monitort
Oud Admirer
Posts: 6
Registered: 5-27-2015
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Please help an absolute beginner
Hello everyone.
I have been listening to oud recordings for many years, but I've never had the chance to buy an actual oud.
Now one has showed up on the second-hand market, and since I am a complete beginner, I was hoping you might please help me find out more about it. The
owner says she doesn't play it and that she doesn't know much about it.
There are only two pictures available:
http://olx.ro/oferta/vand-cobza-ID2qjCN.html#4adb5c3948
Is this a Turkish or an Arabic oud? Does it look like a really cheap instrument to you? What other information should I ask for? The seller is in
another city.
Thank you very much.
Victor
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Greg
Administrator
Posts: 928
Registered: 7-22-2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Hello Victor,
Welcome to the forums.
This is a Turkish instrument. I do not know the maker, but it looks very similar to instruments made by the late Haluk Eraydin. It is probably not one
of his, as he used a different bridge design and gloss finish on his bowls. But if the 600 LEI is Romanian currency, it is priced now at a similar
price to what you would have expected to pay some years ago for a student model from someone like Haluk.
It does not look like it has been played much, if at all. At around US$150, it is probably a safe investment. You could ask the seller to measure the
height of the strings above the neck, where it joins the bowl and put that information on the forums for some expert opinion.
Good luck,
Greg
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monitort
Oud Admirer
Posts: 6
Registered: 5-27-2015
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Dear Greg, thank you very much for your answer.
Here is a bit more information from the seller:
1. Apparently there is no label inside.
2. The distance between the strings and the neck where the neck joins the bowl is not more than 2 mm.
3. The bowl shows wear (a scratch?) apparently from the belt of the previous owner (please see the pictures below).
4. Part of a tuning peg is broken off, but only from the part one holds and turns. (can I use a violin peg instead?)
Here are more pictures:
I am quite excited that I could be the proud owner of an oud. I've always wanted to try it, especially since it is a fretless instrument. The price is
$150. Considering all the above, would you give me the go ahead?
Thank you.
Victor
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Greg
Administrator
Posts: 928
Registered: 7-22-2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Victor,
2 mm is quite low, so that's a good sign (providing the neck is true so that you don't get buzzing).
The broken peg indicates that either the pegs are of very poor quality or they have not been fitted properly (perhaps both). Now that I have seen a
close-up photo of the pegs, I can say that this is definitely not a Haluk oud. Haluk used much better quality rosewood or ebony pegs. It is important
to have good quality tuning pegs that have been fitted properly. You will soon lose interest in the instrument if tuning becomes a chore because the
pegs are not fitted correctly and are hard to turn and do not hold tune. You can see sets of quality pegs here http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/category&path...
If you do not have access to an oud luthier, it may be best to employ a violin maker to replace your broken peg (or all of them), as he or she will
have the tools to ensure a correct fit. The holes must be reamed to have the same taper as the pegs. The "scratch" looks a little like a dent to me. I
would be asking for a close up photo of that.
Three final comments:
1/ If you play another stringed instrument, and if it is possible, it would be best for you to see this instrument yourself before committing to
purchase. If you are not already a musician, perhaps you could get one to look at it for you.
2/ US$150 is a very low price for an oud and this looks okay for the price. (Unlike Arabic "tourist" ouds, Turkish "tourist" ouds are generally
playable, so even if this turns out to be a tourist oud, all will not be lost.)
3/ Before deciding, wait to see what other forum members think. There are many talented people on these forums and I'm sure some will offer you better
advice than I.
Regards,
Greg
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monitort
Oud Admirer
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Registered: 5-27-2015
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Many thanks for you help. I have decided not to buy the oud. Since I can't get this instrument off my mind now, I will look for a decent one when I go
to Istanbul. Or I will look online for an oud maker in Europe. Otherwise, shipping + custom duties from outside the EU will ruin me 
If you don't mind, I have two more (unrelated) questions. Should I open separate topics for them?
1. First, I play classical guitar and quality instruments are several thousand euros. A good concert guitar starts at around 3000 euros. If you want
double tops or very famous makers, that will add up to much more. Regarding the oud, I've been reading the forum and other sites and ouds seem to be
much cheaper than guitars. Why is that? Or am I mistaken?
2. I am around 6.10 feet tall and I want to play the oud in the future. Do I need to order a custom instrument because my arms are longer than other
people's?
Thank you again. This forum seems like a very friendly place.
Victor
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Luttgutt
Oud Junkie
Posts: 578
Registered: 1-10-2009
Location: Norway
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Welcome to the Forum Victor!
1- The oud is usually made in countries With low salaries compaired to europ or the states.. So it is only Natural that oud is cheaper than guitar.
2- You can find ouds in different sizes. The biggest arabic ouds should be big enough for you. But I can see no reason why you cannot play a small
oud. After all People play Ukulele
The wood might be dead, but the oud is alive.
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1373
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
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I think your long arms can only be an advantage. More than a few oud players with shorter arms have had right shoulder injuries caused by playing ouds
with bowls that are too deep and wide for their bodies. I don't think that will happen to you at all. Several Turkish luthiers make ouds with wide and
deep bowls. The overall pattern appears smaller than typical Arabic ouds but when the dimensions are measured the truth is known. It is also known in
the arms, necks, and shoulders of smaller people. That said, I can think of no reason that an oud of any size, including small size, should cause you
any problems.
There are several good oud makers in Europe. You can find some on this forum.
Quote: Originally posted by monitort  | Many thanks for you help. I have decided not to buy the oud. Since I can't get this instrument off my mind now, I will look for a decent one when I go
to Istanbul. Or I will look online for an oud maker in Europe. Otherwise, shipping + custom duties from outside the EU will ruin me
If you don't mind, I have two more (unrelated) questions. Should I open separate topics for them?
1. First, I play classical guitar and quality instruments are several thousand euros. A good concert guitar starts at around 3000 euros. If you want
double tops or very famous makers, that will add up to much more. Regarding the oud, I've been reading the forum and other sites and ouds seem to be
much cheaper than guitars. Why is that? Or am I mistaken?
2. I am around 6.10 feet tall and I want to play the oud in the future. Do I need to order a custom instrument because my arms are longer than other
people's?
Thank you again. This forum seems like a very friendly place.
Victor |
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whisperoftheoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 265
Registered: 3-17-2007
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Mood: No Mood
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Hello,
I suggest you one of my friend web site he is selling student ouds with very good quality. His web site : http://www.cheapoud.com
Thanks ,
Yildirim Palabiyik
Oud Maker
| Quote: Originally posted by monitort | Hello everyone.
I have been listening to oud recordings for many years, but I've never had the chance to buy an actual oud.
Now one has showed up on the second-hand market, and since I am a complete beginner, I was hoping you might please help me find out more about it. The
owner says she doesn't play it and that she doesn't know much about it.
There are only two pictures available:
http://olx.ro/oferta/vand-cobza-ID2qjCN.html#4adb5c3948
Is this a Turkish or an Arabic oud? Does it look like a really cheap instrument to you? What other information should I ask for? The seller is in
another city.
Thank you very much.
Victor
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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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It sounds like you are accustomed to playing good quality instruments. I would recommend you buy a more expensive oud from a maker with a good
reputation. If you are looking at Turkish ouds, that would be Faruk Turunz, Ramazan Calay, Yildirim Palabiyik . . . there are several others that
folks who know more will chime in here.
First of all, it will be more enjoyable for you to learn on a good instrument, and you will be more likely to stick with it (and you won't have to
upgrade if you do).
Secondly, should you somehow decide that oud isn't for you, an instrument from a respected maker will hold its value better or possibly even go up in
value.
Overall, good ouds are less expensive than expensive guitars (cheaper cost of living where they are mostly made), but beginner ouds are more expensive
and worse quality than beginner guitars (lack of efficient industrialized mass production).
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