nadir
Oud Junkie
Posts: 329
Registered: 12-29-2003
Location: USA
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Oud sound quality
I heard that the sound quality for ouds can appear great at first but can then fall apart after a while and basically, you have wasted your money. Is
this true? So far, on my ouds, the sound just keeps getting better and better!
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
Registered: 4-9-2004
Location: Kansas
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Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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It depends, I would say
Since I do not have much practical experience playing different ouds, I would base my reply on theory:
In theory the quality could go either way.
Your experience indicates that quality improves in time. This is, I would think, true in most cases where the oud is well built, doesen't
experience extreme temperature changes over time and the strings are replaced when worn. Also as the wood ages, seems to sound better.
The other scenario, where the quality gets worse in time, could be due to:
The wood wasn't properly dried when it was used in making the oud;
Glue joints getting loose;
The neck bowing. I do not think extreme humidity storage conditions would be good for it.
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nadir
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 12-29-2003
Location: USA
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Actually, that was pretty helpful... but maybe some oudmakers here would like to say something as well??
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Dr. Oud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1370
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Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
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Mood: better than before
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Ellie is right on most accounts. Poor quality wood with knots or uneven grain will twist as it shrinks, causing internal structural tension and
failure. Green wood will pull joints apart as it shrinks over time. Poor quality glue will cause joint failure.
Any environmental extreme can damage your oud. Too cold or too hot, too dry or too moist. Temerate is best. Any oud can suffer from a bowed neck or
body. This is just a result of the string tension applied over time. Some necks bow because the peg box notch was cut too deep and not reinforced.
Another aspect is neglect. An oud that is not played will deterioate while one played regularly will age gracefully. I think it just dies of a broken
heart.
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
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crack in the back?
How damaging, structurally, is a crack in the bowl? Is this something that I might need to fix right away?
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Dr. Oud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1370
Registered: 12-18-2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
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Mood: better than before
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Bowel Cracks
A crack or cracks in the bowel or back are not critical, but should be repaired. You can open the crack slightly by pusing at the end of the crack
toward the center, then rub some glue (yellow carpenter's) into the gap. Wipe off the excess, push the sides together and tape it with masking
tape until the glue sets.
The tension from the strings can distort the edges of the crack if left unrepaired over a long period of time, making the reglue less effective. The
bowel can be weakened by unrepaired cracks and contribute to distorsion and warpage. This can result in the tail raising and the action getting too
high.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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Bowel Cracks? OUCH! )
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spyros mesogeia
Oud Junkie
Posts: 896
Registered: 9-10-2003
Location: WASHINGTON DC
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Mood: play my ouds
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I think that I agree with all of you,
My personal opinion is that,a quality instrument is geting better and better with the time that pass....
and that makes a quality made instrument to become a legend.....
The quality
Best regards
Spyros
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