First of all.. I have been a member of this forum for sometime. I haven't said much, but I've been a very avid reader. I can not thank members enough
for sharing their Oud projects because using this forum's expertise I am making my first oud.
Anyway, I was lucky enough to know Nazih, not only as an Oud maker but as on of the greatest and most charming men I have ever met in my life. I've
asked him for an instrument and he was delighted when I told him all my difficult requests. He initially made the back of my Oud using Indian
Rosewood.. but then when he finished he came across an extremely old growth of Brazilian Rosewood ( The real CITES protected Delbergia Nigra ). Being
the honest person that he is, he called me and told me he is going to restart making the back and sent me a picture of the Indian Rosewood back which
was magnificent.
These are the pictures of the progression of Nazih's work.. I hope he doesn't mind me posting them... The oud is done and I am expecting the
graduation pictures tonight.. and they will also be available at his website very soon.
To sum it up.. before I even play the Oud... It is an honor to know Mr. Ghadban.
Since I am new to posting here.. I'll try posting the pictures seperatly.
[img] [/img]http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/1258/71375046zu3.jpgAlioud - 7-20-2008 at 09:11 AM
This is the wood that took Nazih's breath away and made him call me immediately to tell me that this is wood I've been looking for.. look at this
beauty...
Alioud - 7-20-2008 at 09:23 AM
This is the picture of the same wood dampened to show the figure.. Breathtaking indeed..
This is the soundbox already done ... The stripes between the rosewood is made of (Maple-Ebony-Maple)... The mother of pearl is a beautiful addition
at the end... the wood looks magnificent.. this is unfinished.. only dampened with water...
Simply raw wood.. no finishes.. no water.. the picture says it all..
Nazih's beautiful signature.. The soundboard is Mastergrade European Spruce... the fingerboard is ebony.. the rest is poetry written by the hands of
Nazih in a Bahir style oud...
Now these are the pictures before and french polish is applied to the instrument.. I just wonder how will it look like.. I don't think I need to
wonder who will it sound like..
I will keep you posted.Alioud - 7-20-2008 at 10:24 AM
This is the finished oud.. Magnificent ... I already envy myself!!!
Alioud - 7-20-2008 at 10:52 AM
You can hear a sound clip of the Oud on it's first day of life.. It's already ringing like brass.. just the way I dreamed of it.
I am so jealous and happy for at the same time. It looks really nice oud. I wish you healthy playing.
I have got similar oud. We will have taqsim compatition, me and you since we have similar oud.
ThanksAlioud - 7-20-2008 at 11:10 AM
Hi Ghazi,
Thank you so much... you should be jealous.. You don't see an Oud made of Brazilian Rosewood everyday
Anyway, I will be coming to Dubai soon.. and instead of a competition we will play together... I love your playing ( I listened to it on the Maqam of
the Month post )
We will have a good time... I will email you before I leave to Dubai.. How about you send me your mobile number on a U2U message or in an email ?
AliJason - 7-20-2008 at 08:55 PM
That looks amazing. My Ghadban is very very similar but with a walnut back. You will love how it plays. I love how the entire range of the
instrument sounds so good. You can go all the way up to the high A harmonic and beyond and still hear every note.francis - 7-21-2008 at 12:19 AM
A marvellous art work, one more time!
The wood used for the bowl is great: the brasilian rosewood gives a bright and deep sound in the same time. I own a cittern made with brasilian
jacaranda, with a lot of silica in: amazing sound and fine lines in the wood; dark and luminus in the same time.
I have been told Ghadban's ouds are some of the best, here is another exemple!
Sure great times are coming for you with it!
Already the sound is amazing.....I can imagine how it's become in a few year...
You are lucky Alioud, and I'm happy you share out your happiness on this forum.
FrancisJassim - 7-21-2008 at 12:44 AM
why is the sound box 15 peses??Melbourne - 7-21-2008 at 03:59 AM
That is a beautiful oud Ali - congratulations....Nazih really is a fantastic kind person, I have been speaking to him about an oud, and what I have in
mind is very similar to yours! But its a while away yet....hopefully not to long Ararat66 - 7-21-2008 at 06:06 AM
Ali and Nazih
What a beautiful oud - I love the clarity and line ... such beautiful things in the world.
LeonJameel - 7-21-2008 at 06:15 AM
That's a gorgeous bowl.veyselmaster - 7-21-2008 at 08:45 AM
Hı Ali
Let's hope for the bestfadel - 7-21-2008 at 09:01 AM
hi Ali
mabrook
coll my
wowwww
alan_mardan - 7-21-2008 at 10:49 AM
Very wonderful piece of art....congratulations Ali for this iraqi oud...wandering how much he charges about for a similar one? ... i phoned him before
but he had different prices... any way am glad that you got it...Alioud - 7-21-2008 at 12:34 PM
Thank you all for your kind words... I am now waiting for the Oud to actually fall in my hands.. I'm sure that Oud will cry of tiredness !!! lol..
Anyway,
Alan_Mardan... How much he charges for a similar one, you'd have to call him to find out. Nazih is extremely approachable and very considerate, but
it's not only up to him to decide the price of the Oud. The type of wood dictates the price and at the end of the day Nazih doesn't only sell his
labor, he sells his magnificent craftsmanship. Let me just say, this Oud was not cheap as compared to ANY Oud out there.
All the rest of you.. I really wish all of you can own an instrument from this extraordinary luthier. Nazih Rocks.. Not sure if that's a correct
sentence to say about an Oud maker though
Jassim.... Mr. Jassim Al-Arrough.
Let me first say, that I admire your musical style and sense of notes. I have been thinking of going to Kuwait to pay you a visit if you don't mind (
I am Saudi ). I know how you feel about Faruk Turunz.. and I know that Mr. Turunz is a great luthier indeed. I have never played his Ouds but I heard
a lot of them on Youtube and other places. Let me just put it this way: Mr. Turunz Ouds are excellent Ouds, with a sweet Eastern note to them... They
will definitely please any ear but I am not sure if they will please any hands. Anyway, I am going to buy a double soundboard from him ONLY if he
agrees to create a Bashir style Oud.
Your question regarding the number of ribs that make up the bowl is a bit strange. I am sure that the higher the number, the more work a craftsman put
in the bowl (I am making my first Oud at the moment and it is composed of 23 ribs and I wish I had planned on 15). But, the truth is, I do not
believe that anyone can say that the number of ribs affects the sound quality of the Oud.
I know that 2 arguments exist regarding the number of ribs. On one hand, some say that the larger number of ribs give more strength to the bowel and I
think that is debatable from a physical point of view. But the reason why a craftsman chooses to make a bowel out of 15 ribs (Particularly out of
Brazilian Rosewood) is because he wants to show the figures and patterns of the wood. The larger the surface area the more beautiful the wood is.
Anyway, in either cases I don't think there is any sacrifice to sound quality. Nazih Ghadban has been making Ouds for 30 years (Around the same time
Turunz has been making them) and I think he made his wise judgment when he decided to work with 15 ribs out of a very very beautiful and rare wood.
Anyway Jassim.. We might meet one day. I heard that since you got married you haven't been around Oud as before .. Thanks god I am single ..
AliMatthewW - 7-22-2008 at 12:30 PM
congratulations Alioud, it is a wonderful looking and sounding oud, and it will sound even better with age. Anyone who owns an oud made by master
Nazih knows the quality and craftmanship that has gone into your instrument. Play it long and in good health! MW virtuoz - 7-22-2008 at 12:37 PM
Arabic oud beatiful
Ali congratulationsOud Freak - 7-23-2008 at 01:08 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Jassim
why is the sound box 15 peses??
Jassim, where's the problem if the soundbox is of 15 ribs? With all my respect to turkish ouds, they are not everything!
.. Thanks god I am single ..