Mike
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Question regarding the soundboard of the OUD
I was just wondering what is more important when it comes to the soundboard. Is it a thinner face or precise bracing? Quality of the wood is important
too, but how important is the thickness of the face? Is this the main factor of a muffled sound? Just wondering. 
Thanks,
Mike
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Astrid
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oud face
Hi Mike,
You know, I am not o pro oudmaker, others are more competent, but I will write what I know though.
If the face wood is bad in quality, that means, the years rings are to wide (good is one to max. 2 mm), not parallel or with knots or with wide or
very dark lines (these are harder!) or the years are not "standing", the face can be thick or thin, it will sound muffled. A good face can
be made quite thin, up to 1,5-1,7 mm, but also 2 mm are good for an arabic oud, even up to 2,2 mm can sound well. A bad quality wood cannot be made
thin anyway, it will be not stabil. The braces are between 8 and 18 mm in height and between 4 and 9 mm in thickness, depending on the oud type and
face thickness, too. They should be made of best spruce wood, ideal from the same wood as the face, years "standing" like on the face. I
think the most important thing is that braces and face fit together, a thin face needs more support by the braces than a thicker face. I saw thick bad
faces with very thin braces, I think the other way round is better.... Good braces are sanded well, made thinner at the top, and planed down towards
the body. But because most arabic ouds will have roses, you can hardly check the braces without deleting one rose. so the test should be the face
wood. If you knock on it lightly, it should sound loud with much resonance and al the instrument sshould vibrate. If you play the second high strings
slightly, the second low stings should vibrate too. The age of the wood is very important, too, and of course the posrition of the braces, especially
around the brigde. And no varnish, or a very very slight shellac protection, which you can hardly see.
But shurely Richard could tell you more.
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Mike
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Thanks for the response Astrid. It makes a lot of sense to me. You sure you're not a professional luthier? 
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