Microber
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risha ends
Hello Matthew,
Could you provide a picture of the 'squared' risha.
I want to give a try.
Robert
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MatthewW
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Hi Robert
it's not a very clear picture, sorry...the risha on the left has a more or less squared end with slightly rounded corners; the risha on the right is a
regular 'pyramid' shaped end. You can probably make the end even more squared/flat across, it's up to you.
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ameer
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How wide is your risha? I like squared ends as long as the risha is narrow.
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MatthewW
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well ameer my widest horn risha is 12mm across, but the end that actually strikes the strings is nearly 7mm across, then it tapers off on each side.
My narrower horn risha is about 10mm across, more like a standard pyramid shape, but the end that strikes the strings is actually about nearly 6mm
across, then tapers off each side. I use them both now, to get used to all shapes and sizes.
what are yours like?
can you post a photo?
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bulerias1981
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Ok, so there was a misunderstanding to what "square edge" is in comparison to "knife-like edge" see diagram to understand.
I prefer the square edge style. The round and bullet shape is something I haven't made my mind up about yet. Sometimes I think the round is nice, and
something I like the bullet shape. But I've made my mind up about the square edge.. and that is I feel it has a much better push and bounce off the
strings. I feel that the knife-like edge pushes less, and is weaker, and maybe more polite. Any thoughts on this? Experiment with these dimensions
yourself and share your experience.
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ameer
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The last one I used was about 6 mm wide with no significant taper. I've seen some that were even narrower.
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bulerias1981
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All rishis that Ive seen will wear. Depending on the material, the rate of wear will vary. Cow horn has a medium rate wear in comparison to other
materials. Eventually, with enough playing hours, the rishi will wear to a "knife-like" edge as illustrated above. I try not to allow this to happen,
and square it off.
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David.B
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I use 2 rishis made by you John, one with an exaggerated rounded tip profile and one with a regular bullet shaped tip. My favorite is the regular
bullet. It gives a clear attack and nice tremolo. The rounded shape mitigates the attack and gives a 'flat' playing, difficult to keep playing tremolo
with it. As you told me a few months ago, I maintain the side like the square edge or 'rounded' square edge. To me the biggest problem with the knife
like edge are the streaks made by the string where the risha bounces. After a while the knife edge becomes a knife teeth edge, and the teeth scratch
on the lower string with an unsightly sound.
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fernandraynaud
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David, just get some "emery boards" like they use for shaping nails. They are very cheap and come in different grains. They are perfect for shaping
the ends of rishi. Like Spanish guitar players have to retouch their nails, you can keep the shape of the risha how you like it. Personally I like a
bullet tip with a knife edge. Delrin, though it wears much less, doesn't take a sharp knife edge for some reason, and I like a bit of coarseness to
it, it "bites" better. But that's probably exactly what you don't like. You might like black delrin, have you tried that?
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David.B
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Hi Tony,
Yes I use a nail polisher. Delrin, I haven't try yet ... Could you give me a link where to find it? In fact I've got my perfect risha (number 1), but
I prefer not to discuss about the matter (some controversy). It's bright, strong and soft, perfect tremolo, perfect playability with plenty of
nuances. But it's a sort of curse, the sound is projected so loud and so dense that it makes my right ear painful after a few hours of playing 
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fernandraynaud
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It's the curse of the poor animal!
Delrin (acetal) is what we use for harpsichord "picks". Those can last decades, though some of the hard core authenticists insist on struggling
(daily) with bird quill. It's sort of indestructible, they make machine bearings out if it. It's generally black and shiny, about as flexible as horn
of the same thickness. It plays quieter than horn, in part because it's smoother, but it plays incomparably better I think than all the softer
plastics.
http://www.mid-east.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=OUDQ&eq=&Tp=
If you think we have it hard, try making say 120 mini-rishas for a harpsichord.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BqRBYM4YxU&feature=youtube_gdat...
They also show using seagull feathers in a related clip.
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bulerias1981
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DDavid.. you shouuld be able to get an emeryboard from your local pharmacy. They had them in lebanon so they should have them in france!!!
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David.B
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Thanks Tony, I'll give it a try.
John, I use what you see on the photo : 1- to file, 2- to eliminate, 3- to shine, 4- to satin. It works perfectly well in my opinion 
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bulerias1981
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This seems suitable David.
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David.B
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Sorry, I did not express myself clearly. I meant that I play until a knife teeth edge and I reform the tip of the Risha to a square edge. I focus on
music and this lapse of time, between square edge and knife teeth edge, allows me hours of playing with a good sound.
Also, I'd like to add that an 'organic' risha seems to absorb sweating, this is not the case with synthetics ones. I think that is why it is more
comfortable.
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David.B
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I've learned something about harpsichord 
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fernandraynaud
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Hey, David, I have a commission to write a piece for a consort of Viola da Gamba, with or without Lute (and it can be oud they said). Since I love the
sound of the bass viol (it's a LOT like an oud played with a bow), I rented one to see how it feels. Can't wait, it's arriving tomorrow. I have this
strange thought in the back of my mind about taking my oud that needs work to lower the action, and install a higher fingerboard, and a cello type
floating bridge, so it could be played with a bow, like a viol.
A strange thing I ran into is EVERTUNE.
http://evertune.com/
It's a bridge for guitars that is said to keep instruments always perfectly in tune. It does this by a mechanical system that keeps a constant tension
on each string, even if the wood or the string stretches or you bump the tuners.
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David.B
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Tony, you are the Gyro Gearloose of music 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPAX6juXCjM&feature=related -> Give me one for my oud, I'll play with my dog 
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fernandraynaud
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You mean عبقرينو ?
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David.B
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OK, in French it's "Géo Trouvetou" ...
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David.B
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Sorry if it's off-topic ...
Tony, I bought what you show on this link -> http://www.mid-east.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=OUDQ&eq=&Tp=
Is it what you call delrin? For me it is vulgar plastic picks in the Turkish style ... I think that Mid-East did not send to me the same product as
the picture shows.
BTW, I won't run out of these rishi
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