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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
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Rishi craze
Everyone seems to be commenting on all kinds of new material for plectrums, so here is my two cents.
I recently had an oud lesson with Simon Shaheen, and he showed me his tortoise shell rishi. Given that the stuff is banned, and thus very difficult to
obtain legally, I did some research and found that a new material is being produced to replace natural tortoise shell, i.e. cultured tortoise shell.
It is called Tor-tis, and is available from http://www.lmii.com. I've made several picks from the material. It has a very warm character and works very easily, although there are some
thing to learn about it. It is used by guitar players, mandolin players and the like, and is very well received as an excellent substitute for natural
tortoise shell. I attached a pic of one I made. If you guys decide to try it out, I don't think you will be disapointed. I've sold a few of
these on ebay, but the stuff is so easy to work with that I decided to share it with you all, instead of going into business 
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Zulkarnain
Oud Junkie
Posts: 667
Registered: 1-14-2004
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Great discovery Jameel!!
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TruePharaoh21
Oud Junkie
Posts: 789
Registered: 3-17-2003
Location: California, USA
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Mood: Loving the Oud
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Hey Jameel, how much have you sold them for over ebay?
TP21
P.S. Considering the real stuff's banned, shouldn't we try to protect our oud virtuoso from being incriminated by online posts? Just a
suggestion...
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1674
Registered: 6-5-2003
Location: NJ/NYC
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Mood: big band envy
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Hey Jameel, looks very good. I would be interested in buying some from you if you are still making them. I usually use the clear Turkish picks with
a medium stiffness.
Let me know the details.
Take care,
mav
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TruePharaoh21
Hey Jameel, how much have you sold them for over ebay?
TP21
P.S. Considering the real stuff's banned, shouldn't we try to protect our oud virtuoso from being incriminated by online posts? Just a
suggestion... |
I sold them for $15.
It's not illegal to posses the shell, just to harvest it or sell/trade items made from it after the ban. There are plenty of older tortoise shell
items (combs, boxes) that are out there, they are just very expensive now.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
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Mood: No Mood
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mavrothis
Hey Jameel, looks very good. I would be interested in buying some from you if you are still making them. I usually use the clear Turkish picks with
a medium stiffness.
Let me know the details.
Take care,
mav |
Hey Mav,
These give a warmer sound, I think. If you want one or two, I suppose $15 is still a fair price since they take a bit of time to shape and smooth
nicely, plus one lousy sheet of the stuff is like $40!
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 485
Registered: 11-1-2003
Location: Chicago, IL
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Mood: Mashee el hal
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I recently got my hands on one of these, and its an amazing risha. It offers loud projection, just the right amount of stiffness where you can trill
comfortably, and great control. It quickly became my risha of choice.
Thanks Jameel! 
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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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Nice
Nice job Jameel. Did you get the .045" thick stock? What is the thickness at the ends?
Also, I was thinking about using the pick gaurd material from International Luthiers Supply. I believe a sheet of the same size but about twice as
thick sells for around $20. I am not certain it is the same material though but sure has the same colors!
I have made my rishas from vynle gutter covering and also from shower boards thicknesses .0395" and .041". But the one you show looks very
nice and probably sounds great.
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jeanluc
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 2-18-2004
Location: france
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Mood: happyoud
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hi,
I'm really surprised, after having red so many threads of smart people of this high range forum discussing endlessly about how to obtain the
best sound of the very best & most authentic oud, and how this & why use that sort of strings etc..., that so many may have time to spend
shaping all kind of things in whatis still plastic at the end,-even de-luxe-, when they can easily get some authentic & natural risha, i mean
horn risha, which is easy to shape at its own taste and doesnt cost the third of what we see sometimes....
it's already enough with these cheap ouds if one can't even get at least good risha, then no need of so much useless gossip...
why not soak plastic rishas in used motor oil, that could give a better sound, who knows???....
jean-luc
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Elie Riachi
Nice job Jameel. Did you get the .045" thick stock? What is the thickness at the ends?
JAMEEL: Yes. I barely thinned the ends, just basically rounded the edge. But you can scrape the thickness you want with a heavy razor
blade.
Also, I was thinking about using the pick gaurd material from International Luthiers Supply. I believe a sheet of the same size but about twice as
thick sells for around $20. I am not certain it is the same material though but sure has the same colors!
JAMEEL:NOT the same material. The Tor-tis is special. Do a search and see what guitarists are saying about it. They love it.
I have made my rishas from vynle gutter covering and also from shower boards thicknesses .0395" and .041". But the one you show looks very
nice and probably sounds great. |
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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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Celluloid
Jameel, have you tried celluloid for making rishi? I know that is used in making guitar picks. I am just interested in the difference in sound
production. It is hard to find celluloid sheets but it is sold as pickgaurd material and I read that it is dangerous to work with (flammable).
One of the rishas that I use a lot is the one made from the gutter covering. It is 6 mm wide and 11.2 cm long. My wife thinks it sounds the best of
all the ones I have tried so far.
Haven't tried Tor-Tis yet. But tried a celluloid guitar pick and I liked the sound a lot but don't have enough to make rishi.
As I was searching for raw material sources to make rishis, I found several alternatives at the knives making sites. There you can get Elk horns and
crowns, Ivory substitute, celluloid sheets with interesting sychodelic patterns, goat horn, giraffe bone...
Oud on....
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 485
Registered: 11-1-2003
Location: Chicago, IL
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Mood: Mashee el hal
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Jeanluc,
You sound a bit critical in the use of "plastic", however, have you tried this Tor-tis material? I was really skeptical before I tried it,
but it hits the spot for me.
I have 20 strips of horn sitting in olive oil, and I can't get any of them to sound as warm, or have the desired flexibilty as this Tor-tis
material.
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jeanluc
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 2-18-2004
Location: france
Member Is Offline
Mood: happyoud
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hello sam & everyone,
I don't mean this particular -& other " plastic type "- material might not be good, for me it's just like ridin' an old
mule when you have a nice horse waitin' for you outside.
As this" tor-tis" is almost ready, on the other side, you need to care about your rishas, and prepare them , to the desire sweetness &
suppleness (?)you desire. Ronny has been developpin' very well the process many times. it's a matter of patience and may be just love of the
good object done , which will give back to you hundred times , the labor you put in it.
But for me , if i have to spend time doin' nice rishas, why should i choose any "plastic"type material when there is posibility of
usin' horn ?
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 485
Registered: 11-1-2003
Location: Chicago, IL
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Mood: Mashee el hal
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Jeanluc,
I get what you're saying. But I've spent lots of time tweeking horn rishas, and I even got a few from Ronny. In the end, most of what I
played was too "clicky" sounding, or ended up chipping or breaking. It was too much maintenence, and too much time spent for a little
thrill.
All I'm saying is you that you shouldn't discredit it before trying it. I too was skeptical. Try it man, you may love it more . .
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jeanluc
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 2-18-2004
Location: france
Member Is Offline
Mood: happyoud
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hi sam,
yes, it takes some time to do them,but also , it needs some kind of trainin' to use them properly , the way of touchin' the strings...etc.
but i didn't succed in breakin' one while playin' though...(true that i didn't try....)
if i ever come across it ,promissed , i'll try it....
jean-luc
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norumba
Oud Junkie
Posts: 220
Registered: 12-15-2003
Location: Taos
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Mood: No Mood
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Hi Sam,
if you dont like all those horn ones you have sitting about, ill take a few off your hands...
Jameel - I too would be interested to buy some of your tor-tis rishas also...
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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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Hi,
I received a 4.5" x 7.5" sheet of Tor-tis medium. The thickness tapers from .039" to .026" along the 4.5" dimension. I sort
of like the sound and when cut along the 4.5" dimension the ends will be a different thicknesses at it kind of gives you 2-in-1 choice of rishi
thickness. However, there is something peculiar about this material, the warmth of the players hand kind shapes the material so the rishi will
conform to the player's hand, in a way it might be comfortable. The rishi will retain this shape even after you lay it down. It can be
straightened out by holding it in hand straight.
Did this happen with anyone else using this material?
Here is a picture of what I'm talking about.
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 485
Registered: 11-1-2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mashee el hal
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Yes, that's the characteristic of this material, it reacts to the warmth of your hand. Be careful if you try to straighten it by hand, I tore
mine! Jameel recomended running it under warm water, and then gently straighten it out.
So do you like the sound of this material?
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by samzayed
So do you like the sound of this material? |
It is okay. It is slightly better than what I was using. But I am not sure that it is the $40 better. The gutter covering "vinyl" sounds
good too and much cheaper.
Nevertheless, I think the Tor-tis has a richer sound and feels easier for tremlo stuff. I'll have to run the rishi test by my wife and see which
one she likes the sound of better (we kind of do the blind rishi test, it doesn't excite her too much.)
I'll post results.
Elie
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
Posts: 485
Registered: 11-1-2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mashee el hal
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I agree with you on that, you get a very rich tone against the strings, and tremelo with it very easy, even with a stiffer tip. 
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Zulkarnain
Oud Junkie
Posts: 667
Registered: 1-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hi
This is my 'shell risha' that I got from Tunise 2 years ago-dont like the thickness but I like using it when playing with those big gauge
strings set on the Oud-regards
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Zulkarnain
Oud Junkie
Posts: 667
Registered: 1-14-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Here is the measurement-salam
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chuckerbutty
Oud Maniac
Posts: 98
Registered: 4-5-2004
Location: Scotland
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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I've got one just like that as well.
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1674
Registered: 6-5-2003
Location: NJ/NYC
Member Is Offline
Mood: big band envy
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Hey,
Just want to thank Jameel for the tortis picks, they are now my favorite ones. They're perfect for my playing, with strong projection combined
with great flexibility for fluid picking.
I love it!!! Thanks again!
Take care,
mav 
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juiceman33
Oud Admirer
Posts: 2
Registered: 3-15-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jameel
Everyone seems to be commenting on all kinds of new material for plectrums, so here is my two cents.
I recently had an oud lesson with Simon Shaheen, and he showed me his tortoise shell rishi. Given that the stuff is banned, and thus very difficult to
obtain legally, I did some research and found that a new material is being produced to replace natural tortoise shell, i.e. cultured tortoise shell.
It is called Tor-tis, and is available from http://www.lmii.com. I've made several picks from the material. It has a very warm character and works very easily, although there are some thing
to learn about it. It is used by guitar players, mandolin players and the like, and is very well received as an excellent substitute for natural
tortoise shell. I attached a pic of one I made. If you guys decide to try it out, I don't think you will be disapointed. I've sold a few of these on
ebay, but the stuff is so easy to work with that I decided to share it with you all, instead of going into business |
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