Mike's Oud Forums

left-hand conversion

t4rbool - 8-23-2009 at 03:50 PM

Hi,
I 'm totally newbie regarding woodworking, and I want to make new holes on a bridge (cause it's a right hand oud and reversed, i miss the low D), but without removing it. How can I proceed?
thx for your advices.

Dr. Oud - 8-31-2009 at 10:18 AM

The bridge can be drilled with a bit in a dremel tool that allows you to get the position and angle near the face. Cover the face with a sheet of plastic or metal to protect it just in case.... If the bridge has 11 holes, you might not be able to add the top string without misalignment with the edge of the fingerboard. If you add the hole for the pair inside the last hole the spacing will be off and plucking will be difficult or very clumsy at best. You could fill all the holes with round toothpicks and re-drill the entire bridge.
Another thing - if the pegbox has only 11 pegs you won't be able to play it left handed without interference with the first peg. If it has 12 pegs, remove the first peg to provide clearance to play the first position