YediTekrar
Oud Admirer
Posts: 9
Registered: 12-29-2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas; U.S.A.
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Mood: No Mood
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World Instrument Resources
I know this is an oud forum, but many of you own other instruments from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. I'm curious as to where you folks buy your
higher-quality instruments. I already know of Shehata, etc. for ouds; and Heruka for ney flutes. As for other instruments, though, such as saz;
rababa (one-stringed spike fiddle); qanun; dumbek, and other traditional Middle Eastern instruments, where do the more experienced members shop?
I don't have the money to pay for plane tickets to Dubai, Istanbul, or any other faraway city just so I can obtain a piece of bamboo wrapped with
strings. :-P As I stated in an earlier post, I have only ordered from Lark in the Morning, and I found their instruments' quality to be shifty at
best.
Also, where would I buy strings for some of the really rare instruments, such as the aforementioned rababa? Here's a picture of exactly the one I'm
talking about :
[img]http://cgi.ebay.com/BEDOUIN-REBAB-WITH-BOW-ARABIAN-CELLO_W0QQitemZ7338506476QQcategoryZ623QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting[
/img]
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YediTekrar
Oud Admirer
Posts: 9
Registered: 12-29-2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas; U.S.A.
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Well, it's apparent that linking directly to the image isn't going to work. Let's give it another shot.
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SamirCanada
Moderator
Posts: 3405
Registered: 6-4-2004
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Its a syrian Rababa.
I have acces to one of high quality if your interested.
I can take pictures of it if you wish.
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YediTekrar
Oud Admirer
Posts: 9
Registered: 12-29-2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas; U.S.A.
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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No one else has any trusty resources from which they buy their other non-oud musical instruments?
I know bumping is sometimes seen as obnoxious, but come on. :P
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2938
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Mood: Stringish
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I think most of the people with reliable resources do one or more of the following:
go to the middle east
know someone there who can get something and either ship it or bring it here at some point
know someone who is taking a trip and will bring something back with them
That's how I got my nay, and will be getting a buzuq. When I decide to get a better darbouka and riq, that's also what I'll do. Stores generally
don't get the good stuff.
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stringmanca
Oud Junkie
Posts: 224
Registered: 8-4-2005
Location: Martinez, CA
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Mood: Oud Moud
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Here's a Yahoo directory of instrument retailers that might be helpful. I've never bought anything on-line from any of them, though. I live in the
Bay Area, so I can shop in person at Lark or Clarion (both of which have some cool stuff, but overpriced). I haven't made it to Silver Bush, but
their site looks promising.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Mus...
Here are a couple more:
Magic Tails - http://www.magictails.com/index.html
World Musical Instruments - http://www.worldmusicalinstruments.com/default.asp
As I said, I can't really recommend any because I haven't ordered from them - let us know if you do!
Best Wishes,
Nathan
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kasos
Oud Junkie
Posts: 148
Registered: 4-21-2005
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Hi. I'm also very much into getting instruments from different regions. Partly, this is because I've been working at integrating authentic (or
as authentic as possible) instrumentation into theatrical work set in different parts of the world. But, at a deeper level, it's because I find it
very rewarding to get to know the planet we live in through the instruments and art it has produced.
In order to achieve this abstract sort of goal, I don't believe it's necessary to have high end instruments in each case. I wouldn't want ever to
begrudge the value of a high end instrument - these are usually worth the dollars one pays for them, since a better quality instrument is usually
easier to play, and certainly easier to play well. And a good quality instrument is essential if one wishes to (or is in a position to) achieve a
high standard of artistic expression. It is also true that a poor quality or inexpensive instrument can be a struggle in every sense, from repairs
to playing technique.
But let's keep some perspective. I would never try to say that a $100.00 bottle of wine is the same thing as a $10.00 bottle, but if only $100.00
wine were to be used, the world would have very few parties, indeed... Especially if you're entering into unfamiliar musical territory, what harm can
there be in getting something affordable, just to get the basic idea, before taking the plunge on a high quality instrument? All the more so when
it's so often a gamble making an order for a high end instrument by phone or on the internet....
By all means, get good advice, do research, get the best instrument possible for your money. But if you can get something for a very modest price
that looks playable, perhaps you can think of it as an investment in making an even more informed decision when it comes to the big purchase later....
Especially if you're curious about a lot of different instruments, as I admitedly am, this hands-on experience is vital. How can I, without having
actually touched even a low quality version of any of these instruments, begin to decide whether I'd be happier with a $500.00 saz, a $1000.00
Shehata Oud, or an $1500.00 Indian Sarod?
On a more personal note, and since your item of interest in this case is a bowed string instrument, let me add that I've taken a special interest in
bowed string instruments from different areas in the world. My own strategy is anything but glamorous. However, I've found it relatively easy to
get playable instruments of different types at relatively low cost, by checking "other string instruments" on E-bay. It's important to check the
whole list. Search engine inquiries based on the real name of the instrument will often fail, because typically, the items are purchased as display
pieces, and then resold as estate or garage sale items - even the name and origin of the instrument is forgotten. All the more so with non-western
bowed strings, which may have unfamiliar playing techniques (fingernail stopping, for instance, or no fingerboard). When an instrument is not
actually played, it's more quickly forgotten....
In many cases, it's possible to pick such orphaned instruments for a very low price indeed - low enough to be affordable for these on even the most
modest budgets. (Trust me, I've been there....) Obtaining these neglected instruments may not get you bragging rights, but it may teach you a lot
that will be very useful when it comes to your "real" purchase....
Mark
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