward to a sound clip.
DaveH - 3-15-2008 at 02:09 AM
Wow Leon, that's a very sweet oud. Fantastic fine work on the pegbox and lovely design for the pick guard. My fantasy oud, which I will make in my
next life when I'll be blessed with a decent set of woodworking tools, not to mention a bit of manual dexterity and a heck of a lot more patience,
looks quite a lot like this. Enjoy it. Hope to see it in person some time.
Dave
Ararat66 - 3-15-2008 at 02:19 AM
Hi Jameel
The string spacing is a shade under 3 mm - exactly the same as my Haluk oud. I wonder if this is a Turkish/Greek/Armenian oud sring spacing due to
different resonance and unvarnished soundboard. It feels fine as I am used to this already but may be wider than others I don't know. It is really
really resonant.
Hello Andy and Dave, thanks for your coments - Dave I'm sure we'll meet up sometime.
Leon
Multi Kulti - 3-15-2008 at 03:55 AM
What can i tell for this beauty??? Congratulations Leon for your choice and of course Tasos for his artistry and his fine work.
I already love the look of the maple 
Play it in good health Leon and im sure Tasos will continue to impress us with his work..
Best wishes
Nikos
spyros mesogeia - 3-16-2008 at 01:03 PM
Congratulations my friend.Mabrouk with your new oud.Play it with hapiness and health.Taso,what can I say.Congratulations my friend.I am proud that I
am Greek and that I will purchase one of your instruments.I hardly wait.
Keep on the good work and keep us tuned....
Regards to all
Spyros
ALAMI - 3-16-2008 at 02:04 PM
Congrats Leon, what a beauty ! (I mean the oud).
I think that when it comes to ouds polygamy is allowed and welcomed.
Wishing you a brunette, an ebony black beauty and a red back (ouds of course)..... and health and hapiness
mavrothis - 3-16-2008 at 03:06 PM
BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations, I hope you enjoy this beautiful oud with health (and beautiful music)!
I love the woods and your adaptation of Tasos' original decorations. Gorgeous my friend!
mavrothis
Faladel - 3-18-2008 at 02:42 AM
Dear Ararat66 :
¿Can you post the sound of this beautiful oud please???
Thank you
Microber - 3-18-2008 at 03:08 AM
Wonderful !
I love blondes.
Ararat66 - 3-18-2008 at 04:21 AM
Hello folks
I'll try and sort out a sound clip this weekend - I'm snowed under with work this week. It sounds really nice though, pretty full on and there is
this sort of 'exhalation' if that doesn't sound too daft after playing each note, particularly the trebles. I'll do my best to do justice to this and
I need to set up some software etc.
Leon
MatthewW - 3-19-2008 at 12:58 PM
Congratulations Leon! They say all good things come to those who wait...and from the looks of this sweet oud it I'm sure of it. I'm blown away by the
'clean' look and aesthetic lines of this oud, sort of old world and contemporary all at once, and that flamed maple bowl! wow! how are you tuning your oud?
play it long and in good health my friend! mw
arsene - 6-8-2008 at 06:26 AM
Alright, that's it. I;m not gonna wait any longer. I am getting a Tasos oud. I will not be happy again before I have one in my hands!
spyros mesogeia - 6-8-2008 at 07:23 AM
