Cocomaan
Oud Lover
Posts: 16
Registered: 2-8-2010
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When is it time to replace my strings?
Hey everyone,
I bought an oud fee masr (a pretty cheap student one, I'm guessing) back in 2006 and I recently taught myself to play.
It has been a great experience, and some of the stuff I found on here really helped out (such as Jameel Bashir's oud book).
I have a question: at what point should I be changing my strings? They are the original strings, and I think they are not only stretched out too much,
making a lot of clanging, but they just don't sound like they used to.
However, I'm scared <b>shoot</b>less of changing them, especially tying the ends down on the soundboard. Any advice?
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Ali
Oud Maniac
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-17-2005
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Hi
The time period for changing strings ,is based on how much you play .
( and also how hard you plug)
more experience you have more sensetive your ears become and you
will feel and realize when your strings are loosing thier best perfomance.
But I think You should definatly change yours now and don't worry , it's easy and fun .
I play alot and use Aqulla strings , ( Aqilla strings loose it quicker than other
kinds , as far as my experience with diferent kind af strings is ) So I change
strings almost every four mounts .
Good luck
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Danielo
Oud Junkie
Posts: 365
Registered: 7-17-2008
Location: Paris
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Hi,
usually I change them every six months, but sometimes I'm a bit lazy and wait a couple of months more...
If your strings are the original ones, you MUST change them (as usually student ouds are sold with very bad strings).
Don't worry about tying the strings. Simply don't remove the old strings at once, so you can easily check whether you do it well! (btw it is also
better for the soundboard).
If you buy new strings, check if the tension is ok with your string length and the tuning you use.
Good luck!
Dan
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Sazi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 786
Registered: 9-17-2007
Location: Behind my oud
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Mood: مبتهج ; ))
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The silver coating on the strings wears off, and also you should check at the bridge and over the nut to see if any of the windings are broken, which
can give a rattling sound.
Here on Mav's page you can see a diagram how to attach the strings and what peg to put each string on...
http://www.oudcafe.com/stringing_and_tuning.htm
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Cocomaan
Oud Lover
Posts: 16
Registered: 2-8-2010
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Thanks guys, this was good information and I'll definitely print out this thread for when I change the strings.
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