jonny f.2008 - 3-25-2009 at 02:59 PM
I have what i believe to be an oud.
i dont know anything about it other than it is an exceptionally beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
i am looking for:
verification that it is what i think it is.
any specifics as to its type.
an estimated value.
and some one who is interested in buying it.
Edward Powell - 3-25-2009 at 03:23 PM
Looks like an Arab oud!
Jameel - 3-25-2009 at 07:07 PM
Someone put an extra nut at the neck joint! 
I can't translate the label right now, but someone will no doubt chime in with some answers shortly.
bibo10 - 3-25-2009 at 07:24 PM
the maker is syrian from Damiscus, Mohamed Sobhy Daka
the label says 1946 but doesnt say exact date
jonny f.2008 - 3-25-2009 at 07:46 PM
thanks for all the input so far! keep it coming.
as i mentioned i am really interested it the value.
i am a guitar guy
and am just trying to thin out my collection for
the move that is upcoming.
thanks again everyone.
Edward Powell - 3-26-2009 at 02:05 AM
it's impossible to value it high without seeing/hearing it. Just as it is, it is worth about $400.
however, if it in fact has a great sound - then worth much more.
also, I have not heard of this maker, but if the maker is coveted, then you might increase the price as a collectable.
but in general ouds have a life-span -- then tend to warp and degenerate with time.
this one has a lot of decoration, quite well done i guess. But the bridge looks poor quality and is about to come unglued. In my opinion, the bridge
quality is a great indication as to the builders "sound priority". --also, the soundboard wood looks poor quality. How thick is the soundboard?
but at the end of the day, it needs to be set up and HEARD...
charlie oud - 3-26-2009 at 02:44 AM
What on earth is that ridge at the neck join?. Surely this makes the oud
unplayable?, unless it has an extremely high action Can anyone explain please?.
C
hama - 3-26-2009 at 02:45 AM
small correction
the year is 1964 and not 1946
SamirCanada - 3-26-2009 at 03:20 AM
that ridge was put there to lower the action.
Some luthiers in the ME do this, they cut a small notch on the neck and push it back, then they put in that small ridge to keep the action back. its a
bad way of doing it as you can see... the ridge gets squeezed out with time.
Edward, The bridge may not be original.
The face also may not be original.
Edward Powell - 3-26-2009 at 03:34 AM
probably not because the SB, bridge, and plastic rosettes look horrible, but the rest doesn't look too bad.
Also the rosette on the main soundhole is missing.
charlie oud - 3-26-2009 at 04:13 AM
Oh I see. Thankyou for explaining Samir.
Luttgutt - 3-27-2009 at 06:32 PM
Hi everybody..
I have seen this technique for lowering the action being used on 3 ouds! Horrible. And it works only for a short time. And the oud bends again.
But Samir, I cannot understand how on earth that the ridge would be squize out of place!!? If it was glewed in there, that is. But mabe it wasn't!? is
that what you think?
My guess (and hunsh) is that this oud is put together from at least two differant ouds:
1- the bowl and face
2- the neck and peg boks.
(look at the defferent decoration!)
And that te person who put it together does have much knowledge about ouds.
Anybody agrees with that?
And that they were put
Correction :-)
Luttgutt - 3-27-2009 at 06:34 PM
I meant of course that the person who put it together does NOT have much knowledge about ouds!
The NOT just fell out :-)
SamirCanada - 3-27-2009 at 08:52 PM
I would be interested in buying the oud.
but as it stands it doesnt seem to be playable... I would buy it as a restoration project.
where are you located?
jonny f.2008 - 3-27-2009 at 08:54 PM
i am in coos bay, oregon. U.S.
SamirCanada - 3-27-2009 at 08:58 PM
Can you send me an email at samir_nassif@hotmail.com
let me know how much you want for the oud including the shipping to Ottawa Canada.
jdowning - 3-28-2009 at 05:00 AM
Just curious but is there any place on the back of the bowl where some small section of the tile purfling or banding between the rib joints is missing
(as there seems to be from the images)? If so, is it possible to tell if the banding is set in to only part of the rib thickness or does it go right
through to the full rib thickness? This will help answer a question that was raised some time ago on the Forum. Needless to say, do not remove or pry
out any parts of the purfling to determine this!!
The very thick 'bracelet' covering the neck joint may be another indication that the neck joint has been reinforced to withstand adjustment to the
action by wedging? Note, in the image of the bracelet, what appears to be a channel cut in the upper part of the neck joint - possibly to take the
mysterious wedge (?) that has popped out of its place and is now sticking up like a 'fret'.
The neck also seems to be offset to the bass side?
Interesting plate on the lower edge of the sound board. To protect against wear by the right arm of the player presumably?
Luttgutt - 3-28-2009 at 11:16 AM
Oh! I wish my english was better.
I feel that jdowning has answerd my question, but I just did not understand what he wrote
:
jonny f.2008 - 3-28-2009 at 05:05 PM
thank you all for your help in researching this.
especially those who translated.
i have decided to list it on ebay.
here is the url for the auction ----->> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180341336936