Sash
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 6-30-2012
Member Is Offline
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European Online store
Hi All!
Anyone knows a good, reliable online store with Ouds and accessories? (with more then Turkish Ouds - usually German stores are offering just Turkish
styles - Orientmusikhaus Berlin.de
Does anyone have some good experience with http://www.mediterranean-musicshop.com/ ( buying, app. shipping costs in EU...)
I contact them some days ago, but so far no feedback. Mabey its because of the heat wave here in EU
Thanx for your help!
Sasha
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: m'Oudy
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I have seen them around, but what they offer seems expensive for what it is.
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Giorgioud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 287
Registered: 11-18-2011
Location: United Kingdom
Member Is Offline
Mood: Oudbsessed
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Sash, I wouldn't buy from Mediterranean musicshop if you are looking for a good oud. Some of the specimen on show on their website are what an
esteemed member, referring to very similar ouds shown elsewhere, called "flower pots oud" or suchlike, and he's right.....some of those ouds you can
see on sale everywhere, no doubt bought by the ton in Cairo. Fernand is right, and for my money 340 Euros for the oud at the top right of the page is
nothing short of mugging.......you can see it on Amazon or on Alibaba for 240 Euros or so.....and even that is a big big rip-off, as on Mohammed Ali
Street in Cairo they buy them for 40 Euros......but a couple of the ouds shown at the bottom of the page seem ok....shame they aren't real pictures
though, are they?
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Sash
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 6-30-2012
Member Is Offline
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Hi,
I see we all are cheking more or less the same sites Yeah all the sites are
almost the same, and I dont get the "safe impression"
The best feedback I got from Arabinstruments. I guess "the best thing" would be to spend some more money (taxes, etc..) and buy a Sukkar Oud from
Arabinstruments 
Hmm or even to go for a trip to Cairo ( its an hour or two with plane) and buy it there...
Hey thax for your feedback...
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Marcus
Oud Junkie
Posts: 446
Registered: 11-26-2008
Location: Stuttgart/ South Germany
Member Is Offline
Mood: Lost in music
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BerlinBerlin
Hi Sash 
if you are not too far from Berlin you could try this luthier
the best is that you can try before buy
Cheers and good luck,
Marcus
Playing the oud is like feeding my soul with peace
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Giorgioud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 287
Registered: 11-18-2011
Location: United Kingdom
Member Is Offline
Mood: Oudbsessed
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Yeah Sash, Arabinstrument unfortunately seems the only safe outlet for us Europeans....I say "unfortunately" because it's tragic that we have to rely
on just a single establishment which is reliable enough for us not to get ripped off.....I have been looking for an electric oud for ages, and I'll
have to end up to Arabinstruments eventually, because the other outlets don't inspire me any trust whatsoever.....don't get me wrong, good ouds and
all, but it grates me a bit that the choice is so restricted.
Having said that, if you feel like jumping on a plane and going to England, there's Michael Moussa who makes the best ouds for $1000 (they will last
several lifetimes). Or checking on the forum if someone is selling an oud close to home.
I have a tip for you: about three weeks ago I bought an oud from a guy in London: a Fathy Amin floating bridge which is a beauty. Really wonderful,
and I paid £350 for it (less than 500 Euros). He had an almost identical one, and this one too was a wonder to behold: I couldn't make my mind up as
to which one to buy, and I spent about four hours playing from one oud to the other. Eventually I picked the one which has a slightly lower action and
it's more suitable to my small fingers. The other one has an infinitesimally higher action, but it's still very comfortable to play and it's really
loud. You might want to check it out, if he still has it I think it would be a brilliant deal. Fathy Amin is one of the two reputable luthiers left in
Egypt (the other is Maurice Shehata), loads of established oudists play it (from Farid Al-Atrache to Ahmed Fathy to Abbadi Al-Johar, etc. etc.) and
the feedback from people is generally very positive. The guy who has the oud is not really into sending it around, but maybe you can work something
out with him, if you contact him. Here's the thread:
http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=12905
Good luck!!!
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Sash
Oud Admirer
Posts: 3
Registered: 6-30-2012
Member Is Offline
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Thanx for info Giorgioud and all together.
Yes it seems like luck is needed by buying an oud And the quest continues
hehe...
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BaniYazid
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 8-20-2010
Location: France
Member Is Offline
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Hi,
This shop is nice, they used to offer Sukkar ouds, but it seems that they are out of stock :
http://www.creationdevideo.fr/catalogue-fr/rubrique/g-instruments-a...
They are also luthier, not only resellers. Located in Lyon, France
good luck
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: m'Oudy
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I can attest to having had good luck with Palmyrami. I have bought 3 good Sukars from them over the years at fair price. But be prepared for the full
range of bazaar experience, from haggling, to listening to excuses, waiting, and having to prove your balls. Under present conditions, more than ever,
I can't recommend those ouds located "in our shop in Syria", but the ones in stock in Michigan might even be worth shipping to Europe. In the US they
deliver those in 3 days. If you see an instrument you want, they do truly ship the one that's photographed. Don't even bother asking questions, the
ouds were packed up in Syria months ago, have not been unpacked, and they know nothing about ouds.
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pasalimanikos
Oud Admirer
Posts: 1
Registered: 7-11-2012
Member Is Offline
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Just to let you know that if you want VERY GOOD to EXCELLENT QUALITY OUD's the best two in my Opinion are in Greece.
DIMITRIS RAPAKOUSIOS
http://www.dimitrisouds.com
and
Tasos Theodorakis
http://www.theodorakis.name
If you want the best sounding Oud and made to last these are the best two in Greece. I have a Theodorakis Lavta and its amazing and I also have a
Rapakousios Oud and the sound is amazing.
I have been playing Oud and Latva for 10 years now and I have found nobody else who will take the time and effort to help you and teach you what you
want to know then these two.
I started with Bouzouki for many years but I have turned toward the Oud (Outi) and to the Lavta (Politiko Laouto) from Istanbul as my main two
intruments of choice now. I get more enjoyment from my Oud and my Lavta due to the extended range and tone.
Remember that most of the online shops are resellers and not the Luthier. I would never buy an instrument from a reseller because they know nothing
about the instrument and are just selling it. They dont know the quality, tone, bracing or even the environmental effects that your area will have on
the instrument you buy. These are important aspects to know when choosing an Oud. Check out their websites and give them a look. Both Dimitri and
Tasos are friendly and will help you too.
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Greg
Administrator
Posts: 928
Registered: 7-22-2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Serene
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Welcome to the forums pasalimanikos and thank you for this, your first post.
So, how many ouds from other luthiers have you purchased and/or played? If you have not purchased and/or played the instruments made by every other
luthier in the world, you are not in a positon to claim any one is the best.
Both Dimitri and Tasos are known and well respected here. But I doubt they would be comfortable being described as "the best".
Oud making is not a sport, it is an art and, as such, there is no olympic gold medalist in oud making.
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