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Where can I buy Oud strings in the UK

Josh - 10-7-2008 at 02:06 PM

hi, I am wondering where in the uk sells decent oud strings..thanks,,

charlie oud - 10-7-2008 at 02:18 PM

http://www.khalafoud.com

Hi Josh, UK has a few places though no much choice. Jameel at the above offers a fine and affordable service supplying a good range of strings, it does'nt take that much longer for them to be shipped from the States. He is very helpful and will advise if you need help in choosing. C

Josh - 10-7-2008 at 02:23 PM

cheers! i have bookmarked that site

hama - 10-8-2008 at 12:55 AM

Hi Josh
Try Hobgoblin , based in Tottenham court Rd 0207 323 9040, they also repair ouds
BR
hama

Josh - 10-8-2008 at 01:07 AM

HI Hama , i noticed Hobgoblin have them I bought my banjo from them in Birmingham Are the strings the have
listed any good???:: GR3684A LaBella Arabic Oud Strings G, A, B, E, A, D. Made in USA

DaveH - 10-8-2008 at 01:08 AM

Hobgoblin have a pretty good selection, as Hama says. Also, if you want gauges to order, rather than complete sets, Bridgewood and Nietzert (not sure on the spelling of the last name) in Stoke Newington High Street carry a very good range of aquilas and pyramids. It's also pretty easy to order direct from Aquila in Italy. Postage can be a bit steep but worth it if you have a larger order. I have a friend who lives quite near to the Aquila factory and goes back and forth so can save me the postage. I'll be putting in an order in the next six months or so, so U2U me if you want.

Josh - 10-8-2008 at 01:11 AM

Thanks for the info and Dave, I may take you up on that offer at some point.

hama - 10-8-2008 at 01:19 AM

Labella is a good make , you cant go wrong, I use D'addario E or F , G A D G C
different people uses different Tunning depends on what you want to do, I am a beginner, but we have alot of experts can advice you better , sorry
BR
Hama

Matthias - 10-8-2008 at 01:28 PM

hello,

in spite I'm not in the UK. Visit my websites and my shop, you will find there a lot of informations about strings, especially aoud strings. I have a good stock on different types of aoud strings. Within a few weeks, my shop will be redesigned completely new. I will inform you. If you have questions, I'm shure I can help you. I have some professional players as clients getting their strings from me.

regards Matthias

Josh - 10-8-2008 at 01:29 PM

thanks Matthias

charlie oud - 10-9-2008 at 05:02 AM

Yes, I have also used Matthias and Bridgewood and Niezert so can recommend them aswell, Take care when ordering from non oud playing/making suppliers. La Bella are ok, not my favorite but its each to their own when it comes to oud strings. I think the pitches you mention are Turkish tuning. For Arabic its G or F, A, D, G, C (bass to treble) with an optional 6th bass string at C or D. From what I can make out Pyramid and Aquilla are the front runners for the professionals. Good Luck.

Josh - 10-9-2008 at 05:06 AM

I just got some D'addario strings from strings direct uk, £11 inc free shipping, ordered yesterday and arrived today, great service,, they will do me for the moment

hama - 10-9-2008 at 07:27 AM

you done well, hobgoblins sell them for £16.95

Lysander - 10-9-2013 at 05:00 AM

Thread bump.

I am having the same problem as OP.... finding Turkish oud strings in the UK... or even anywhere in Europe.

I use c#f#bead tuning but Hobgoblin doesn't do it.

I can find some USA shops that do it but I will get hit with a customs charge at this end.

Anyone know where in Europe I can find this tuning? It is so hard to find.

Brian Prunka - 10-9-2013 at 06:52 AM

Quote:

Duty is not charged if either the total value of the goods (excluding shipping charges and insurance) does not exceed £135 or the amount of duty payable on any given item, does not exceed £9. Neither duty nor VAT is payable if the total value of the goods (excluding shipping charges and insurance) does not exceed £15.

15 pounds is currently a little less than $24. So if you keep your order small, you shouldn't be charged. Of course, that means your overall shipping costs are likely to be higher due to minimum shipping charges.

Here is the page from detailing the charges for instrument strings:
Tariff

Duty is 2.7%, but the killer is VAT of 20% (which is added on top of duty and shipping).

This is apparently a EU protectionist measure. You should be able to avoid duty ordering within the EU, or really just about anywhere besides the US, Canada or China. Try ordering from Turkey, it says that it should be exempt.

Matthias - 10-10-2013 at 12:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lysander

Thread bump.

I am having the same problem as OP.... finding Turkish oud strings in the UK... or even anywhere in Europe.

I use c#f#bead tuning but Hobgoblin doesn't do it.

Hello Lysander,

you will find a lot of aoud sets in my shop. Especially for your tuning I can offer you the following sets:
http://music-strings.de/index.php?a=10049
http://music-strings.de/index.php?a=13805

Best regards

Matthias

Lysander - 10-10-2013 at 01:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Matthias

Quote: Originally posted by Lysander

Thread bump.

I am having the same problem as OP.... finding Turkish oud strings in the UK... or even anywhere in Europe.

I use c#f#bead tuning but Hobgoblin doesn't do it.

Hello and thank you for your help. Do the AQOT T21 work with 58.5cm oud?

Matthias - 10-15-2013 at 04:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lysander

Hello and thank you for your help. Do the AQOT T21 work with 58.5cm oud?

sorry for my late answer.
Yes this set is good for a türkish oud. It is calculated for a scale of 58 cm.

MAtthias