spyrosc
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Syrian Oud Maker
Does anybody have any information about an older Syrian Oud maker in Damascus by the name of Muhammad Sobhi Dikah (or Dakah).
He had a shop on Madrassah Street in the 1960s.
Thanks
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dubai244
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hi ...!
well, i have been 8 times to Damascus and i didnt hear about this guy before. Notice that so many people in syria have instrument shop and they are
not the worker. If you want a good quality oud, you can get it from (Ahemd Ali Ajaj), his address is Damascus, AL-Emadiyah, Joober. i dont have his
Telephone number and any contact number with him.
But the problem is with ordering the oud, Actually, you can not order oud from there unless you know some there that he will bring the oud for you or
you go by yourself to get it.
By the way, i use his oud and it is very nice and good quality compare to you will see in Damascus of ouds.
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spyrosc
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Old Syrian oudmaker
Shukran ya akhi,
The reason I wanted to find out, is because there was this old oud for sale and the label inside had the picture of this guy, and the inscription in
Arabic, with the name Muhammad Sobhi Dikah, with a shop in Jobbar, Damascus.
Thanks for the offer, I wasn't going to order from there, though.
Spyros C.
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journeyman
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There was an oud for sale on eBay a while ago by Muhammad Sobhi Dikah, I think that you identified the builder Spyros. I actually bid on the oud as it
looked like it was well made and I wanted an older oud. The price went higher than I wanted to pay for an oud that I couldn't play before buying
it though. I hope I have the opportunity to someday travel to Egypt or Syria and find a couple of older, mellow sounding ouds that are well made.
Cheers,
Roy
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chuckerbutty
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Are Ali Khalifeh & Sons still on the go as well?
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spyrosc
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Ali Khalifa
Ali Khalifa passed away some years ago, and Mouafaq, his nephew, was running the place. The quality has declined considerably. They now produce what I
call "tourist" grade ouds. You can tell by looking at the sloppily glued PLASTIC rosettes with the glue still showing around the edges, etc.
If you find an old piece though you might be OK. There was an "alleged" Ali Khalifa oud for sale the other day for $ 3,000 with a label
inside with a date of 1905 ???
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billkilpatrick
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i got one of these "tourist" grade ouds as a gift and it took me a long time before i could even look at it, let alone play it.
i removed the tasteful plastic rosettes with the sensitive g-clef motif and attacked the bright and shiney laquer veneer with some steel wool. god it
was awful. but i have to say that when i'd finished, i had a respectable sounding - though undoubtedly "cheap" and nasty looking -
oud.
it's much louder than my better made, egyptian oud but it lacks ... i suppose "personality" would be a good word. it's much
easier to play than my egyptian oud and very much lighter.
if this mouafaq is approachable i wish someone would tell him that with just a little bit of effort - i mean just a tiny bit - and with just a little
more attention to detail - particularly in the production and the finishing-off process - he could do a lot better than he does at present.
i would never have bought it myself. the wood is lifeless, particularly those pieces used in the construction of the peg box and it looks generally
as if it was put together by someone who couldn't have cared less.
if someone gives you one, accept it gladly but don't waste your money buying it.
- bill
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nadir
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My Syrian oud is from Anwar Kubeh & Sons... could you guys check it out to see if it's a nice one or not?
http://www.angelfire.com/oz/nadir/oud.html
I have to say though, whatever opinion I get, I'm going to love this oud forever...
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spyrosc
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Dear Bill and Nadir
Actually the plastic rosette in addition to the g-clef has the name of the builder in Arabic. Older ouds had Ali Khalifa's name newer ones say
Mouafaq Khalifa.
It's also interesting that the real Ali Khalifa's (the older ones) did NOT have that disgusting laquer on the face, and had a characteristic
red/green edge trim which continued up along the sides of the neck all the way to the peg box. Since that obviously means a lot more work, Mouafaq
dropped it from the "production" version.
Nadir, your oud is beautiful and you have every right to love it. Since we haven't heard its sound we can't say anything about it other than
it is gorgeous. Enjoy it.
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nadir
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Thanks Spyros... 
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billkilpatrick
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nadir -
i looked at your anglefire site - i don't think i have that many photos of my children! you don't carry one in your wallet do you?
just joking. it's a lovely oud. hope you both enjoy a long and tuneful life.
sincerely - bill
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Zulkarnain
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chuckerbutty
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Yes, it's a pretty oud isn't it? Did you buy it in Dubai?
That's a real shame about Khalifa, it sounds like it would have been better if the business had passed away with him.
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nadir
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Thanks guys! I actually did get this oud in Dubai... CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY TURUNZ PICS TOMORROW! 
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