my wife and i are considering a short holiday in damascus. most likely we'll go with a tour - which will no-doubt involve some shopping. i was
hoping to pick up a new oud - preferably a small one. any recommendations?
- billAymara - 10-26-2009 at 01:29 PM
Hi Bill,
maybe you have a chance for a trip to Homs, north of Damascus?
I thought, that might be interesting.fhalaw - 10-26-2009 at 01:36 PM
Nazih Ghadban is in Balabak, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border should be a very short trip, plus lebanon is nice to visit if you have timeAymara - 10-26-2009 at 02:11 PM
... and I think, it might be possible to get a Sukar oud in a shop in Damascus, but I'm not shure. Maybe drop Mr. Sukar a mail and ask.
Regarding oud shops in Damascus ... I found a german travel report from 2007 with a tip for an oud shop ... it seems to be the shop of a luthier. It's
located besides the hotel al-Haramayn in the Sharia Bahsa (whatever that is?) in Marjeh, Damascus. But there's also a hint, that this shop is closed
in the afternoon.
And I found a second shop ... HERE is Tony Danielo - 10-27-2009 at 01:34 AM
I recommand u get in touch with zaher khalifa, he is based in damascus. Also in a shopping place called soq alhamidia there is a music shop for a guy
called Feras you will find some really nice collections of ouds. Lastly in bab toma there are music shops that sells proffesional ouds.
Enjoy ur trip to syria fadel - 10-27-2009 at 08:12 AM
About the shop in the souk alhamidiya, it has several ouds, some of them beautifull but they are not professional at all...maybe you can find a
professional sukar model, but is not sure...
The ouds I saw in all the old town in Damascus are the same, some of them beautifull but no professional.
There are few shops in Bab Touma, wich shell "old ouds" and some times they tell you that they have some nahat ouds...all of this nahat oud I saw are
fake.
So take care with this shops
If you see some with good looking and playable sukar oud , I think this is the best you can find, because if you want real good ouds in Syria you
must speak with the maker about one month before you´ll buy it. (also with Sukar, if you want a proff. sukar oud you must contact him, he will make a
better oud than any oud you can find in the market)
For example Samir Azar makes very good ouds, but he never has ouds in stoke...also Ali Sabsaby, but the same problem...
There are several very very good oud makers in Syria, but its difficult to find them and contact them, also if you speak with 85% of oud players in
Syria they only like sukar ouds (not expensive ouds and powerfull sound...) but I think there are oud makers who make the same quality or better than
sukar
good luck billkilpatrick - 10-30-2009 at 02:05 AM
thank you all - trip is still a bit up in the air but should we go, it'll be in march. thanks again - bill shareen - 10-30-2009 at 06:06 PM
I am jealous Having Israel stamped on my passport, I am not allowed into Syria. One day we will have a world that recognizes musical instruments as
passports and musicians as the real diplomats. I bought my oud from a Palestinian in Israel.
Send pics please!!
suz_i_dil - 10-30-2009 at 07:05 PM
I think it's better to forgive about el hamydiye market for ouds.
Try to seek in music shops in Shaalan area, they often have Sukkar ouds for sale.
For exemple you can try a music shop call Nahawand, near the corner of Shaalan with el Abed street, on the right, a bit after Salhiyeh street.
Their phone is 3332864
Have a nice trip and enjoy this country!
