Mike's Oud Forums

aquila strings

aquila - 5-17-2006 at 11:25 AM

hello to everybody,
Sometime I had request for single strings.
I have made this now. So, starting from yesterday, to the traditional aquila complete oud sets there are also all the single strings.
They are packaged: one string per envelope.
I think that this help...
Ciao
Mimmo by aquila, Itlay

mercm525i - 5-17-2006 at 03:54 PM

Mimmo, could you recommend individual strings for my arabic oud of 58.5 cm stringlength. I want low tension on the oud. I tune a half step down from CFADGC (low to high), so I think that makes it C (I didn't tune this down), D#, G, C, F, Bb

Microber - 5-18-2006 at 06:33 AM

I learn from you that arabic could have a stringlength of 58.5 cm.
I thought it was only the turkish oud, like mine.
I hope that Mimmo will give you a satisfying answer that could be profitable for me.
Wait and see.

Robert

journeyman - 5-18-2006 at 11:22 AM

Does anyone know if there is an Aquila string dealer in Canada?

aquila - 5-23-2006 at 12:48 PM

Oh, I am here again.
So, there is not a canada distributor (i am sorry!).
I suggest to Robert this arabic set:

1 60 Nylgut
2 79 Nylgut
3 104 D
4 140 D
5 175 D
6 250 D

these wound D type are the standard aquila lute wound strings. They are red because they are pure copper.
the tension is lighter than the standard. This set is exactly the set that Nazih Ghadban (Lebanon) emloy on some his ouds.
You must ask for single packaged strings
Ciao
Mimmo

oudipoet - 5-23-2006 at 03:11 PM

hi mimmo i have turkish style sandi oud and i have no idea about the length of my strings but i tune my oud in G,D,A,E,B,F# so what strings would you recomend for me please let me know thanks.

samzayed - 5-23-2006 at 08:04 PM

Anyone get a chance to try this lower tension set yet?

SamirCanada - 5-23-2006 at 08:17 PM

Mimo Iam interested in trying out one of your new low tension set for my shehata.
Send me a mail please at
samir_nassif@hotmail.com

Thank you.

Elias - 5-23-2006 at 11:33 PM

Marhaba Guys,
i strated to use regulary this Mimmo's Lute red copper wound strings for almost one year yet, and i can say that they are just amazing!!!
very very warm sound and the tension is perfetc for any instrument,i use it also on Nahat and Ghadban ouds with exellent results....!!:airguitar:
Those string codes that MImmo indicates in his post give you the same tension as Pyramid Lute, but the sound is much better in my opinion...warmer for the wound..while the Nylgut we already know how it's great!
Salamat
elias

Microber - 5-24-2006 at 03:27 AM

Thank you for your suggestion Mimmo.
If I understand good these strings are normally for baroque lute but can be use on an oud.
The length of my strings is 58.5 cm. As on the Arabic oud of Nazih Ghadban.
But I don't find them on the Aquila website.
What do mean all the numbers (60, 79, 104...)
Where to buy it ? Direct from you ? (I live in Belgium)
Thank you

Robert
Quote:
Originally posted by aquila
Oh, I am here again.
So, there is not a canada distributor (i am sorry!).
I suggest to Robert this arabic set:

1 60 Nylgut
2 79 Nylgut
3 104 D
4 140 D
5 175 D
6 250 D

these wound D type are the standard aquila lute wound strings. They are red because they are pure copper.
the tension is lighter than the standard. This set is exactly the set that Nazih Ghadban (Lebanon) emloy on some his ouds.
You must ask for single packaged strings
Ciao
Mimmo

samzayed - 5-24-2006 at 08:28 PM

Hi Elais, please check your U2U.

Jameel - 6-9-2006 at 05:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by aquila
Oh, I am here again.
So, there is not a canada distributor (i am sorry!).
I suggest to Robert this arabic set:

1 60 Nylgut
2 79 Nylgut
3 104 D
4 140 D
5 175 D
6 250 D

these wound D type are the standard aquila lute wound strings. They are red because they are pure copper.
the tension is lighter than the standard. This set is exactly the set that Nazih Ghadban (Lebanon) emloy on some his ouds.
You must ask for single packaged strings
Ciao
Mimmo


Mimmo,

Any chance you are going to offer these as a set? Ordering individually costs us Americans almost $50, vs. $20 for a regular set of Aquila oud strings. Can you sell them directly to us here at Mike's?

samzayed - 6-13-2006 at 10:38 PM

I've had this copper set on my oud for 2 weeks now. Guys, its the best sounding, best feeling strings I've ever played (and I've played many different sets).

Mimmo, I think this configuration is perfect in terms of tension for a classical oud. Perfect in terms of sound, feeling, and playability. There's a "classic" sound to these strings. They gave my oud a sound that brought it closer to the sounds of Fareed, al Qassabji, George Michel, al Sumbati, etc. These players tuned a little lower than concert pitch, and I think that may be why they got this type of sound. But these strings at concert pitch, give my oud more of their sound.

They feel like honey! Doing articulations like hammer on/pull offs, slides, etc is easy. That was my biggest problem with the original Aquila oud set, which was due to its higher tension. In terms of sound, they have the same Aquila warmth, but with a little less volume(due to the lower tension I presume) but regardless, I love them!

I hope one day these strings become offered as the standard "classical" set.

Take care everyone,

-Sam

aquila - 6-14-2006 at 01:59 PM

hi to everyone,
Grazie Sam!
my intention is to put this new set in the standard production and call it 'light tension set'.
I just will change the red copper wound strings to the silvered copper ones. No problem:I will stay exactly with the same ratio between nylgut core and wire. Wires will be all at the same gauges of the previous red copper ones.

Why I switch to the silvered copper wires instead to remain with the red copper ones? The question is right because they already work so good...

I must do this change because the red copper wires are softer and more fragile than the others made of in silvered copper.
I mean that the string lifetime will be longer at the same performances of the red copper wire wound strings.
Well, I hope that my bad english is sufficient.
Ciao to everyone
Mimmo by Aquila, Italy

aquila - 6-14-2006 at 02:25 PM

...already made.
I have just modified the Aquila homepage in matter of Oud sets.
there is the Oud light tension now!

http://www.aquilacorde.com/catalogo13.htm

Ciao
Mimmo

samzayed - 6-14-2006 at 03:52 PM

Many thanks Mimmo! This is a historical day in oud history

Jameel - 6-20-2006 at 06:34 AM

You can get this set (light tension) here:

http://www.msocp.com/oudstrings.htm

oudplayer - 6-20-2006 at 11:52 AM

hey jameel
just bought a light tention set thx hope to get them soon
thx sammy

DannyJeremiah - 6-15-2012 at 02:15 AM

is there such thing as all nylon strings, no metal wound???

Brian Prunka - 6-15-2012 at 04:21 AM

Do you mean a whole set? Or just the top strings?

Aquila doesn't use nylon, it's "nylgut", their own material.

I don't think it would be practical to use all plain strings, the low-tuned ones would have to be impractically thick.

If you just wanted the top courses, I sell them here separately:
Aquila Individual Strings

New strings

DannyJeremiah - 6-15-2012 at 04:59 AM

i am after strings for my oud,..
what would you recommend to get a nice clear, robust deep sound for strings...
Any ideas..?

Brian Prunka - 6-15-2012 at 05:07 AM

What kind of oud do you have? What tuning do you use?

Personally, my preferred strings are these:
Pyramid Historical Strings

But every oud is different, and every player is different.

DannyJeremiah - 6-15-2012 at 06:07 AM

i have a oudsukkar model 213...
the strings i have buzz a lot (pyramid orange pack).
i think they are too thick..

DannyJeremiah - 6-15-2012 at 06:08 AM

Sorry, i tune it
eadgcf

Brian Prunka - 6-15-2012 at 11:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DannyJeremiah  
Sorry, i tune it
eadgcf


Is that low to high?

The Pyramid orange set is designed to be tuned CFADGC, much lower, so yes they are far too thick for that tuning.

The best sets available for that tuning would be the LaBella OU80A, or one of the Aquila high f' sets (57O or 59O).

Model 213, is that a floating bridge? What is the scale length and overall string length (from peg to end)? Kurschner might work, but their strings are shorter and don't fit some floating bridge ouds.

DannyJeremiah - 6-16-2012 at 04:49 AM

Hey thanks for your help,
but to be honest with you i am very new to this whole music scene.
Okay, what does it mean if you write "upper case and lower case" letters to describe tuning?
FADgcf example, please help.. thanks in advanced.

Brian Prunka - 6-16-2012 at 05:44 AM

it's a convention to indicate which register a note is in.

C is the lowest string, c' is the highest string, etc.

It makes it much clearer what tuning you are talking about.



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