Brian Prunka - 10-13-2009 at 06:17 PM
I feel very lucky, tonight I got to play on one of Farid's old ouds. It was a enormous privilege (and honestly, an undeserved honor) to play on the
same instrument that such a great master played.
It's the one in this video:
Farid
saddas - 10-14-2009 at 03:54 AM
That's a beautiful Oud in the Video. Does it still play well?
journeyman - 10-14-2009 at 09:45 AM
So Brian, you CAN'T just say that and leave us all hanging! That's torture man! So, how was it? Was it as amazing as we might imagine? (LOL) -Roy
Brian Prunka - 10-14-2009 at 11:21 AM
It currently belongs to Najib Shaheen. It was in some disrepair when he got it. The face is intact. The pickguard had been replaced at some point
after that video was made, but it looks quite old, so it must have been done some time ago. The bone inlay on the beard had fallen apart, so he just
put a new beard, but without new inlay. Fortunately all the other inlays on the face, as well as the rosettes, are intact.
The biggest thing was that the neck had to be reset, as it had bend forward quite a bit. Najib reset the neck and it's solid, with excellent
action.
It played beautifully, and sounded great: all strings, up and down the entire fingerboard, perfectly balanced and warm. A very special instrument.
It was a joy to play it, every note sounds inspiring.
tchandler - 10-15-2009 at 10:56 AM
you're a lucky guy indeed! I love how in the video Farid can barely get started for all the screaming... Anyway, who made the oud? And is the bowl
original, and is it inlaid?
alfaraby - 10-19-2009 at 01:50 PM
Does anyone have contact with Mr. Shaheen to ask him to read the label inside this masterpiece & tell us who made this "monster" oud ?
It sounds like Michael Khawwam or Jamil Qandalaft to my ear, or am I just fantasizing ?
Thank you
Yours truly
Alfaraby
Jameel - 10-19-2009 at 04:31 PM
That is very cool Brian. Thanks for sharing. I bet you felt some real mojo coming through. What was the first thing you tried to play on it?
abusin - 10-20-2009 at 02:29 PM
Lucky you Brian sure was an experience to treasure 
Great oud and Farid was a legend God bless his soul
Brian Prunka - 10-20-2009 at 04:03 PM
Yeah, it was very exciting--Jameel, you're right about the mojo.
I played "Khatwat Habibi"--I know, I should've played a Farid tune, but that's just what came out.
The bowl is original and inlaid. I didn't think to ask who made the oud. I speak to Najib pretty frequently, so I'll ask him and let you know who
made it.
I'm just glad that the oud is with someone who will play it well; I hate to see these masterpieces rotting in museums (or worse, disintegrating in
someone's attic!)
Brian Prunka - 10-31-2009 at 08:19 AM
Najib tells me the oud is made by Georgy Nahat.