Mike's Oud Forums

The Nile Shop and Maurice Farouk Shehata

journeyman - 2-4-2004 at 09:49 PM

Hello, I wasn't sure if I should post this here or on the Oud Market. This is some general information that anyone buying an oud might be interested in. I just took possession of a beautiful new oud made by Maurice Farouk Shehata. I was initially going to buy an inexpensive oud from the Nile Shop in Cairo through e bay, but Yehia at the Nile Shop suggested that I step up and buy one of Maurice's ouds. (Yehia spells his name "Morris";)

I wanted to let people know that Yehia at the Nile Shop brokered the whole deal and was absoloutely great to deal with. He was totally above board, honest, prompt and his advice was very helpful. I requested that the oud be made from peleysander rosewood for the body, which has been stained dark, and ebony for the fingerboard and pegs. If anyone wants more details on the experience, you can reach me through my web site at <roypatterson.com> I'm attaching some pictures of the oud, and yes, it sounds as good as it looks.

Cheers

mavrothis - 2-4-2004 at 09:59 PM

That's a beautiful oud, congratulations!

I have dealt with Mr. Yehia and will be visiting Mr. Shehata very soon. I'm glad you had a great experience too.

Take care,

mavrothis

journeyman - 2-4-2004 at 10:14 PM

When you see Mr. Shehata, please tell him that I am thrilled with the oud, and very honoured to have it. By the way, how do you spell Mr. Shehata's first name? Thanks in advance.

Peace Profound,
Journeyman

Mike - 2-4-2004 at 10:55 PM

Hi journeyman,

The oud looks great, and I'm glad you are happy with it. Maybe soon you can let us hear it. :airguitar:

Mabrouk,
Mike

journeyman - 2-4-2004 at 11:22 PM

Thanks Mike,
Well, it will be a little while before I can post any clips of my playing. I'm new to the oud and the other posts sound so great. But, perhaps in a few months I'll try something. It's a matter of finding the time to practice.........ah....life.....

Metta,
Roy

TruePharaoh21 - 2-4-2004 at 11:29 PM

Well, most of us have just started. Some within the last few years, some within the last few months, man. Heck, I know I don't compare to these guys, but it's fun posting things up. Kinda drives you eventually. I think in my first week of playin the oud, I posted something. Obviously, I got a lot of criticism, but in retrospect, I think it helped me a lot. Go for it if you're willing. We're all ears. :D

TP21

journeyman - 2-5-2004 at 12:22 AM

OK TP21,
When I settle into the new oud (longer scale than my Turkish one) and feel more or less focused, I'll try to lay something down. Thanks for the encouragement.

Cheers,
Roy

spyros mesogeia - 2-5-2004 at 03:02 AM

Congratulations my friend....
Enjoy your new oud with happiness and respect.....
May God gives you always this wonderfull feelings
Regards:wavey:

Ronny Andersson - 2-5-2004 at 09:26 AM

Quote:
I requested that the oud be made from peleysander rosewood for the body, which has been stained dark, and ebony for the fingerboard and pegs.


Why did you want an already dark wood to be darker?

Congratulations

sydney - 2-5-2004 at 01:51 PM

That oud looks very nice, I am glad you are content with it. I personally can not wait to listen to it. We are all beginers here I guess that oud will play on it's own by the look of it ;)

Give it a try mate.


Emad From Sydney

journeyman - 2-5-2004 at 05:45 PM

Hi Ronnie,
I was under the impression that palisander was a type of young rosewood that was naturally lighter than "regular" rosewood. Therefore I assumed that it was stained. It sounds from what you are saying, that I was mistaken about palisander rosewood being light in colour. Perhaps you could set me straight if you wouldn't mind, on palisander and the rosewood faimily in general. I would really like to know about this. Also, what is the correct spelling of palisander? No luck with my dictionary. Thanks in advance.

Metta,
Roy

Oud photos

David Parfitt - 2-6-2004 at 12:12 AM

Hi Journeyman

These are some really nice photos of your new Shehata oud. As you may know, I have an oud website with a large Oud Gallery at

http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk/gallery.html

and I wondered whether you would like to add your oud to this page (check out Mike's oud there as well). If you are interested, perhaps you could email me the photos at dgwparfitt@btinternet.com with info about the history, construction materials, stringing etc. of the oud.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

David

=================
David Parfitt
Webmaster - The Oud/Al Oud website
http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk

Mike - 2-6-2004 at 01:12 AM

Hey guys,

Yeah, anybody who hasn't done so, get their pictures to David ASAP! I personally love looking at pictures of ouds!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Journeyman, your oud looks killer. The first thing I usually look at is the pegbox. If it is done cleanly, then the rest of the oud is more than likely gonna be made with care and precision. Please send David some other closups of the back of the oud and maybe some other angles.

Take care,
Mike

Ronny Andersson - 2-6-2004 at 08:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by journeyman
Hi Ronnie,
I was under the impression that palisander was a type of young rosewood that was naturally lighter than "regular" rosewood. Therefore I assumed that it was stained. It sounds from what you are saying, that I was mistaken about palisander rosewood being light in colour. Perhaps you could set me straight if you wouldn't mind, on palisander and the rosewood faimily in general. I would really like to know about this. Also, what is the correct spelling of palisander? No luck with my dictionary. Thanks in advance.

Metta,
Roy


Hi Roy, The name Palisander is mainly used in France, Germany and also in Sweden. Rosewood is the english word for the same wood. The Rosewood genus is called Dalbergia. Guitarmakers have always prefered the now rare and very expensive Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). The Brazilian rosewood is according to some oud makers like Yaroub Fadel, not a good tonewood for ouds and he prefer the Indian rosewood (latifolia) for the bowls. Myself choose Honduras rosewood (stevensonii) for my Bashir oud built by Richard Hankey. The Honduras wood has a very nice colour and grain and not so dark as the Indian.

Zulkarnain - 2-6-2004 at 08:29 AM

WOW Ronny you really know your oud wood dude!!:))

Can you list down all the type of wood with description that can be use for building good oud?

Thanks!

spyros mesogeia - 2-6-2004 at 11:40 AM

Dear friends,
The fact that mister Yaroub doesn't use the red Brazilian palisander that it doesn't mean that it is not a good wood for ouds...maybe not for mister Yaroub,but for me is one of the best ones.....I own my last turkish type copy of Manol made of Brazilian and amazakoue,african palisander,and I can tell you that is a wonderfull oud.....
Eachone of us chooses what he likes,so...we can't say that the red one is lower quality of the other ones....
Anyhow,the sound makes the diference....
I personally adore the red pallisander....
Regards to all
P.S.Many great oudmakers use the red pallisander for the high class ouds of them....a week ago,I had a discusion with my friend Faruk Turunz,and he had a turkish oud made,and believe me,we had the same opinions about this pallisander.....;)

Ronny Andersson - 2-6-2004 at 12:40 PM

>Dear friends,
>The fact that mister Yaroub doesn't use >the red Brazilian palisander that it >doesn't mean that it is not a good wood >for ouds...maybe not for mister >Yaroub,but for me is one of the best >ones.....

Brazilian rosewood is many times used on high class renaissance lutes so not an impossible wood. Yaroub doesn't like the sound or its quality of the wood for his range of ouds.

>I own my last turkish type copy of Manol >made of Brazilian and >amazakoue,african palisander,and I can >tell you that is a wonderfull oud.....


African palisander; there are no species of Dalbergia in Africa. Or are you thinking about Copaifera ehie (syn.Guibourtia)?

spyros mesogeia - 2-6-2004 at 12:45 PM

Dear Ronny,
Do you believe that you know aaaalllll the woods?
Let us have some secrets and we also.....;)
Regards and respect:wavey:

Ronny Andersson - 2-6-2004 at 12:49 PM

Yes I do Spyros. Honesty is more important than secrets.

spyros mesogeia - 2-6-2004 at 05:22 PM

Yes Ronny.....I know,we all know
Regards to all:wavey:

spyros mesogeia - 2-6-2004 at 05:37 PM

My fiend journeyman,
Play my friend your new oud....this is the important thing.....just play....as much you can....
Regards