Almaafin
Oud Admirer
Posts: 4
Registered: 12-12-2020
Member Is Offline
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Doubling C bass on 12 string?
Hey guys, recently ordered myself a 12-string Zeryab shami oud. I mostly play in CFAdgc. I’ve read some posts on here that doubling the bass C
string isn’t done because they would rattle against each other. And then another post indicates that it can be done but it is rare and another that
said that Hamza el Din has done a tuning with doubling on bass C.
I guess my question is, would there be a type of strings that would allow me to double on bass C?
Image attachment from the seller’s images.
Note: I’m a new oudist and I’m really loving the oud. The nahawand maqam brings me back to my Flamenco background. 
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Khalil_Oud
Oud Maniac
Posts: 86
Registered: 8-28-2016
Location: Montreal
Member Is Offline
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Hi Almaafin,
Here is my opinion, there are 2 or 3 things:
- Strings can rattle against each other in some situations: if the tension is not adequate (to low for the oud), and if the space between the two
strings is not enough ( meaning the nut was made ''narrow''). If the oud is a good quality and the stringss tension is right, the two strings
shouldn’t rattle (good quality oud means too that the action is right...).
- Some oudists doubles the C, yes but it's rare because, we need to double the string if we use it a lot (playing on it), that's not the case in
Arabic playing in 90% or more. We use it as a bass (C or D...) in most cases, depending on what we are comfortable with or what we are playing
(sometimes). In addition, when you double the C string, you double the tension for the oud for this string, for a string that you don't need to be
doubled, and you ask mor for your oud action... especially for fixed bridges ouds.
In my experience, finding the right tension for this C string (and the 5th too) ins not easy, it varies from oud to another and you should try some to
find what suitable for your oud.
Khalil
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