Oud strings prblem

Hi all,

I currently have a cheap oud, with many problems

But I'm really frustrated with the strings,, they meet the nose at an angle, and they are just too high above the finger board..

I'm thinking, maybe I should either put a piece of wood above the fingerboard to minimize the difference.. or maybe keep it and install a new -lower- fixed bridge..

Which way is better? Would any wood work for the fingerboard ?

Is there anyone who sells oud bridges in the US ?

Thanks all,

Just an update,

I went to "lowes home supplies" and I bought a good piece of wood, Gorilla glue (someone here said its good lol), 3 types of sandpaper, a wood thinner (that iron-like blade to make the wood thinner), and a hand saw..

I've never really done this before, but I'll just improvise with the tools I have and I'll keep you guys updated.. (maybe someone some day will learn something from this thread)..

I'll upload pictures while I'm working later tonight..

Thanks

Hey Amer. Sorry about your oud. I hate to say it but there probably isn't much you can do other than burn it. On the other hand if you do want to have a go at self repair, you probably don't have much to loose, but pasting a new fingerboard isn't your best option. It's likely to completely ruin the sound. Better to try to lower the action. On an old instrument of mine which had too high action, a luthier drilled new holes in the bridge - a little below (towards the soundboard) and to the side of the old ones, so that they didn't overlap with the old ones. This actually worked really well. Of course it invovled taking the bridge off, doing the work and then gluing it back on. Depending on how high the strings are at the nut you may also have to file the nut down. Not sure what some of the luthiers on this forum would think about gorilla glue .

Hi Dave,

I've had enough with this oud.. So I thought if it's ruined, I'm getting a new one anyway
I just couldn't wait, and I had no plans for last night

Everything actually went fine, and sound change is almost unnoticeable.. No buzz, clear like water

I took pictures of the process but can't get them to download.. So here's a webcam pic of the final product

Hi Paul0,

Actually, I've never done any woodwork before..

I just measured and drew the fingerboard on the piece of wood with a pencil, I made it slightly wider to leave room for sanding.. I cut it with a saw, tested the new fingerboard by taping it and testing a couple strings, there was no buzz or strings hitting it.. So I finally used the glue and I put a couple heavy college books above it for clamping pressure and it was ready in ~3 hours.. I did not apply full string pressure until next day when the glue hardened well enough.

The only downsides are the ugly look, thick neck -still good-, and the glue on the edges..

I can say it's worth the $50 invested in the tools