Mike's Oud Forums

A guide for building an arabic oud from scratch?

fameeyyoud - 3-6-2021 at 02:45 AM

Hey guys!

So im planning on starting my first oud building project and i have zero prior knowledge.
Is there any guide providing the details and measurements on building an arabic oud? Preferably with a 60+cm scale lenght?
Also when i watch tutorials on youtube, at the part where they start bending the ribs, they always have a wooden template for the ribs where they measure if they are correct.
Do you build this template yourself or do you have to buy it?
Thank you in advance!

alim - 3-6-2021 at 09:53 AM

There is a book in English by Richard Hankey (aka Dr. Oud and member of this forum) which you can purchase here:

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/richard-hankey/the-oud-construction-...

Cheers and good luck!
Ali-

jdowning - 3-8-2021 at 04:30 PM

You might also do a forum search for posts about building ouds?

The rib template geometry is determined by the mould on which the bowl is built. The simplest form of oud bowl is semi circular in cross section so that all of the ribs are equal and symmetrical in shape. An example of a simple jig to develop the required rib profile is shown here (part way down the page).

http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=8488&pa...

Note that a rib template is only a close (slightly oversize) approximation so that each rib must be planed to the exact width and precisely fitted on the mould.

fameeyyoud - 3-10-2021 at 10:14 AM

Thanks Alim! Ill try to look into that.

Also thanks a lot for the link jdowning,great work btw!
That was actually my first intention, but unfortunately i couldnt find a threat with exact measurements.
Because i kinda get the steps, but asi i said i have know prior knowledge whatsoever.
So id need something with instructions or at least the measurements for each step
Where did you get yours from?
Thanks in advance!

jdowning - 3-10-2021 at 04:04 PM

My primary interest is in building replicas of surviving European lutes and related instruments for my own use and research. This entails either measuring instruments in museum collections or purchasing scale drawings of instruments from museums that offer drawings for sale - as well as researching documents of the 16th to 18th C for information and talking to other lute makers.

I started making classical guitars as a hobby in 1963 before moving into lute making in the early 1970's - an easy skill transition. Making an oud is much the same as making a lute.

If you are familiar with the steps involved in making an oud you could always borrow an oud that you would like to copy and make a working drawing from that? Other information like sound board bracing geometry might be found by searching this forum.

Good luck.

Dr. Oud - 8-21-2023 at 11:46 PM

Thr Oud,Costruction and Repair
by Dr. Oud (Richad Hankey)

https://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-hankey/the-oud-construction-and-re...