roddie - 7-12-2005 at 08:49 PM
All,
Thanks to Mike, I've got a Shehata oud on the way!
I've even start a dedicated album for it in my gallery. 
http://www.krweb.net/roddie/gallery2/v/oud
http://www.a-flat.org/2005/07/12/i-got-an-oud/
I ordered a couple sets of Aquina (CFAdgc) strings as well as a newtortis pick, and the oud should get here tomorrow.
First thing to do... restring. 
jazzchiss - 7-14-2005 at 12:48 AM
Can you post a first plane of the soundboard? It seems done of four pieces of a quite different tone.
I am not an expert, but I have read that the best classic guitars are made of two identical pieces (the veins usually look symmetrical). That’s
also the way it’s made the soundboard of my Turkish oud and for that reason it make me very good impression.
Haluk - 7-14-2005 at 04:12 AM
You are right Jazzchiss.The soundboards of Turkish ouds are made of 2 pcs. Spruce wood with symmetrical veins close together.This is a rule for good
sound,as we learned from our old masters.
Regards.
Jonathan - 7-14-2005 at 04:50 AM
Roddie, it sounds great. Congratulations. And Mike, loved that Rast Saz Semai. Really cool
roddie - 7-14-2005 at 08:20 AM
Thanks, Jonathan - The Oud arrived last night, and once I got through all of the 1960s packaging that Mike used (haha), and figured out how to work
the tuning pegs, I was in business.
It sounds wonderful with the Pyramid strings that are on it, and I'll probably play with those (ten strings) over the next few days until I get a
better feel for the plucking and maqam.
I'm brand new to the Oud, but I managed to learn a couple of scales last night and was able to play along with some Marcel Khalife. I actually played
drums semi-professionally, and taught myself piano years ago, so I do have a bit of music theory in me, and I've always had a solid ear (ear built out
of one type of wood).
I'll post more pictures later - I'm thinking of getting Maurice to make me a rossette with my daughter's name (Sousan) in Arabic - Maybe later.
Oh - Anyone have any tuning tips? I'm using chromatic tuner software on my PocketPC which seems to work just fine, but I'm wondering if there's a
"preferred" way to tune (intervals, order, pegs, etc.)
Thanks all!
Jonathan - 7-14-2005 at 08:46 AM
There's a pretty clear illustration here for the peg/string relationship:
http://www.oudcafe.com/stringing_and_tuning.htm
Just follow the guidelines for Arabic oud, and skip the 11th string.