Mike's Oud Forums

beautiful old non-playable oud

steve Bayne - 7-5-2004 at 10:23 AM

At age 62, I no longer play oud, due to arthritis. However, I am a classical composer and still love the instrument. I am looking for an old, no-longer-playable oud to keep on the wall of my studio because of its beauty and memories. I do not want a playable oud, since it should be in the hands of someone who will PLAY it. Let me know if you have the sort of instrument I might like. (I am a former master student of John Bilezikjian). Thanks, Steve

mavrothis - 7-7-2004 at 05:09 PM

Hi. My oud teacher Stamatis Merzanis is selling his old Arabic oud. It was made in Syria by Garabad Der-Bedrossian. I don't know the exact year it was made (the label is mostly in Arabic) but my teacher's family purchased it in the early 60's. Let me know if you might like it. Here are some pictures of it.

mav

mavrothis - 7-7-2004 at 05:10 PM

Here's the back.

mavrothis - 7-7-2004 at 05:11 PM

The back of the neck and pegbox.

mavrothis - 7-7-2004 at 05:12 PM

And the fingerboard.

Arabic Oud sound file

mavrothis - 7-10-2004 at 04:05 PM

Hi.

Here is a sample sound clip of my teacher's oud that's pictured above. I have to apologize for the strings that are going out of tune, they are new.

The action on this oud is a bit high, but the tone is very nice in my opinion. Please feel free to take a listen here.

Take care,

mavrothis

still very much playable

SamirCanada - 7-11-2004 at 08:04 AM

Hey Mavro

By the sounds of that oud its must be still very much playable..
Iam still shoping around for a new oud but I was under the impression that I could avoid bad suprises if I go with a professional's instrument. since he probably took great care of it and its been broken into.

can you please e-mail me the info'z
thanx
Samir

What brand of strings

Elie Riachi - 7-11-2004 at 09:06 AM

Hi Mavrothis,

No doubt the player is a pro, but what brand are the strings and which set is on this oud? And, what tuning?

Nice playing my friend.

The oud looks very nice, who made it?

Best regards,
Elie Riachi

SamirCanada - 7-11-2004 at 04:38 PM

I Am not an expert but Iam pretty shure its LaBella oud strings

Mavro you can correct me if Iam wrong

mavrothis - 7-12-2004 at 04:31 AM

Hey guys,

Yeah, the strings are LaBella, and honestly they sound a little thin to me. I didn't have any Pyramid strings to put on it, so I put on a LaBella set.

I'll be in touch about more details.

:)

mavrothis

(look above, the oud was made by Bedrossian of Syria)

Zulkarnain - 7-12-2004 at 05:06 AM

Hi Mav

Nice Oud there but I noticed that the bridge is kinda shift a lil from it previous place-maybe Im wrong, anyway nice playing too!


Regards

mavrothis - 7-12-2004 at 05:15 AM

Hi Zul. Yeah, the bridge was replaced by John Berberian's father. The strings are perfectly aligned on the fingerboard, but the bridge isn't exactly aligned with the pickguard.

Take care,

mav

Zulkarnain - 7-12-2004 at 05:37 AM

Yup I can see that....the string is perfectly align! I like the design over the face very syrian! Word to your Oud master.



Regards