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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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I'm currently in discussions with D'addario about improving their oud string offerings. So, if you have any requests or suggestions, now would be the
time to request or suggest them!
They seem to be very interested in serving the oud community better by expanding their offerings, so hopefully it will work out.
So far, I am focused on adding some products tailored to Arabic-style ouds, but if anyone has any thoughts on Turkish oud strings, they are welcome as
well. Any preferences (rectified, plain, high tension, low tension, etc.) are welcome information.
In other news, it looks like I will soon offer Kurschner strings starting in early to mid February. There will be standard oud strings as well as
premium sets from their historical/lute strings.
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Kelly
Oud Junkie
Posts: 285
Registered: 1-30-2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Thanks Brian for the clarification
I think I'll have to try a set of the Savarez soon.
Regards
Kelly
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andoni
Oud Lover
Posts: 11
Registered: 6-24-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: mOudy
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Hi Brian,
I am looking for Pyramid premium strings with the FADgcf tuning. I would like one set for a floating bridge and another for a regular oud. Do you have
any in stock? If not what brands do you recommend for that tuning.
Thanks
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hi Andoni,
I could put together a set for regular oud, but I don't have the premium strings in high enough tensions for floating bridge.
I think that Matthias has some over at music-strings.de.
The LaBella OU80A is made for F-f' tuning in higher tension (for floating bridge), and the Aquila 57O and 59O are also both suitable for floating
bridge.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Volunteers wanted!
I am looking for volunteers that are interested in trying the following:
1) a new plectrum material. It would be a blank, and you would have to shape it to your preferences. It is a bit hard to work with (ie. shaping) but
offers a more organic sound, IMO.
2) Some prototype Arabic sets I'm working with D'addario on developing. I would need volunteers for floating bridge oud (F-f' tuning), and classic
Arabic oud (C-c' tuning). Also volunteers, preferably with older instruments, to try a low-tension Arabic set made for antique ouds.
The plectrum blank can be had for shipping cost (1.00 in the US) or can be added to any regular order for no charge.
For the string sets, contact me and when they are ready I'll let you know.
The only condition is that I ask you to write a short review, and make suggestions.
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spyros mesogeia
Oud Junkie
Posts: 896
Registered: 9-10-2003
Location: WASHINGTON DC
Member Is Offline
Mood: play my ouds
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Hello Brian,
You can count on me also for the string tentions,
the tunning that I use
is ff cc gg DD AA EE D
THE TREBLES THAT I USE NOW ARE AQUILA,and I would prefer not to change them,
Let me know
String length 57 cm
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ameer
Oud Junkie
Posts: 464
Registered: 9-14-2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hi Brian. I would love to try the antique arabic oud set as I tend to play at that tension despite not having an antique oud. Is it designed for
standard tuning?
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Yes, standard tuning. I anticipate that some people just prefer low tension even on modern ouds, I like it myself.
Cheers,
Brian
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Omar Al-Mufti
Oud Junkie
Posts: 333
Registered: 3-14-2012
Member Is Offline
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Hi Brian,
I've recently bought the two types of plectrum material in your webshop. They are both relatively hard. It is not easy to play techniques using them.
It is also hard to blend low and high volume tone while playing using them. hard hard hard.
Cheers,
Omar
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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| Quote: | Hi Brian,
I've recently bought the two types of plectrum material in your webshop. They are both relatively hard. It is not easy to play techniques using them.
It is also hard to blend low and high volume tone while playing using them. hard hard hard.
Cheers,
Omar |
Hi Omar,
Of course everyone has different preferences, but I can't say I agree with you--in my opinion, they are both relatively soft materials, softer than
horn of the same thickness. I like softer rishas myself, but both of these materials are a bit on the soft side for even my tastes; I was even
planning on increasing the thickness for the next batch.
In fact, regarding preferences, I just had another customer complain that our heavy Pyramid risha wasn't heavy enough!
The many professional oud players I know have no difficulty employing a variety of techniques, playing loud and soft, while using even much harder
materials than these.
Regardless of our opinions though, the materials are very easy to make thinner if you want them softer. You can use a combination of sandpaper and
emery paper, which can be found at your local hardware store. They are meant to be shaped to your preferences, this includes thickness.
best regards,
Brian
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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I am happy to announce that I have started offering high-quality replacement pegs for ouds. These are made for ouds and are patterned after the knob
design found on many Nahat ouds.
Currently offering Boxwood, Rosewood, and Ebony:
http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/category&path...
Also, I am in the process of offering certain music CDs for sale, currently I exclusively have the otherwise out-of-print "Music Of Mohammed Abdel
Wahab" by Simon Shaheen:
http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=...
I will be adding some other oud cds soon!
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spyros mesogeia
Oud Junkie
Posts: 896
Registered: 9-10-2003
Location: WASHINGTON DC
Member Is Offline
Mood: play my ouds
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Just thought I'd post a note about some new stuff . . .
Pyramid has been making custom oud rishas for me in heavier thicknesses than the standard ones. I now offer two styles in addition to their regular
"pro" risha (I don't offer their plain oud pick because I feel it is too thin to be worthwhile).
Pyramid Heavy Risha
Pyramid Extra Heavy Risha
I also am introducing a new material for making your own picks. It is a bit difficult to work with compared to other materials (it is very durable),
but if you like a stiff risha it comes very close to the sound of tortoiseshell.
Tortite Risha Blanks
Also, these little headstock tuners are great and essentially invisible to the audience when you are on stage:
NS Mini Headstock Tuner
Thanks to everyone who has been keeping the store going, it's been a pleasure helping folks out!
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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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Brian, can you explain the dimensions of your oud pegs? perhaps a drawing with dimensions shown?
Also how does that little tuner mount? Again an illustration is worth ... a hundred words.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hi Fernand, somehow I missed your message here earlier.
The peg dimensions are approximately 5.58cm (shaft length) x .95cm (wide end) x .83cm (narrow end).
I will try to take a photo with a ruler nearby.
The tuner has a small clip that is adjustable. I will take a picture of it on an oud so you can see, it works on most ouds but not all, if you give
me the dimensions of your pegbox I can tell you whether it fits or not. I've been using one on live gigs and it works great even in very noisy
environments.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Just a heads up to the Savarez fans (and the Pyramid Lute fans), I've just got in a bunch of lute strings from Savarez for some custom sets. I've
tweaked the tensions a bit from what I had previously, these should be great and very comparable to the Pyramid Lute. I also got them in both copper
and silver this time, for a greater range of timbre.
They should come out about $10 less per set than the Pyramid, around $48/set (I have to do my Euro conversions to get the exact number).
I also got some options for the high f' folks.
None of this is in the store yet (I have to go through everything first) but you can email me if you have a question or want something.
The bad news is that they stopped making the plastic-wound nylon strings, which I had hoped could make a nice transition from the plain nylon to the
metal wound (these have a very smooth transition anyway, but I'm always looking for new solutions).
The good news is that I am investigating some other cutting-edge solutions to the transition issues--I'll let you know when I have more info!
cheers,
Brian
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reminore
Oud Junkie
Posts: 108
Registered: 10-30-2010
Location: Binghamton, NY
Member Is Offline
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hi brian,
did you ever receive my email re your query on strings for the lavta that you had sent to mavrothis? just checking- perhaps it never made it to
you...costa
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hi Costa, yes, thanks I did receive it. Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hi folks, I just wanted to let people know what's going on with OudStrings.com.
Unfortunately, international shipping rates have recently gone way up, primarily for small parcels (which is most oud string orders). Orders with
multiple items are not affected quite as much as very small orders, since the lowest price tier has shrunk from 3 to 2 ounces while also being
increased from about $5 to $7. I will be double-checking all shipping calculations and refunding price differences if it turns out that the shipping
calculator overestimated your shipping charges. If you are trying to order and the shipping charges seem really high, just send me an email and I
will check them for you.
In better news, I now have Daniel Mari strings back in stock. And for those who like the wounds but prefer alternative materials for the treble
strings, I now have sets with only wound strings.
The khalaf oud cases pre-order list is filling up, so if you've been on the fence, it's time to get off!
cheers,
Brian
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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I just got some of the plastic-wound nylon Savarez strings to test out. They have stopped making the full range, but apparently still make a few
diameters for classical guitar. These look promising for the 2nd gg and 3rd dd courses. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Also, I've been playing on the new Savarez sets I have and I can report that they are excellent strings, very comparable to the Pyramid lute strings.
I look forward to expanding the selection of these strings in the future.
I also have another shipment of pegs coming in soon, hopefully within the next month.
There are still a couple of oud cases left if you wanted one. Unfortunately, the case business doesn't look like it makes sense for me at this time,
so after this batch I don't have any plans to make more in the foreseeable future.
I also got some high-quality pick material that looks promising . . . details to come.
cheers,
Brian
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Bodhi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 168
Registered: 2-26-2012
Location: North West England
Member Is Offline
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Wow, plastic wound nylon... sounds interesting can't wait to hear what you think! Definately interested in them if they work out!
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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I forgot to mention: I also now have the MusiCaravan Neçati sets back in stock.
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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New Risha Blanks
Here are the new mock tortoise shell risha blanks I'm offering:
These are high-quality celluloid and sound great. Perfect thickness, in my opinion, they are in between the Pyramid "Pro" risha and the Pyramid "Pro
Heavy" risha that I've been offering, with a really nice tortoise shell pattern. Easy to shape and inexpensive (5 bucks for two).
OudStrings.com - Mock Tortoise Shell Risha
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hamed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 295
Registered: 1-18-2005
Location: Seattle, Washington
Member Is Offline
Mood: Iss'al rouhak
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Hey Brian,
Are these the same TORTIS blanks that Jameel was offering few years ago?
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hi Hamed,
No, these are different. Tor-tis is a material that was intended for pickguards and veneers; it is very expensive and turned out not to be flexible
enough of a material to work well as an oud pick. Guitar and mandolin players have used it successfully for heavy thickness picks, but the length and
thickness of an oud pick made it too prone to breakage.
These are celluloid, like the Pyramid picks, but higher quality—in my opinion, they are less "plastic" sounding. Of course this is subjective, but
I got these as an experiment and am very happy with them.
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