Michelle Webb
Oud Lover
Posts: 22
Registered: 3-19-2009
Location: Washington DC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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Buying an Oud
OK guys....I'm sold.....
Don't laugh but after basically trying to turn my guitar into an oud....basically....I decided to buy one...cool...
There are a couple of places I'm looking at via ebay...
If you go on there you'll see what I mean....
There is this guy in Israel.....free shipping....I don't if I should trust him....then there are some that are more expensive.....$600 /700 range that
are here in the states......I guess my really question is ....would you go with the what looks like a really great deal with the guy that is all the
way in Israel....( I'm in the states...) or the sure bet.......if there's s something wrong you can return it easy Oud in USA...?
Let me know what you think and thanks....
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MatthewW
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1031
Registered: 11-5-2006
Location: right here
Member Is Offline
Mood: Al Salam
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there are ouds that pop up for sale in the USA regularly, for instance-
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=9020
and
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8904
Mike is a good person to contact- fair priced ouds always come and go through his door.
This is not to say the oud in Israel is not a good deal- but if you can find one closer to home it may be easier to deal with in case of any problems
that may arise. it helps to have any oud insured for shipping just in case. If you are not sure about any oud or source, just ask in the forum- good
luck! 
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paulO
Oud Junkie
Posts: 531
Registered: 9-8-2004
Location: California
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Mood: Utz
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Hi Michelle,
Check out these:
Some $500 buck ouds offered by Mike
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8904
or if you're looking to spend a bit more this looks very cool but it's $900:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8076#pid512...
Good Luck,
Paul
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Christian1095
Oud Junkie
Posts: 454
Registered: 4-29-2008
Location: North Carolina, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hey Michelle - the two sellers on Ebay from Israel that I'm aware of are the 'bubitrade' and 'land of milk and honey' - both in Israel.... I would
stay away from anything other than possibly a GeF simply because they don't look like good instruments.... I haven't heard of anyone from the forum
here buying an oud from them so I don't know about thier reputation...
Also, Franck had this posted a while back... http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8155#pid583...
A bit of advice, I bought a really cheap oud to start with and ended up getting a better one within a month or so... Now that cheap Turkish oud sits
on a table and just looks pretty.... So it took me $300 to realize that I liked the instrument and wanted a better one right away.... If you think
you might be into this for the long run, then I would spend a little more to get a good instrument.... Also, it helps if you can hear it played
before purchase.
Good Luck
Chris Walters
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msimon
Oud Maniac
Posts: 62
Registered: 12-8-2008
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rast
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I bought from bubitrade, and it was a mess. He sent it with only 10 pegs, when the description had 12, and it broke after a few days. I would not buy
an Oud from ebay. It is better to find an oud maker, and to know the wood.
Michael
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Segura
Oud Addict
Posts: 27
Registered: 3-27-2009
Location: Paris (France)
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hi Michelle,
It is not easy to play the oud instead of the guitar. The change is more than hard and I wish you to find a (good) teatcher. And he will be able to
help you to find a good instrument.
Cordially,
Alain
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Stepan
Oud Admirer
Posts: 4
Registered: 2-20-2010
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by Christian1095  | Hey Michelle - the two sellers on Ebay from Israel that I'm aware of are the 'bubitrade' and 'land of milk and honey' - both in Israel.... I would
stay away from anything other than possibly a GeF simply because they don't look like good instruments.... I haven't heard of anyone from the forum
here buying an oud from them so I don't know about thier reputation...
Also, Franck had this posted a while back... http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8155#pid583...
A bit of advice, I bought a really cheap oud to start with and ended up getting a better one within a month or so... Now that cheap Turkish oud sits
on a table and just looks pretty.... So it took me $300 to realize that I liked the instrument and wanted a better one right away.... If you think
you might be into this for the long run, then I would spend a little more to get a good instrument.... Also, it helps if you can hear it played
before purchase.
Good Luck |
I bought mine from "land of milk and honey'. The neck is bent, the body has 'scratches' under the
clearcoat (so it was obviously clear-coated over) and the build appearance is not the best. I addressed my thoughts to him and he gave me my money
back and let me keep the oud. I would have been happy with half of the money back, mainly because for $145 (shipped) it was still a good price.
Included in that price, I anticipated a few repairs and I've been working on them.
Long story short, if you dont mind a little bit of wood-working (very basic stuff like drilling a hole or two for pegs, using popsicle sticks to raise
the strings) it might be worth it. I was shopping for quite a while for a starter and I'm more than happy with this. I live in
California and my only other option would be to spend at least $600 for the most basic oud.
I'm new and not sure if I can pick up the oud at my age so I'm glad for this low cost entry oud.
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celloting
Oud Admirer
Posts: 2
Registered: 11-4-2010
Member Is Offline
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I would like share my unpleasant experience of buying my first oud from bubitrade, this is the Ebay business arm of arabinstruments and a guy by the
name of Assaf Kassel has made a contribution on this thread.
Basically, after much reading and research, I decided to buy one of their Professional Egyptian Oud Arabic With + Sound Sample costing 410USD. Problem
was that they sent me the wrong oud, one with a cut-away fingerboard precisely what I did not want. On top of that, the soft case did not fit the oud,
particularly the peghead. There was also a fairly massive dent on the top end of the fingerboard.
I contacted them to point out the problem and asked for them to send the oud I paid for, they refused and offered a refund instead, but not including
the return postage from UK (which would cost nearly 200USD!), which I suspect these guys already knew full well. They know their business well and
like to play games with their customers.
The worst bit was that they never once acknowledged their mistake, never once apologised for sending me the wrong oud and then proceeded to accuse me
of 'blackmailing' them and ruining their business! What? I mean, I paid honest money for the oud, they sent me the wrong oud, they never admitted
making the mistake. See, I reckon they knew it was not the correct oud yet they sent it. You know why? Because they knew right from the outset that it
would cost us (from the West) far too much to return the oud!
They like to play games with customers, so beware! They are only interested in making money and not at all interested in the oud, shame on them.
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FastForward
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 6-2-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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celloting,
Sorry to hear about your experience. It just emphasizes that one has to deal locally when buying an oud. When purchases made online, if things go
right then its all good, but when there is something wrong, the buyer gets the end of it unfortunately.
I still don't see the point of someone buying an Egyptian or Syrian oud from an online store in Israel. Why do you need so many middle men. Buy local
or buy direct, the risks are the same. I recognize the claim that they have sold many ouds and the buyers were all happy. But, to me, one bad dealing
such as the one you indicate is more than enough to show the true way these people deal with you especially that their business is selling ouds.
Again I hope that your situation gets resolved favorably for you.
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