Mike's Oud Forums

Comparaison of 3 Fadi Matta Ouds

katakofka - 5-24-2009 at 11:18 AM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcojIpzy5vY

Are all Matta Ouds sound the same??

katakofka - 5-24-2009 at 04:52 PM

So I got a Matta oud for my friend Adel, the walnut oud, the second in the video above. It is amazing how these ouds sounds, sustains, volume, and base sound.
When I got my first Matta I said probably this is a unique oud but it seems no as the 3 ouds sounds great with a specific personality for each oud.
Looking forward to hearing your feedback
thanks

Oud Freak - 5-25-2009 at 02:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by katakofka  
So I got a Matta oud for my friend Adel, the walnut oud, the second in the video above. It is amazing how these ouds sounds, sustains, volume, and base sound.
When I got my first Matta I said probably this is a unique oud but it seems no as the 3 ouds sounds great with a specific personality for each oud.
Looking forward to hearing your feedback
thanks


I don't know why this topic is being somehow neglected. I confirm what you say. Each of the three ouds has its own personality and charm.
the three of them are indeed amazing. However I have a preference for one of these three. Which one do you think? ;)

ALAMI - 5-25-2009 at 03:56 AM

Hi Guys,
I have a Fadi Matta oud, his regular "old" model: 7 courses with huge oval holes, pics:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=4897#pid317...

I also got another Matta oud for a friend, same model but with a finished face and already the sound was different, a bit less powerful but warmer and sweeter.

I've visited Fadi recently and saw his new models, btw Souheil I met your beautiful baby in person and I had this crazy thought of kidnapping it. Mabrouk it is a wonderful piece.

I think that Fadi, like all great luthiers, is evolving, he has the courage to requestion his work, he is in his own way from this breed of alchimists in quest for the perfect instrument.
The years he spent in France working with a luthier were of course of great benefit, he told me how he learned to abandon "shortcuts" while working with wood.

I am happy that he is getting from the oud community the recognition he deserves.

I do prefer the timbre of the new models, but it is only a matter of taste, if for someone loudness, projection and precision are the main factors then the he should go for the old model with high tension strings. If you look for more arabic sound then go for the new single hole model, and you can even ask for a smaller hole (Fadi would agree), his new beautiful rosette is not only meant for decoration.

Good luthiers will always give us hard choices, and it is a good thing

katakofka - 5-25-2009 at 06:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Oud Freak  
Quote: Originally posted by katakofka  
So I got a Matta oud for my friend Adel, the walnut oud, the second in the video above. It is amazing how these ouds sounds, sustains, volume, and base sound.
When I got my first Matta I said probably this is a unique oud but it seems no as the 3 ouds sounds great with a specific personality for each oud.
Looking forward to hearing your feedback
thanks


I don't know why this topic is being somehow neglected. I confirm what you say. Each of the three ouds has its own personality and charm.
the three of them are indeed amazing. However I have a preference for one of these three. Which one do you think? ;)


Which one??

katakofka - 5-25-2009 at 06:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI  
Hi Guys,
.

I've visited Fadi recently and saw his new models, btw Souheil I met your beautiful baby in person and I had this crazy thought of kidnapping it. Mabrouk it is a wonderful piece.


You dated my baby before me:( I am jealous:)
Thanks Alami for your post. Actually posts like yours when you showed Matta adjustable neck pictures that encourages me to dig for Matta ouds on the net.

Oud Freak - 5-25-2009 at 06:59 AM
Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI  
I do prefer the timbre of the new models, but it is only a matter of taste, if for someone loudness, projection and precision are the main factors then the he should go for the old model with high tension strings. If you look for more arabic sound then go for the new single hole model, and you can even ask for a smaller hole (Fadi would agree), his new beautiful rosette is not only meant for decoration.

Good luthiers will always give us hard choices, and it is a good thing



Hey Alami, how r u doing?

I have tried several time your oud model at Fadi's. I think it was around... 2005, 2006? Or even a bit before... What is strange and interesting is that there can be somehow different impressions and perceptions about a same Oud.

1) we do both agree that we prefer the "timbre" of the new models. Raw3a!

2) I find Kata's new model is at the same time very "arabic" sound (prefer to say "traditional") and very punchy! A perfect combination! The older model has a warmer rounded sound, but less energetic, as far as I remember. The basses and high notes of the new model are excellently balanced. All these details can change with the string set, that's for sure.

3) I own the more "older" smaller model
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=6938&pa...
This one is extremely energetic with a highly projected sound. A real horse "7san", lol.

Matta is always surprising...

ALAMI - 5-25-2009 at 08:24 AM

:)) , It was not yet stringed, so we cannot really call it a date, and it was clear that my crush was not well received... L'honneur est sauf.

When it comes to ouds, I believe in polygamy.

So OF I think that your older Matta wouldn't mind a younger brother.

Oud Freak - 5-25-2009 at 08:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI  
:))

So OF I think that your older Matta wouldn't mind a younger brother.



Hehe if you believe in oud polygamy I believe in a oud harem!
My small Matta oud already has an older brother (donc déjà bigame) and a younger brother is most probably on the way, nshallah! Someone with a name like "OUD FREAK" is certainly more than "apte à la polyluthogamie" :D ... And I fully like your idea!

katakofka - 5-25-2009 at 07:23 PM

Oud Harem, bigamy, polyluthogamy..wooow:D

bottom line if you have more than one oud definitely you would have preference for not more than 2; so I believe in the bigamy :rolleyes:

Oud Freak - 5-26-2009 at 04:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by katakofka  
Oud Harem, bigamy, polyluthogamy..wooow:D

bottom line if you have more than one oud definitely you would have preference for not more than 2; so I believe in the bigamy :rolleyes:
... To be verified...

katakofka - 5-26-2009 at 07:30 AM

I am thinking about a cedar top oud so often I do not stick to what I believe:D
by the way, I've never saw ouds made by Matta with a Cedar top, did you guys?

Oud Freak - 5-26-2009 at 01:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by katakofka  
I am thinking about a cedar top oud so often I do not stick to what I believe:D
by the way, I've never saw ouds made by Matta with a Cedar top, did you guys?


I think I saw it once, and the result was not bad for a cedar wood. He might have done so once just to experiment. As far as I remember, Matta does not believe in cedar wood.

Oud Freak - 6-4-2009 at 01:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI  
:))

So OF I think that your older Matta wouldn't mind a younger brother.



ALAMI, just to inform you that the younger brother is here, an amazing piece! Fadi kermelo byet7efna :D

Cheers!

ALAMI - 6-4-2009 at 11:12 PM

Mabrouk OF, may your family (or Harem if you prefer) keep growing.

Reda Aouad - 6-5-2009 at 03:38 AM

Mabrouk OF :)

I hope you enjoy it.. And hope we can play in duo someday ;)