Ararat66 - 8-15-2009 at 10:32 AM
Hi folks
I'm thinking of buying a Cumbus and have seen this on ebay, is this the right thing in terms of quality etc? it seems like the original make but I
don't know much about them.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zeynel-Abidin-Cumbus-Banjo-Stringed-Instrumen...
Any advice would be welcome, I'm in the UK
Leon
DaveH - 8-15-2009 at 12:34 PM
Because, like most of us, Leon, you don't have nearly enough instruments, do you?
Yaron Naor - 8-15-2009 at 09:38 PM
Why not? it looks like a good instrument.
Ararat66 - 8-16-2009 at 12:48 AM
Well the reason I ask is that the cumbus is generally a lot less expensive than oud so the price range is totally different - but I wondered what make
is half decent. Dave I take your point, I simply don't have enough instruments to open a shop yet so what else can I do
)
Leon
fernandraynaud - 8-16-2009 at 01:38 PM
I'll tell you what you can do: make it worth my while or I will drive the price up on that cumbus at the last minute! Worst case I'll sell it back to
you.
p.s. this is a joke, not to be construed as a statement of intent, a plan of action or an attempt to extort anything.
Ararat66 - 8-16-2009 at 01:46 PM
Hi Fernand
)
But what I mean is for that price is it going to be rubbish or is this how they are??? you can buy very cheap ouds but often they are unplayable and
worthless !!!
Leon
Peyman - 8-16-2009 at 03:34 PM
Cumbus are pretty much standard. The only differences are in some etching on the bowl or fancy wood used on the neck or fingerboard. Some use natural
skin too, but I don't think I have seen that on any Ebay cumbus. Unless this one was found in a trash can, I don't think you have anything to worry
about. Modifications are easy to do too, including action. You just play around with the neck bolt. Just so you know, I only use 6 strings on mine. I
saw a Turkish cumbus player do it and I liked the sound. It's much easier to tune too 
Cheers!
fernandraynaud - 8-16-2009 at 09:29 PM
I wouldn't worry about quality, Peyman is right, they all seem to be about the same, same factory maybe, it's a very standard design, not very
artsy-fartsy, and they sound good, like a cross between a banjo and an oud. The necks seem very stiff, like maybe they use a metal I beam, and the
fingerboards very level on all the ones I've seen far. This is a modern instrument designed for reliable construction at low cost. They come in
various lengths, from 4 to 12 strings, some fretted, some unfretted. The 12 string unfretted model is most like an oud, I almost got one a few weeks
ago. It's a good but not "too good to be true" price.
Ararat66 - 8-17-2009 at 01:10 AM
Thanks guys, that's the info I wanted
I'll go for it then, I think it is an interesting instrument and the crossover with oud but diferent sound quality will always help me explore oud.
Cheers
Leon