crmdgn
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Severe string buzzing high on the neck
I'm a beginning oud student, playing a Turkish oud in Arabic tuning. When I do fingering exercises up the neck (specifically, above the neck joint)
the notes don't really sound -- it sounds like the string is lying against the soundboard, so just a lot of flat atonal buzzing. This does not happen
on the high C or G strings, but it does on all the others. Open strings sound fine, and in fact the problem really only becomes apparent around the
ninth or tenth fret (not the oud-appropriate term, I know, but I'm used to fretted instruments, so there it is).
So here are my questions:
1. What is the likeliest cause?
2. Is it likely to be a major or minor repair job?
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Bnouhet
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Hi
It sounds quite unusual to tune a Turkish oud as an Arabic one.
On a Turkish the action (height of the stings above the neck) is lower. 3mm / 4 mm
Low strings have a bigger amplitude
I don't understand "above the neck joint"
Maybe the bridge is too low or the oud is not flat.
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Matthias
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First something has to be checkd:
Did you only tune down or did you change the strings to a set calculated for arabic tuning?
Turkish aouds have mostly a very low tension, so if you tuned down the tension may be too low which causes buzzing.
If you write the problem appears from the 3rd to 6th string, I assume what I described befor is the case.
Can you measure the action at the neck-body joint?
First of all it is not a repair case, it's more a string case for me.
Also can you put a ruler from the saddle to the soundhole? Do you see light between it at the neck-body joint?
Matthias
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crmdgn
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Quote: Originally posted by Matthias  |
First something has to be checkd:
Did you only tune down or did you change the strings to a set calculated for arabic tuning?
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I just tuned down.
About 2mm.
| Quote: Originally posted by Matthias |
Also can you put a ruler from the saddle to the soundhole? Do you see light between it at the neck-body joint?
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Yeah. It's definitely not flat. The surface is concave between the saddle and the soundhole, and again from the soundhole to the neck joint.
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Matthias
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2mm are good but only if it is not concave
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crmdgn
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Here are two photos of the soundboard with a ruler alongside:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KXU7ax95KM5VYVFRA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/T9DFNbhBtMfNL4k8A
What do you think of that surface deformity?
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Matthias
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meke a new pic with the ruler from the saddle to the soundhole.
at the rose the soundboaard is comig up , but this is not the reason for the buzzing
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crmdgn
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| Quote: Originally posted by Matthias | meke a new pic with the ruler from the saddle to the soundhole.
at the rose the soundboaard is comig up , but this is not the reason for the buzzing |
Is this better?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8hwQ1AqaSHQ5hpx49
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crmdgn
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PS. How much could the weather affect this situation? For several days it was very humid and rainy; today is much drier, and the problem doesn't seem
to be there any more.
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Matthias
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No, as I said I need pic with the ruler from the saddle to the soundhole. And it would be good you lift the strings so that the ruler and the fb can
be seen.
And please check if you have a similar situation like this:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=18004
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