Mike's Oud Forums

Ouds in Lebanon

radwan - 3-7-2004 at 05:28 AM

Hello everyone,

First of all, thanks to Mike for providing this great forum!

I will be going to Lebanon sometime this month or next, and I would greatly appreciate any type of advice on getting an oud from there.

I should add that I'm currently an absolute beginner, but could easily become a serious adept - so should I go for a cheapish student model, or would it pay to get a good pro model from the start?
And: where should I go, how does one compare oud quality (apart from personal taste) and what to expect in the way of pricing, etc. etc.

ma'a jazil al-shukr,

Radwan

Zulkarnain - 3-7-2004 at 08:10 AM

Hi

Nazih Ghadban would be your best bet while in Lebanon for Professional Oud (he is an excelent oud builder) Check out his website for more info at :

http://www.oudnazihghadban.com


You can start with a beginer type of oud (a good quality beginer oud that is-make sure its not a replica kind of oud) or straight away go to semi-professional type of oud.

Salam

me too

ztochaztik - 3-9-2004 at 06:05 AM

currently I'm practicing with a beginner's oud that i got from turkey. i'm planning to buy a better one soon. I live here in lebanon and i'm not sure where to start from...
if u like contact me when you get here. we may visit nazih ghadban at his workshop and check his ouds...

salam

Zulkarnain - 3-9-2004 at 09:06 AM

Hi ztochaztik

Is there any great oud builder other than Mr Nazih in Lebanon?

Regards

hisham - 3-9-2004 at 02:05 PM

Hi,

Unfortunatly you can not find good ouds here in Leb. Most of the ouds are low quality and for beginners. It is really hard to find a high end oud. From all the places in know that sells ouds, I only found one oud that was made by Nazih and it was for 600$.

Hi guys

dubai244 - 3-9-2004 at 10:52 PM

hi
i am new member here, but i have been playing oud for 13 years now. i will be very glade to answer your questions guys about oud playing, CDs and oud making. and i am boukouzi player as well, i just start playing it, it is great instrument ..!

Zulkarnain - 3-10-2004 at 07:27 AM

Hi :wavey:

WELCOME!!!

Welcome Dubai.ai

wfspark - 3-10-2004 at 09:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dubai244
hi
i am new member here, but i have been playing oud for 13 years now. i will be very glade to answer your questions guys about oud playing, CDs and oud making. and i am boukouzi player as well, i just start playing it, it is great instrument ..!
Hello Dubai. I have a question for you. Hav3e you Tried playing Haluk Eraydin's ouds? If so, what do you think? I've heard some of the recordings of his instruments, and I like what I hear.

William F. Sparks

David Parfitt - 3-10-2004 at 10:31 AM

Hi Radwan

I have no personal experience of Haluk Eraydin's ouds, but I have heard good reports from people who have bought them via mail order.

Based on personal knowledge or word-of-mouth advice from contacts, I would also recommend the following oud makers:

Nazih Ghadban (Lebanon)
Faruk Turunz (Turkey)
Dimitiris Rapakousios (Greece)
Viken Najarian (US)
Fathi Amin (Egypt)
Maurice/Farouk Shehata (Egypt)
...

I apologise in advance if I have omitted anyone from this list - I am sure other people with more knowledge will be able to add to it. Please ask if you need contact details of any of the above makers.

Good luck

David

Hi wfspark

dubai244 - 3-11-2004 at 03:12 AM

Hi,
Well to be honest, i didnt heard about him because i am useing Egyption ouds and syrians. but i didnt like these ouds because they are not accuratly made. To be fair, there are a very good maker in egypt and syria but the i didnt meet any one of them yet. That't why i am planning now to build my own oud and i start collecting some information about oud making.

Zulkarnain - 3-11-2004 at 07:04 AM

Hi

Best of Luck my brother!



Let us hear the sound of your oud once you complete it!


Best Regards

David Parfitt - 3-11-2004 at 02:03 PM

Does anyone have any advice on where to buy ouds in Syria?

David

Zulkarnain - 3-11-2004 at 03:18 PM

Dave...I think Ibrahim Sukar is the only fine oud maker that I know from Syria..but does he still live in Syria? Damascus should be your best bet (sorry I cant be more specific than that)


Salam

hi David

dubai244 - 3-12-2004 at 02:40 AM

There is an oud maker but he is not famous, his " Ahmed Ali Ajaaj" i bought my Bouzouki from him, it is fine compare to what you will see there. i dont have any information about the price, because i bought my bouzouki in 1996 from him.
Hi Address: Damascus, Joober, AL-Emadeyyah. I dont have his phone number because the stiker which inside the bouzouki is not clear, where the number is written...... :(

Ronny Andersson - 3-15-2004 at 08:48 AM

Adib Sha'ban is one maker located i Lebanon. There's a video with him at Oriental Tunes website.

Zulkarnain - 3-16-2004 at 04:14 AM

Hi Ronny


Do you have his complete contact details/address by any chance??


Thanks I really appreciate it!


Regards

Ronny Andersson - 3-16-2004 at 08:05 AM

Zul, I don't have his contact details. I read that Oriental tunes will have his ouds.

mawoud - 3-23-2004 at 06:08 PM

I watched the video and he really plays good. However, the oud he was playing was Ali Khalifa's oud. Why he wasn't playing his oud?

nazih ghadban

ztochaztik - 3-25-2004 at 02:56 AM

nazih ghadban is arranging a oud exhibition at the french cultural center in Beirut
(until april 2)
im going today to check the ouds there...

Zulkarnain - 3-25-2004 at 04:41 AM

Hi:wavey:

Hope to see something new from his latest work. The website not really say anything alot about his oud. Send regards to him!:)

Thanks


Zulkarnain
Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA

ztochaztik - 3-29-2004 at 01:38 AM

well... it was more like describing the process of building a oud. there were pieces of unfinished ouds in different phases as well as the instruments and material used. there were a couple of nice ouds there but i guess u need to visit the main workshop to find out wats there.
regards

Zulkarnain - 3-29-2004 at 08:28 PM

:)

Mike - 3-30-2004 at 06:22 AM

Hey Ztochaztik,

That must have been some experience. I would have loved to have been there for that. Let us know how it goes when you actually visit his shop.

Take care,
Mike

ztochaztik - 3-30-2004 at 09:16 PM

sure i will