RobMacKillop
Oud Addict
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-10-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Alternative to tortoiseshell?
Looking for an alternative to a tortoiseshell mizrap for Turkish tanbur playing. I'm told nothing compares, but there must be something that comes
close? I suppose it's too much to expect there to be ethically-sourced tortoiseshell?
|
|
|
Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1373
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
Member Is Offline
|
|
One way to ethically source tortoise shell for plectra is to use shell from 19th century hair brushes, mirror backs, etc. Not everyone will agree with
me but I don't see how using such a plectrum is going to cause more tortoises to die.
Another way is to use tortoise shell from animals that died a natural death. I have used mandolin picks made from a shell that washed up on the shore
in Ecuador and was hanging on the wall of the beach house of the uncle of a friend of mine in Tennessee.
There are also a variety of synthetics these days, each with its own sound. None are precisely like shell but they are good.
|
|
|
RobMacKillop
Oud Addict
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-10-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Cheers, Jody. I'll book my flight to Ecuador right away ;-) Joking aside you make a good point. I certainly wouldn't mind repurposing old shell, if I
could find some.
|
|
|
Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
|
|
Adam Good might have a recommendation.
Since the characteristics desired are high stiffness, durability and smooth edge, I would recommend giving Ultem a try for a plastic that would likely
do a good job getting very close. It's a bit hard to find in the thickness you want, and it'll be a bit expensive.
You'd probably want about .09in size for tanbur, based on the recommended thicknesses for tortoiseshell. Maybe .06 would be ok.
I had some for oud, but it was .03mm I think, not sure if i still have any. Your best bet would be ebay probably.
I'd suggest trying Vespel (what Blue Chip picks are made of) but it's even more expensive and hard to find.
|
|
|
RobMacKillop
Oud Addict
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-10-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks, Brian. I'll follow up your suggestions.
Rob
|
|
|
Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
|
|
Hey Rob, you might want to try this as an option. Acetal is a nice material and should be a pretty good substitute.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282911841025?hash=item41dedc1b01:g:iyIAAOSw...
|
|
|
RobMacKillop
Oud Addict
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-10-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Good idea, Brian. I can get it in the UK at 8.8mm thick which could be ideal.
|
|
|
Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
|
|
8.8 mm seems really thick? I thought about 2.5mm was about what it should be.
|
|
|
RobMacKillop
Oud Addict
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-10-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Haha, yes, sorry, don't know what I was thinking. Imagine the sound!
|
|
|
ChanningPDX
Oud Maniac
Posts: 96
Registered: 10-15-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
Just noticed this thread not long after I saw an Instagram post from Hüseyin F?rat where he showed off a tanbur mizrap made from catalin.
Catalin's pretty hard stuff--it's often used on bagpipes for imitation ivory mounts. That stuff tends to fade to a dull orangey color over time, but I
suppose if you started out with something that was already amber-colored anyway, it would be fine.
[url]https://www.instagram.com/p/CmR8brLsQRs/[url]
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbprobrown/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
