Mike's Oud Forums

Interesting new oud by Ghadban

Jason - 12-4-2007 at 09:17 AM




Farah #1106
Farah #1106 is different by:
-Its ebony Fingerboard inlaid with ivory accurately At the principal pitches positions.
-Its soundboard of strong Red Spruce celebrated by its clear tone.

MatthewW - 12-4-2007 at 09:40 AM

You can always count on master Nazih to come up with an interesting design! Are you thinking of going for this one Jason? :)

SamirCanada - 12-4-2007 at 03:36 PM

I dont mean to discredit you oud freak.
but there is a problem with your statement...

we can see the pegbox from the side which means that the oud is at an angle.
what you can perceive as non symetrical is not what in fact it could be if you had the oud in front of you.
Even though you may mean well..., basing your observations and hasitly drawing a conclusion on a relatively low quality photo doesnt do justice to the oud.
its not a fair way of drawing a sensible conclusion.

this is just a friendly advice.

amtaha - 12-4-2007 at 04:00 PM

It's the angle, lighting _and_ the resolution ...

corridoio - 12-4-2007 at 06:14 PM

hi oudfreak
in Nazih website there's also another photo of this oud face, more in axis, so with minor distorsion (this photo cover the squares 1 and 2), here I can't see this lack of symetry.
ale.

Jason - 12-4-2007 at 06:43 PM

It would probably be harder to accidentally build an oud with an asymmetrical face than it would be to purposefully build it symmetrically. Not only would the soundboard have to be asymmetrical but the bowl would also have to correlate exactly with the soundboard in order for the two pieces to fit together.

But, as was obvious, the interesting thing about the oud is the decision to provide intonation markers on the fingerboard. I've seen a few ouds with perpendicular lines across the fingerboard but all the ones I've seen have been purely decorative.

I've had several double bass teachers. Some of whom advocated beginners using position markers but most people in my experience feel that it builds bad habits. The player resorts to 'looking' for notes instead of developing the muscle memory and ear to 'hear' them as they play.

Nonetheless, I think this is a pretty cool oud :D

excentrik - 12-4-2007 at 06:44 PM

seriously. looks fine to me as well.


tarik

Sazi - 12-4-2007 at 09:03 PM

I thought if you were holding the oud properly, you can't see the front of the fingerboard anyway? I like it though, and seeing who made it I know it sounds great, Marcel Khalife also has these markings on the fingerboard in the you tube video that Samir posted a link to a while back, (Jadal, with Charbel Rouhana).

rebetostar - 12-5-2007 at 12:39 AM

I quite like the design, although the dots don't all seem to correspond accurately to specific strings.
About the the principal pitches' positions, the lines seem to correspond to a major scale with intervals from the nut (in semitones) of 2,2,1,2,2,2,1. Could someone explain how these positions are used properly?

Greg - 12-5-2007 at 07:47 AM

Another very beautiful instrument from Nazih Ghadban.
We live in exciting times with the very best master luthiers, like Mr Ghadban, introducing so many new innovations.

We all need unlimited budgets, so we can keep pace ;)

Regards,

Greg

MatthewW - 12-5-2007 at 08:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Greg
Another very beautiful instrument from Nazih Ghadban.
We live in exciting times with the very best master luthiers, like Mr Ghadban, introducing so many new innovations.
We all need unlimited budgets, so we can keep pace ;)


I think you just expressed what we are all thinking Greg! :D

Farah #1106 is interesting for Eye & Ear

Nazih Ghadban - 12-5-2007 at 12:56 PM

Hi Friends
Thanks for you all Jason,Matthew,Samir,Amtaha,Ale,Exentric, Sazi,
Rebetostar,Greg I appreciate too much your different opinions they are objectives.

I assure that Farah #1106 is an elegant interesting oud for Eye and Ear ,the symmetry of Farah #1106 is 100% perfect and the elliptical holes are so and more with a fine cutting edge.
I think our friend Oud Freak has seen Farah #1106 in his dreams(I am joking)I respect his opinion as he said it is a matter of taste he didn't like neither the dots nor the oud at all.I notice the all visitors like Farah #1106 and find it interesting.

Dear Oud Freak to be sure you have to visit me I have too much of old red wine and cheese-you are welcome-I will be glad to receive you at my workshop and you will carry lively farah #1106 and will play it, you will assure yourself that what you have said about isn't quite right .
With all my respects
Nazih

Vertical pic of the top

Nazih Ghadban - 12-5-2007 at 01:00 PM

gilgamesh - 12-5-2007 at 01:46 PM

In accordance with the elementary of Perspective rules, a think which is visually far, shrinks. Mister N Ghadban makes ouds since a long time,enough to never make them bent !After, either you like or not, everyone has his preferences and it's another story!
It is not the oud design which I use to like, but I do feel, however, not even be worthy of having such a quality oud !! I admire the whole Mister Ghadban work

Oud Freak - 12-5-2007 at 02:01 PM

I once saved a pic of a oud u made, I call it "the beauty of simplicity". Simply beautiful.
OF

rebetostar - 12-5-2007 at 02:32 PM

Dear Mr. Ghadban,
May I ask what was the strategy used for positioning the dots? I get the feeling they are not arbitrarily placed but I can't decipher the code..
I think what Oud Freak may be picking up on (which could just be an effect of photography but I think not) is that the curves on the Farah #1106 (the shape of the soundboard and the holes) are not completely curved, but are somewhere between straight lines and curves.. like there are rounded corners rather than "perfect" ellipses. Is this true or am I dreaming?

gilgamesh - 12-5-2007 at 02:32 PM

it is well called by you,Oud Freaky? :applause:

SamirCanada - 12-5-2007 at 03:29 PM

OF that looks like our friend Tarik's oud...
if you like the look of it
I can tell you I played it and it sounds awsome.

excentrik - 12-5-2007 at 03:48 PM

that is my oud!!!! hahahahahahahahahahah!!!! yeah Samir- you know how it sounds right? I get kinda <b>rooster</b>y about it too- haha...

tarik

Jason - 12-5-2007 at 08:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rebetostar
Dear Mr. Ghadban,
May I ask what was the strategy used for positioning the dots? I get the feeling they are not arbitrarily placed but I can't decipher the code..


It appears to all the tones of the major scale. So you have a line that correlates with the notes D E F G A B & C.

journeyman - 12-5-2007 at 10:03 PM

I personally find some "Bashir" styled ouds to be interesting from a design point of view. The position markers of course have a practical function but in addition give this oud a "contemporary" or modern appearance that I find very appealing. Thank you for showing us these photos Nazih.

Roy

MatthewW - 12-6-2007 at 12:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nazih Ghadban
Hi Friends

Dear Oud Freak to be sure you have to visit me I have too much of old red wine and cheese-you are welcome-I will be glad to receive you at my workshop and you will carry lively farah #1106 and will play it, you will assure yourself that what you have said about isn't quite right .
With all my respects
Nazih






Dear Nazih- please save some of that old red wine and cheese for the rest of us! ;)

Oud Freak - 12-6-2007 at 04:39 AM

MatthewW sa7ten, I am sure he will save for you too. Mr. Ghadban, I thank you sincerely for ur friendliness and your invitation. Wish I could visit you someday in Ras Baalbeck. A bit difficult in this weather!
Regards

Microber - 12-6-2007 at 04:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by excentrik
that is my oud!!!! hahahahahahahahahahah!!!! yeah Samir- you know how it sounds right? I get kinda <b>rooster</b>y about it too- haha...

tarik


Tarik, your oud is very wonderful, happy man !

Robert

Esthetical theory

Nazih Ghadban - 12-6-2007 at 10:38 PM

Hi for All
I like always to share you all, at your threads, but unfortunately I don't find the time
Thanks for your understanding.
I confirm that the shape of the soundboard and the holes are completely curved. Sometime the pic doesn't show obviously the details.

What it is interesting in the fingerboard they are the accurate positions
Ivory dots and lines of the pitches (Major) to help the oud player to catch easily not only the Major pitches but also the Arabic pitches between the lines with(1/2# and 1/2b) like: Sika,Buzruk,Irak,Awj,Zerkula,shahnaz,Kaba Hissar,Hissar…etc

Regarding the strategy of the dots I use always in my mind the Esthetical Theory
Of the regularity and the balance between the vacuum and the filled space used obviously by all famous sculptors in their sculptures and statues. it is based on the Gold Number relation.
Quote:
Originally posted by rebetostar
Dear Mr. Ghadban,
May I ask what was the strategy used for positioning the dots? I get the feeling they are not arbitrarily placed but I can't decipher the code..
I think what Oud Freak may be picking up on (which could just be an effect of photography but I think not) is that the curves on the Farah #1106 (the shape of the soundboard and the holes) are not completely curved, but are somewhere between straight lines and curves.. like there are rounded corners rather than "perfect" ellipses. Is this true or am I dreaming?

gilgamesh - 12-8-2007 at 06:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oud Freak
HI, I don't see what's so interesting in it. It is an ordinary oud. Besides, I don't like the dots on the fingerboard, but I am not against it, it is a matter of taste. As per the soundboard, please observe especially the squares number 1 and 2. There is a lack of symetry is this oud, which makes it not elegant, unlike the beautiful sada el rou7 which is distinguished. The three soundholes seem like they were done without the appropriate attention, the ellipses are not neat, especially the black contour, zoom it and the defects will appear. This oud might have the greatest sound on earth, but the aesthetics are also so important, a musical instrument should be complete from the inside and the outside.

Hello oudfreak, look at this :D http://www.moillusions.com/

Oud Freak - 12-9-2007 at 12:24 AM

Thx Gilgamesh for the website. Really funny, lol. Hope that the small defects am seeing in the ouds are illusions, and hope also that the good defectless things am seing in the ouds are not illusions. Lol. Anyways I think a better judgement of Mr. Ghadban's symmetry or is to be taken after seeing the oud live. I agree that I might have been unfair to Mr. G and he has been very kind and friendly despite all that. I thank him again.

gilgamesh - 12-9-2007 at 04:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oud Freak
Thx Gilgamesh for the website. Really funny, lol. Hope that the small defects am seeing in the ouds are illusions, and hope also that the good defectless things am seing in the ouds are not illusions. Lol. Cheers!
I really hope so,if not the myth goes collaps...:rolleyes: