rokus666
Oud Lover
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Anyone Identify This Oud and Tunning?
Hello all,
I have just bought used oud. Do not know anything about it.
Not even how to tune it. Anyone tell me a little bit about this instrument?
[file]31169[/file]
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Alfaraby
Oud Junkie
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This is apparently a typical Egyptian oud made by "oriental Art - Faisal , Tel. ....." written in a very poor handwriting 
Nothing is really known about this maker, but the oud looks nice allover. What about the bowl ?
Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb
Good luck
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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Marcus
Oud Junkie
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Hi rocus 666
welcome to the forums!
| Quote: |
Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb |
from high to low!!
Cheers,
Marcus
Playing the oud is like feeding my soul with peace
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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Location: Queens, NYC
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Quote: Originally posted by Alfaraby  | This is apparently a typical Egyptian oud made by "oriental Art - Faisal , Tel. ....." written in a very poor handwriting
Nothing is really known about this maker, but the oud looks nice allover. What about the bowl ?
Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb
Good luck
Yours indeed
Alfaraby |
Alfaraby,
Thank you so much for your reply...
The inscription from inside the oud was poorly traced by my hand, sorry about the bad handwritting 
I have tuned the oud according to your instructions and started playing it. Sounding so warm and has a nice roundness to the tone. It seems very easy
and soft on the left hand. According to the previous owner, strings are 15 years old and it was never previously tuned by him. I have ordered the set
of La Bella Oud Arabic Tuning 12 string set (w/ opt. High F) OU80A
Hope these strings will work.
I come from a classical guitar background and I own some nice high-end instruments from all over the world. I am proficient with some makam systems,
balkan music(based on makam), tamburitza, saz, bouzouki, alternate tunnings on all of them etc.
Playing this oud just seemed natural to me, like I have played it before but never did before...It is all about music after all, instrument is just a
vessel of expression. And this one seems to nicely fit for expression of Balkan.
I could be wrong about the quality of this instrument, but I will not know until I try different ouds. The previous owner told me he got it in Egypt
at least 15 years ago.
I will take some more high resolution pictures.
Is there anything else I should know about this instrument?
I do not care about the value as I do not intend to sell it.
Thank you all, and I am glad this community exists!
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SamirCanada
Moderator
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Looks like a Fathi Amin oud.
@samiroud Instagram
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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| Quote: Originally posted by Marcus | Hi rocus 666
welcome to the forums!
| Quote: |
Tuning: CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb |
from high to low!!
Cheers,
Marcus |
Thank you Marcus, glad to be here 
Oh, now you got me confused here for a second with the tunning
Is this from high to low pitch or from high to low string ?!
If the string on the bottom with the nighest sounding pitch is labeled 1?
So therefore the strings labeled 654321 should be - CGDAFC or BbFCGEbBb ?
Is this correct?
sorry for the confusion.
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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I have just checked his website, and yes that is him!
Is anyone familiar with the quality of the instrument building?
I have learned from that website that the oud has French polish. I love french polish!
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
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The "first" string is the thinnest. The highest. Tune your four highest double courses in ascending fourths. No higher than C for the highest double
course. Your oud might sound better a little lower, thus the B flat alternate tuning. Tune the single bass course two octaves below the highest
(thinnest) first course. Tune the double fifth course (wound and fat) a fourth higher to F.
from low pitch to high pitch
C FF AA dd gg cc
lower case and upper case letters indicate octaves.
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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Thanks,
Will La Bella Oud Arabic Tuning 12 string set (w/ opt. High F) OU80A fit for this instrument?
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SamirCanada
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Yes, but dont use the high F.
like Jody said, cc is the highest string you should put on there. so you may only have 5 courses (10 strings) that are suited for the oud.
its an ok tuning but many people add the bass C single string course
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samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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| Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada | Yes, but dont use the high F.
like Jody said, cc is the highest string you should put on there. so you may only have 5 courses (10 strings) that are suited for the oud.
its an ok tuning but many people add the bass C single string course |
Now I am more confused...
As it is now, the oud has 12 strings (6 courses)
I would like to have bottom C string...
So I am still confused. Do I have to get an additional string when I omit the high F ?
What is the proper set of strings/model I should put on this instrument?
Still new to strings...
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SamirCanada
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http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=...
you can get a single low string if you want to stick with labella but I dont see the point.
Its better to get a set that has all the required strings. Pyramid orange set is a good all around performer on the cheaper end too.
The high F string is suited for floating bridge ouds and shorter scale lenght ouds that are played in the Iraqi tradition style.
@samiroud Instagram
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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This is a bit confusing.
Would this entirely fit?
http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&produ...
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SamirCanada
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Yeah thats a good string set for your oud. I am sure Brian the owner of oudstrings.com can give you further guidance as to what you want.
Basically, this is a very good string set for the price and you can see what your oud sounds like with them.
I started using these ones however http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=...
the pyramid lute strings. they are phenomenal but you need to pull out your checkbook because they arent cheap. to me they are worth it though.
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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| Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada | Yeah thats a good string set for your oud. I am sure Brian the owner of oudstrings.com can give you further guidance as to what you want.
Basically, this is a very good string set for the price and you can see what your oud sounds like with them.
I started using these ones however http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=...
the pyramid lute strings. they are phenomenal but you need to pull out your checkbook because they arent cheap. to me they are worth it though.
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How long does the set last?
I know when I am playing classical guitar a lot, I could change the strings every week or two...
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Branko
Oud Junkie
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| Quote: Originally posted by rokus666 |
How long does the set last?
I know when I am playing classical guitar a lot, I could change the strings every week or two... |
Dobro dosao na forum.
Strings may last longer on a oud then on a guitar as there is no rubbing against the metal frets.
Ich bin ein Balkaner!
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SamirCanada
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Strings typically last me 4-6 months depending how much I play. That said I have kept strings on a oud which I dont play too much for a year or more
to no real detriment except for a little less brightness and very much tarnished silver wound strings. Old strings dont harm the instrument just dont
give you the best projection.
I think the oud you have should sound very sweet, Abadi el Johar used to play a similar oud to yours many years ago and it had a great sound. It has
been aged to so typically that improves the sound of a oud.
video below
http://youtu.be/eZqZ38oh-Ew
another one:
this is a lesson on how to sing a play oud at the same time. what a legend, love this song.
http://youtu.be/FgUnlAszrk0
@samiroud Instagram
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rokus666
Oud Lover
Posts: 21
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Location: Queens, NYC
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| Quote: Originally posted by Branko | | Quote: Originally posted by rokus666 |
How long does the set last?
I know when I am playing classical guitar a lot, I could change the strings every week or two... |
Dobro dosao na forum.
Strings may last longer on a oud then on a guitar as there is no rubbing against the metal frets. |
Hvala Branko. Drago mi je da nas ima.
I have just ordered a pair of strings from oudstrings.com
I just realized they are very close to where I live...
Pretty sure I can find a person that fixes and sets up ouds in NYC just in case it needs some playability adjustments.
Can't wait to get started!
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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rokus666
Oud Lover
Posts: 21
Registered: 4-8-2014
Location: Queens, NYC
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Mood: Curious
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| Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada | Strings typically last me 4-6 months depending how much I play. That said I have kept strings on a oud which I dont play too much for a year or more
to no real detriment except for a little less brightness and very much tarnished silver wound strings. Old strings dont harm the instrument just dont
give you the best projection.
I think the oud you have should sound very sweet, Abadi el Johar used to play a similar oud to yours many years ago and it had a great sound. It has
been aged to so typically that improves the sound of a oud.
video below
http://youtu.be/eZqZ38oh-Ew
another one:
this is a lesson on how to sing a play oud at the same time. what a legend, love this song.
http://youtu.be/FgUnlAszrk0 |
Whoa! Actually, I have been pausing every day and looking at this beautiful instrument and can not stop thinking about it. I think I've scored a
jackpot on a garage sale!
Great playing, thanks for sharing
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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rokus666
Oud Lover
Posts: 21
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Location: Queens, NYC
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Can I use guitar string with the gauge .043 for the lowest C string on this oud?
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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rokus666
Oud Lover
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I have just done this and it seems fine.
I am just wondering if this oud can handle half step up tunning.
I would like to play in C#
As seen in some posts, it could affect the tension on the bridge, but not sure how much the half step will affect the pull...
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SamirCanada
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No! dont do it.
the scale length on your precious old oud is certainly at least 60.
if anything tune down! thats where the beauty will sing best not higher.
if you want to play higher get a turkish oud.
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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rokus666
Oud Lover
Posts: 21
Registered: 4-8-2014
Location: Queens, NYC
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Mood: Curious
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| Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada | No! dont do it.
the scale length on your precious old oud is certainly at least 60.
if anything tune down! thats where the beauty will sing best not higher.
if you want to play higher get a turkish oud. |
Thanks, That is what I thought so. Actually Bb can work nice in C# minor as well...even better B
Ethno-musicology enthusiast, composer, sound tech, collector, Classical Guitarist
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