Yaron Naor
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Building an Oud - Nahhat style with video!
After repairing some "Nahhat" ouds, I have decided to build an Oud that will be a Nahhat style,
I used the geometrical analitics of our good friend John Downing and here are some pictures:
I HOPE that the sound will be a bit close to the real thing (-:
I found a 25 years old Cedar top...
and I designed the ticket that includes my face as the Syrian builders used to do.
Enjoy...
Yaron Naor
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jdowning
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Nice work Yaron. It WILL sound like an original- I can feel the 'vibes'!
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Microber
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Very nice soundboard !
Could you post pictures of the bowl.
Congratulations.
Robert
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Yaron Naor
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Finished, ready for recordings
Thank you all for your support
Today I put the strings on, and in a few days we will have a video!
The sound is amazing and I hope it will set on the Nahhat sound
Enjoy
Yaron Naor
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Danielo
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Congratulations Yaron,
I really love the very clean and perfectly executed design Is the bracing
also copied from a Nahat ?
However one thing is lacking for a perfect Nahat look : the moustache 
Dan
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Yaron Naor
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Quote: Originally posted by Danielo  | Congratulations Yaron,
I really love the very clean and perfectly executed design Is the bracing
also copied from a Nahat ?
However one thing is lacking for a perfect Nahat look : the moustache
Dan |
Thanks Dan (-:
For your compliments, and yes, the bracing is the exact bracing of the Nahhat, I have change a bit the pegs-box to be more comfortable for the strings
and the pegs are from Ebony
Unfortunately I don't have a mustache so the ticket stays like that (-:
Regards
Yaron Naor
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Alfaraby
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Excuse me !
Though nice looking oud & fine job, it did not remind me of any Nahat I've ever seen: 19 ribs, beech wood bridge, no rosette, different pegbox,
ebony pegs, full neck-block, non-homogeneous soundboard ! ! What exactly did you mean by saying a "Nahat style" oud ? 
I hope the sound will meet the expectations more than the "looking".
Good luck
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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jdowning
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What is a non-homogeneous soundboard?
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Alfaraby
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Like we see in AAAA tops. Nahat usually used HQ wood for soundboards.
I didn't find more accurate description. Excuse my poor technical language.
Thank you
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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jdowning
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The reason that the reference to non-homogeneous sound board caught my eye is that all wood is a non-homogeneous material - some more so than others.
So I was curious about how the sound board of this oud might differ from that of a Nahat oud.
The luthier trade today grades its wood on cosmetic considerations (as well as on some physical characteristics such as density and stiffness) -
straight, fine grain, uniform colour, perfectly quartered etc always supplied in two book matched pieces so satisfying customer demand (and profit
margins!). However, it is perfectly possible for an experienced and knowledgeable luthier to make fine sounding instruments using woods that would not
otherwise pass muster aesthetically in today's market and by assembling them together as multiple piece soundboards.
As far as I can judge from the images posted, Yaron has made the sound board from four pieces. From some images that I have seen of ouds that are said
to be Nahats, the sound boards can be made from up to six pieces and may contain some of the wildest, crooked non uniform grain that can be imagined.
For example the Nahat oud recently restored by luthier Michael Cone appears to have a sound board made from six pieces (See 'Analysis of Nahhat
Bracing' page 1 on this forum). Also have a look at the images of the 1906 Abdo George Nahat oud posted on Richard Hankey's website for an example of
extreme crooked grain.
So could this mean that these ouds are not genuine Nahats after all?
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Alfaraby
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When I said Nahat, I meant Abdo; who was known as super pedant choosing the SB.
One may find some other brothers' ouds in which the maker did not pay the same attention to this part of the making. Moreover, SB have been often
replaced.
None of any Nahats I've seen (and I don't assume ALL Abdo Nahat ouds) has this kind of wild spruce. None has cedar either. So when making Nahat style
oud the contemporary maker should follow Nahat's footsteps in every specification possible. That's all !
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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Microber
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I don't like non-homogeneous soundboard !
Robert 
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jdowning
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You might not like the sound of a sound board made from an homogeneous material either microber - sheet plastic or metal perhaps!!
Yaron - what is the species of cedar that you are using for the sound board and how do you know for sure as it is often difficult to precisely
identify a softwood species without microscopic examination of the wood cell structure.
Alfaraby - same question - what is the species of sound board wood that was used by Abdo Nahat and how do you know? And if a sound board has been
replaced (by other than say, Abdo Nahat the original maker) what then - no longer an Abdo Nahat oud I imagine?
As a matter of interest, do we know how many Nahat ouds survive in original condition - is there a data base cataloging details of these instruments
and their location?
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Microber
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Hey John, I was kidding about the opinion of Alfaraby.
See the quote of my previous post.
Yaron I like your work very much.
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Alfaraby
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As much as I have been told by reliable sources in Damascus, and I've talked to many, Abdo Nahat used Carpathian spruce, top grade, carefully chosen
by the master.
I believe that oud that have been severely damaged and restored is no longer an Abdo anymore. Not only in the case of replacing the SB. Even If it
was opened and closed carefully, it's not the same oud anymore.
There's no data base whatsoever concerning living Abdos. People don't report to the "Nahat authority" about their possessing. I know at least two who
have unknown number of Abdos and nobody knows about them anything.
I don't want, but I feel jealous.
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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Edward Powell
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I think he said "Nahhat-style", not "Nahhat-replica". There is a big difference.
Yaron, your Nahhat-style oud here is an absolute masterpiece! Thanks so much for posting these beautiful pics! It is very inspiring for me - keep up
your great work!
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Yaron Naor
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And here it is...
I am so exited!
See my friend Master Juzif Oude is playing my Nahhat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TljYhADaUA&feature=youtu.be
Thanks all for all your feed-backs and knowledge
Regards,
Yaron
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Dr. Oud
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Well, I like it, whatever you want to call it. It has a very rich tone and good balance, a very nice job, congratulations. Now, what's with the oud in
the back with the big ears?
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Yaron Naor
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| Quote: Originally posted by Dr. Oud | | Well, I like it, whatever you want to call it. It has a very rich tone and good balance, a very nice job, congratulations. Now, what's with the oud in
the back with the big ears? |
Thanks doc! I really appreciate it that you took the time to view and listen...
The oud at the back is my "OUDAR" a unique combination of a Turkish size/sound oud with a shape of a guitar and a flat back
It is easier to play and it sits good on your leg, the sound is a very special Turkish sound
https://picasaweb.google.com/116712080015313073524/FlatBackTurkishOu...
Thanks for your interest
Regards,
Yaron
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fernandraynaud
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Congratulations! It does have a great sound, though the automatic gain control on the camera makes it sound like it sustains forever ;-) Did you
French Polish the non-homogeneous soundboard, or use a brush? Shellac or? But, moustache or not, you really should put the date, your cell-phone
number and your e-mail address on the label, like Abdo did.
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Yaron Naor
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| Quote: Originally posted by fernandraynaud | | Congratulations! It does have a great sound, though the automatic gain control on the camera makes it sound like it sustains forever ;-) Did you
French Polish the non-homogeneous soundboard, or use a brush? Shellac or? But, moustache or not, you really should put the date, your cell-phone
number and your e-mail address on the label, like Abdo did. |
Thanks!
I apply shellac on the oud body only, on the soundboard I put one cote of a special liquid that I make here, to prevent the wood from drying too fast
(old Cedar is a drying sensitive wood) and crack, and preventing the oil from the fingers and the hand.
For sure I have put the date and my signature on the ticket!
In the image, Mr. Dominique with his new oud!
Thanks,
Regards
Yaron Naor.
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