Walidk
Oud Maniac
Posts: 55
Registered: 8-12-2004
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Your opinion on possibly a "Nahhat Ikhwan" oud.
Hi friends,
As the the tile says, I'm curious to know your opinion or any thoughts you may have on my oud (purchased about a year ago).
Background:
I purchased this oud in Beirut last summer from a used oud dealer. He told me that he got it from Aleppo and supposed to be a "Nahhat" oud. Of course
I'm skeptical, and honestly did not care whether it's authentic or fake. However, I liked it.. so I bought it.
The label inside is written in Armenian (hand written). It's as if it has been repaired by an Armenian luthier who has slapped a hand-written paper as
a label. There is no original label, or it's hidden/disintegrated behind the repair label. I can't read Armenian, so can't say anything about what's
written.
My opinion:
I like this oud for 3 reasons. Those three reasons/characteristics kind of lead me to believe it may be actually real. They are:
1. Form, 2. Sound, and 3. workmanship
1. Form:
The instrument is as light as a feather.
The walnut/rosewood (I think) bowl has such a nice shape to it. Small compared to old instruments that I've seen myself so far. The butt is curved and
closed up in a abrupt straight way (not round) making it easier to hold while playing.
The soundhole "Kamara" (the large one) clearly says "Nahhat Ikhwan" in Arabic. Although cannot speak myself to its authenticity or not.
Other parts, like pickguard, bridge do resemble Nahhat old ouds.
Obviously, I can tell that there are many repairs that have been made to it. For example:
A single bass string has been added which means that the nut has been replaced/reworked to fit an additional string.
The soundboard is repaired (not sure if replaced or not) behind the bridge and has cracks.
2. Sound:
Aahh..here is the real reason why I bought this oud..!! To make a long story short, about 30 years ago when I was just starting to play oud, I was
shown a real Nahhat oud when I was looking to buy. It was not for sale. The owner was just showing it o me to express his pride in owning the
instrument. All these years and I have never forgotten how the instrument felt in my hands. It had a powerful and beautiful sound. Most importantly,
(and here's the whole moral of the long story) I could never forget how the instrument vibrates and how I felt the powerful vibration coming from the
bowl on my belly while playing the instrument.
Well..!! I have never felt that vibration ever since (and I played a lot of instruments for decades)..UNTIL I first tried this oud when I bought it.
It has the same powerful vibration from the back.
Also, this oud does have a similar sound to some Nahhat ouds I heard on youtube. (I think typical of old Nahhat ouds).
Very powerful bass (although the bowl is small) and the higher strings sound mellow (unlike most instruments with sharp treble).
3. Workmanship:
Here I'm also amazed about the workmanship, which leads me to believe that it may be authentic, or at least made by a superbe luthier (but who ??).
Even if it's an knockoff, I have never seen this quality workmanship on a old instrument. Do imitators with this kind of quality workmanship exist ?
and if so, why wouldn't they make their own instruments, rather than imitate ?
The ornament inserts are so tight and smooth that not even today's laser cutting instruments are capable of. When I run my fingers on the inserts, I
cannot discern the inserts from the main wood, and that's everywhere on the instrument.
The neck and string action is still very acceptable and easily playable for such an old instrument, which leads me to believe that the maker is a
professional luthier.
Sorry for making such a long story, but I'm just curious to know what you think or if you have any input or criticism on the instrument or on my
thought process.
In any way, I think what matters the most is the joy that one gets out of this instrument (or any instrument as a matter of fact). Everything else is
detail.
Please chime in. Appreciate your time and input..
You can see pics of the oud here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/143TzBoZXa10_HbjPrDe0FzUxsA98...
Thanks.
Walid.
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1373
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
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1) The photo of the bowl seen from the side seems to be of an oud with fewer ribs than seen in the other photos and there is no visible inlay. Same
oud?
2) Which, dark or light, do you think is walnut and which rosewood?
3) thanks for an enjoyable and engaging post.
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Walidk
Oud Maniac
Posts: 55
Registered: 8-12-2004
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Hi Jody,
Same oud, just an optical illusion I guess. Or maybe because the bowl is somewhat flat shape in the back due to its size.
Walnut would be the darker wood..although I'm not an expert on wood types.
Thanks for your comments.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Dark wood does look like walnut. Light wood looks like sycamore maybe? Or possibly some similar local wood.
I wouldn't expect rosewood in an old oud, it's more common nowadays but tends to be imported from India.
Pegs look a little rougher than most Nahats I've seen but who knows. They look mismatched, so maybe not original. The one in the usual position of
the first d course looks like a Nahat peg perhaps.
Looks like good work overall as you said, and bowl shape is consistent with Nahat.
If it sounds good and plays well, enjoy it in good health! Plenty of luthiers were just as good as the Nahats, just not as famous, so regardless it
seems like you have a nice old oud.
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Walidk
Oud Maniac
Posts: 55
Registered: 8-12-2004
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Thanks Brian for your valuable input. It does seem that the oud was subjected to many repairs. You're absolutely right, that the moral of the whole
story is how much joy you get out of your instrument no matter Who made it.
Thanks.
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Walidk
Oud Maniac
Posts: 55
Registered: 8-12-2004
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Here is a sound sample.
The strings are old. Sorry for the rough playing as well. Fingers are rusty.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Vrzshdf4tB2z2W9qUZ7Al5M2vbRpIs5/vi...
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bulerias1981
Oud Junkie
Posts: 770
Registered: 4-26-2009
Location: Beacon, NY
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Mood: John Vergara Luthier Lord of the Strings instrument making and repair
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I'm sorry, but not Nahat.
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