OudZim1
Oud Admirer
Posts: 8
Registered: 12-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Oud Tuning trouble
Hello, I'm a beginner oud player and just received my first oud. However, I am having an extremely difficult time tuning it. Many of the pegs
will not even budge! I received a new oud of this model, it should show up on this page, if not it is attached:
http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/viewimage.x/00000000/tjebay/OUDR.jp...
I am wondering if anyone has seen this model and knows if it is a student model, or close to a toy. Apparently those who sell it claim the retail
price is worth $500. My main problem is that many of the tuning pegs will not even move, especially the peg for the thickest string, which is
protruding through the other side. Is this a common problem with ouds out of the box? Also, with the tuning C f a d g c, that is from low to high,
correct? It seems when I tune the "D" strings they are too loose. Are the strings supposed to be fairly thin and somewhat loose when tuned?
Please someone help me. Thank you
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
Registered: 4-9-2004
Location: Kansas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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Try backing out the pegs to loosen them and turn them. Then push them in if they start slipping.
As for the tension in the strings it may be that:
- They are tuned an octave lower and need to tuned an octave higher.
- The strings are low tension strings (not even the approperiate set).. Are they by any chance the 3 pyramids brand? If so, I recommend replacing
them with a set of Aquila Nylgut if you prefer higher tension.
Regards,
Elie
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spyrosc
Oud Junkie
Posts: 405
Registered: 9-18-2003
Location: Northern California, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Grateful
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New Oud
Dear friend,
The oud in the picture is made in Pakistan, by an unknown maker. So it's neither an Arabic or Turkish-made oud, but it tends more towards the
Arabic design. If I'm not mistaken, the rosette designs are cut into the face directly, there is no round sound holes on the face with glued
rosettes. Am I right ? If any part of the rosette breaks it's hard to replace.
In my opinion they are not worth $ 500, although you do get a hard case with them normally. I know some people who had similar trouble with them.
There are many threads in this forum about sticking pegs. Please do a search on "pegs" and you will find some solutions to your problem.
Good luck
Spyros C.
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Bad Oud
Sorry friend,
I'm familiar with this oud - this is a very badly made knock-off made in Pakistan. The pegs are little toothpicks compared to ones on real ouds.
I think the peg box is made of plywood and the walls are quite thin. If I were you I'd get rid of it right away. Also the dimensions of this oud
are way off - the body is too big and deep which makes it very hard to hold. You'll be much happier with an oud from the Nile shop on ebay than
this thing. Depending on how much you actually spent it may be worth it to keep the hard case and just hang it on the wall (the back is not bad
looking) BUT definately get yourself a real instrument!
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
Registered: 4-9-2004
Location: Kansas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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Man what a rip off. I have seen these ouds around at different vendor sites and always wondered. Didn't know that about these ouds, but the
carved out rose kind of made the authenticity questionable. Plywood peg box! I wonder if the back isn't made out of veneered plywood and the
soundboard also. I agree with Lee's advice. Compared to this oud, the ouds at the Nile shop are kings and at probably half the price of this
oud. I wonder if you can return the oud to the vendor?
Good luck,
Elie
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