Amon
Oud Lover
Posts: 18
Registered: 8-25-2021
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Aquila D strings
Hi all,
I have super nylgut Aquila strings (gray pack) in Cfadgc on my (first) oud, and I keep having this internal mini-discussion:
the D strings only are made of some "more metallic" material than the other courses. I'm not sure whether they're fully metal or heavily metal-coated,
but I like them a lot, both in how they sound, and in how they create a kind of gap or reset compared with the other courses. I was wondering what was
the general opinion on that particular course from that brand. A part of my brain wonders how the whole instrument would sound if every course used a
similar material, while another part of my brain thinks it would probably not sound very oud-ey anymore.
any thoughts would be appreciated 
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1354
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
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Well, um, since you asked:
I played one oud that was strung with an Aquila set with this kind of D string. I thought it sounded unpleasantly harsh (on that particular oud ). I
agree that it created a gap and that's yet another reason I did not like it. There is already a sonic gap between at typical wound D and unwound g.
Why do we need a timbre difference between A and D as well? I liked the original Aquila formulation of Arabic oud strings. I'll never understand why
they kept changing the set. To my ears each newly formulated set sounded worse than its predecessor.
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Jason
Oud Junkie
Posts: 733
Registered: 9-17-2005
Location: Louisville, KY
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Mood: Loving my oud
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I just got in a set of Aquila strings with plain copper wound (not silver plated) lower strings, like the original sets from years ago and the "new
nylgut" G and C courses, which are sort an off-white color. I'll put them on later today and post a review once they're settled in. I always liked
the plain copper wound strings from Aquila so I'm glad to see they're available once again.
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Amon
Oud Lover
Posts: 18
Registered: 8-25-2021
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thanks for the input guys. In my case, being totally new to this instrument, the sonic gap feels like an audio mapping indicator (like a car GPS lol)
but at the same time my brain is whispering "maybe what you want is a mandolin, buddy" lol
I was wondering about the maker's decision. I've been involved in product design and I know these things are usually not winged, so I'd love to know
how they chose to go in that direction.
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Badra
Oud Maniac
Posts: 99
Registered: 2-26-2006
Location: NW USA
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Mood: No Mood
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Quote: Originally posted by Jason  | | I just got in a set of Aquila strings with plain copper wound (not silver plated) lower strings, like the original sets from years ago and the "new
nylgut" G and C courses, which are sort an off-white color. I'll put them on later today and post a review once they're settled in. I always liked
the plain copper wound strings from Aquila so I'm glad to see they're available once again. |
there's a oud I have that I haven't restrung in like 15 years because it has those copper wound and old Aquila set that I feel is better than the new
ones. So this is good news because I need to change them. The sound is so mellow on those wound strings, but too mellow because of it's age.
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