CHIA - 10-1-2008 at 07:43 AM
Hello all,
I'm new to the oud and this forum. I have a couple of questions I would appreciate some help on.
1) I just bought a Sukar oud on Ebay. Is there a standard tuning that I should be tuning this to? I realize that there are different tunings used,
but how do I know what this oud/string set should be tuned to?
2) The Sukar oud I just bought came with some nicks or holes on the fingerboard. Also, there is what appears to be the end of a nail very slighty
protruding from the back of the neck. Are these kind of things normal in a handmade instrument? The instrument normally sells for $700.00 on the
seller's website and even though I paid less for it on Ebay, I guess I still expected a little more.
Thanks in advance for the help. I really appreciate it.
DanielH - 10-1-2008 at 10:08 AM
Hi CHIA,
1) A Sukar should use Arabic tuning. Some standard ones are (low to high) CFAdgc and DGAdgc. For more info, check out http://www.oudcafe.com. It's a great site with tons of info. Click on "Oud Basics" and then "Stringing & Tuning."
2) As far as the imperfections, it sounds to me like something that should not be there, but I will defer to the opinion of those on the forums with
more experience. Are you able to post some pics of the oud and the parts in question?
Cheers,
Dan
CHIA - 10-2-2008 at 05:41 AM
Thanks so much for your help Dan,
I will try to post some pictures of the problem areas today.
CHIA
abusin - 10-2-2008 at 06:29 AM
Hi CHIA,
sounds like a bad deal for the price, put some picturs up and let see
cheers
Jason - 10-2-2008 at 07:17 AM
My oud also has the nail on the back of the neck. I think it may have something to do with the wing nut inside the oud used to raise or lower the
action. I'm thinking that the nail keeps the nut from moving the screw too much.
SamirCanada - 10-2-2008 at 07:50 AM
All Sukars have that nail,
its part of the neck attachement mechanism as Jason said.
Christian1095 - 10-2-2008 at 02:25 PM
I have three and they all have it the 'nail'
Curious about the nicks in the fingerboard though... would you post some pictures... I have not heard of this defect coming from Mr. Sukar's
shop....
Also, if you bought it from on online seller (I think Palmyrami) is the only one I've seen with a shop online... then I would get rid of those
strings as soon as possible... Also, they string it up really weird.... So I would definately use the OudCafe link for direction...
For strings, I use the Aquilla GDADgc set from KhalafOuds... but I aslo have a set of Pyramids on another Sukar oud... I think the Aquilla have more
of an earthy sound, so I prefer them, but the Pyramids are nice too...
Here's the link for KhalafOud - they are in the states and I've found him to be very reliable... He even managed to send out my strings in the middle
of a flood.... Can't beat that service... Turn around time for me has been from just a few days to a week at longest....
http://www.khalafoud.com/
CHIA - 10-3-2008 at 04:28 AM
Howdy all,
I guess I'm not sure how to post a picture on here. I tried copy & paste and it didn't work. Any help?
Thanks Hama.
Here's the first pic.
hama - 10-3-2008 at 05:42 AM
Hi Chia
Edit your post, go to attachment and browse , the picture size need to be belwo 1 MB
then send teh post a gain
Br
hama
CHIA - 10-3-2008 at 06:09 AM
Second pic. Not a great picture, but this is the nail on the back of the neck.
Jason - 10-4-2008 at 06:13 PM
The nail is normal... I'm not sure about that fingerboard though. Do you have a closeup of it?
CHIA - 10-6-2008 at 06:51 AM
I was not able to get a closeup with my camera. Couldn't keep it in focus for that close.
Another question. I can not keep this thing in tune. Is that normal? Or maybe just the set of strings?
Thanks again to all for all of the help. What a great forum!
CHIA
Jason - 10-6-2008 at 07:02 AM
The strings are probably still stretching. Depending on how much you play it can take two weeks or so for them to settle in and stop going out of
tune on their own.
ALAMI - 10-6-2008 at 07:16 AM
Try, with care, Jameel's trick, it is efficient:
http://www.khalafoud.com/strings.htm
and click on "video demo"
Hypothesis on how the damage to the fingerboard occurred
Alan-TX - 10-10-2008 at 03:49 AM
I ordered a new oud recently from palmyrami also off eBay and it had the same type of damage to the fingerboard in almost exactly the same spot. I
sent it back for a replacement so I cannot check my idea out.
I am wondering if one of the rivets that holds the top strap hook in place is sticking out enough so that during shipping that the damage occurs then
if there is enough bouncing around going on? I checked the other Sukar oud I have and that hook (or whatever it is) is in the perfect location for
this to happen “if” the rivet is sticking out. On my case it is not Can you check yours?
Alan
CHIA - 10-10-2008 at 05:48 AM
Hi Alan,
Mine is shipping back today. I was able to check your theory out first though. It certainly is a possibility. Even though the rivet has the case's
interior cloth covering it, it could easily cause some damage.
CHIA
Alan-TX - 10-10-2008 at 06:13 AM
Could you actually feel the rivet poking through? It should be hammered flat. On my other case it flat so there is no possibilty of damage.
CHIA - 10-10-2008 at 06:44 AM
Definitely! As I said the case's interior cloth is covering the rivets but you can feel both rivets from the handle quite easily. Probably about
1/4" or so.
Alan-TX - 10-10-2008 at 08:33 AM
Sounds like we might have a winner... or a very strong suspect 
See you guys
Monday I'm off camping
Samer - 10-10-2008 at 09:58 AM
I really think thats what it is, I will pay more attention from now on and make sure this wont happen again . You both should get new ouds next week.
Please keep me updated.
Thanks,
Epalmra