Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Trip to Istanbul
This is my first post on this forum. I have been an observer for several years and now feel I should acknowledge and thank a couple of the forum
members for their advice and help. I recently returned from a trip to Istanbul and in planning the trip sought advice from Bruno and Faruk Turunz.
Many thanks to both of you.
Bruno asked me to give Faruk a big hug for him while I was there, which I did and attach a photo of the moment.
I had a delightful day with Faruk who was very gracious, hospitable and prepared to share his knowledge. I found his scientific approach to tuning
braces fascinating. When I figure out how to do it I'll attach some more photos of his workshop.
I am now home again and delighted with my new Faruk Turunz Grand Concert oud.
Kind Regards to All
Larry
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Larr
Oud Lover
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Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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A photo of Faruk at work
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Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Faruk's workshop and ouds being crafted
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Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Me (looking slightly jet lagged) with my new oud together with Faruk and his team
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Greg
Administrator
Posts: 928
Registered: 7-22-2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Hi Larry,
Welcome to the forums. It's great to have another Turunz owner in the region.
Thanks also for the happy snaps of Faruk and his colleagues. He told me about your concerns in getting the instrument to NZ in one piece and I am
happy that you have succeeded.
Congratulations on your lovely new oud. Play it in good health.
Please let me know if you are ever planning to come over this side of the pond.
Regards,
Greg
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Jassim
Oud Junkie
Posts: 212
Registered: 12-29-2007
Location: Kuwait
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Mood: Oud Player
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nice oud
alf mabrook
play on good health nd say hi to mr faruk
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JasonM
Oud Addict
Posts: 26
Registered: 7-12-2008
Location: Western Australia
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Hi Larry
Congratulations - I hope you get lot's of enjoyment from your new oud!
I'm going to Istanbul to pick-up my oud from Faruk in Nov and I am also concerned about how my oud will travel. Were you allowed to take it on the
flight as carry-on luggage?
Jason
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Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Hi Greg, Jassim and Jason
Thanks for your kind comments.
Greg - I do make it over your side of the pond from time to time so I'll stay in touch.
Jason - In the end after much analysis and worry I chose to have Faruk air freight the oud back to NZ. I had 4 different flights to catch and I
brought back a cumbus as well as cabin baggage.
There's lots of discussion in previous posts on this forum about about the vexed question of carrying ouds on aircraft.
Here's my thoughts:
1. Don't check it in as baggage - Good chance of destruction
2. Don't bother asking the airline whether you can take it on as cabin baggage, they'll tell you it is oversize and that you should check it in.
3. An oud is only a little oversize in terms of length so you're probably going to be OK unless you run into a security or airline person who's overly
officious.
4. Take it on board in the hard case if you can (Faruk's hard cases are quite compact)
5. Have a soft case with you as back up should someone get officious and stop you. You can then plead to take the oud with you on the basis that it is
extremely fragile and takes up very little space and then check in the empty hard case.
6. Book your seat online near the back of the plane and be one of the first onboard.
7. Put it into a overhead locker near you where you can watch it and stop other passengers from crushing it with their wheelie bags.
8. Expensive options are air freighting or buying a seat for the oud. It did occur to me that flying back sitting beside my new oud sharing a meal,
drinks and watching in flight movies would be quite nice, but I couldn't afford that!
Istanbul is a great city and a visit to Faruk's workshop is a treat of a lifetime.
Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Kind Regards
Larry
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Greg
Administrator
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I hope you don't mind Larry, but I would like to chip in and add my shipping experiences for Jason and others in our region.
When I purchased my oud from Faruk I asked him to ship it with UPS. Faruk made a very sturdy screwed marine ply box at a very reasonable price. The
total cost of box and UPS was US$401. I see no reason why you couldn't house your oud in a similar box and take it with you as checked (excess)
baggage. It would certainly be cheaper than UPS and it would be just as safe. (either way, it travels in the cargo hold of an aircraft).
I have also brought an oud back from Lebanon (Nazih Ghadban). In that case, the oud's hard case was already marine ply and extremely robust. So I
wrapped it in several layers of cling-wrap and checked it in (oversize and fragile articles can be checked in, as such and are handled more
carefully). It arrived safely. I know that Joe Tawadros brought his Faruk oud back from Istanbul just in the normal hard case (checked in as a fragile
article) but he is a braver man than I. I recently brought a cheapie saz back from Turkey, wrongly assuming I could take it on as hand baggage. They
refused and it went into the hold in only a soft case (and my blessings). It too arrived undamaged - Thank you Singapore Airlines.
My advice would be to ask Faruk to make you a box (the normal hard case is 87x40x24 cm) and check it in.
I hope this helps.
Greg
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MatthewW
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1031
Registered: 11-5-2006
Location: right here
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Hi JasonM- check out my experience with flying with an oud here:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=6884&pa...
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Greg
Administrator
Posts: 928
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Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Larry,
Would it be possible to post some nice closeup pictures of your new beauty?
Is it tuned Arabic or Turkish?
Which woods are used in construction?
Thanks very much.
Regards,
Greg
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Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Hi Greg
I'll post a couple of pictures.
The woods used are:
Body and neck - Macassar Ebony and Amazonas Rosewood
Fingerboard - Ebony
Soundboard - Eastern Black Sea Spruce
Bridge and Pickguard - Dyed and Varnished Pear Tree
As you can see with the under saddle pickup the bridge arrangement is slightly different to a traditional bridge.
Tuning - D A B e a d - 6th course through to 1st course.
Regards
Larry
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Larr
Oud Lover
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Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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View of the back
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Larr
Oud Lover
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Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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A better shot of the wood colours
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JasonM
Oud Addict
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Registered: 7-12-2008
Location: Western Australia
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Stunning!
Also thanks everyone for your advice on travelling with an oud. I'll consider the various options. I have a soft case from Jameel, although I'm not
sure I want to lug it around for 7 weeks while I'm on holiday - so Greg's option of a box has some appeal...
Congratulations again Larry. Happy playing!
Jase
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amarock
Oud Junkie
Posts: 215
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: israel
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Mood: musical
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Thank you Larry for the hug....lol
Mabrouk my friend for your beautifull oud.
Play it in good health.
Bruno
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Greg
Administrator
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Larry, you have the new baby, but I reckon I was there for the birth. Take a look at this photo, as I think it's your oud.
I took the photo because I was intrigued by the lovely bowl woods, as well as the nifty little clamps for the small rosettes.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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Love those little clamps! If only I had the time... 
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Larr
Oud Lover
Posts: 10
Registered: 6-10-2008
Location: New Zealand
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Hey Greg you're right it is my baby.
A close inspection of the woodgrains shows the photo and the oud to be one and the same.
Thanks heaps, its great to have the photo
Larry
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