I have visited my friend Khalid Belhaiba in Morocco a while ago and spent a week at his place. That was an amazing experience. I'm back now in Holland
with new experience and more knowledge, I have decided to build another OUD and get close as much as possible to perfection. Although nothing is
perfect!
I went to the local exotic wood dealer and bought some very old Rosewood kept in dark place for long time (that will be the next oud), a couple of
years old American Walnut and a stroke solid White Tulip Wood for the inlay between the ribs.
I will try in this topic to go more in details and explain the work process. Enjoy it.urfali_63 - 5-5-2009 at 01:42 AM
i am looking forward for the photo's
neck and back
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 01:45 AM
Most of the work in this project is done by hand except cutting the ribs in to 2.5 mm thickness and 70cm length. That is done by a modest table
saw.
This is two pictures showing the neck and the back blocks. The Neck block take a long time to finish as it need to be 100% symmetric at both sides and
not exactly squared.
There are both fixed to a solid piece of wood and lined up and measured from both sides to have the same distance.
The back block is fixed with headless spikes so they can be removed easily when the bowl is finished
Back block
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 01:46 AM
Back blocksabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 01:47 AM
Hi urfali, I wil post more very soon.
Thanks
the ribs layout, numbering and profile
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:14 AM
I have laid all the 19 Ribs on the table (2 extra) and tried to have a good much in contrast and book matching, then I numbered them with left and
right indication marks. After that I took the ribs profile and started drawing the long arrow profile.
The same night I have wet the ribs for the bending next day.
ribs cut
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:35 AM
The ribs are bent and cut. The are now almost 100% flat after shaping and make exactly 90 degree when laid on the floor, without any pressing. The
first 3 ribs are joined without mould or anything, Just but a matching them and putting the tulip strips (1mm) in between and using a rope to tighten
them.
Joining the ribs with tape
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:37 AM
Joining the ribs with tape. This is a very good method as the ud is build free from stressing the ribs
Joining the ribs with tape
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:39 AM
progress
The bow finished
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:45 AM
The bow finished
paper strips with hot glue
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:49 AM
paper strips with hot glue. This is my favorit part of the build so far, as the glue hardens, the paper and the wood become one piece of wood. amazing
strongsabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:52 AM
This is how far I'm now. I will update more the next days.
The bowls is cleaned up and the soundboard is Sitka spruce grade AA. This sound board is 5 mm thick and I have to bring it down to 2mm just by hand.
No Drum sanders
last one for now
sabbassi - 5-5-2009 at 02:54 AM
the Calipper is a life saving to have all the board equaly sanded. many hours of work urfali_63 - 5-5-2009 at 10:58 AM
Hi,
Sabbassi why don't you try this one with a double soundboard see here for information :
Or you can make one for me with a double soundboard paulO - 5-5-2009 at 02:19 PM
The bowl is really sharp looking man ! Very cool work, that's some lovely walnut, thanks for posting this project.
Regards..PaulReda Aouad - 5-5-2009 at 02:25 PM
WOW!! Back to the oud after three years!
Nice bowl so far Very clean and meticulous craftsmanship
It's fun to follow someone's progress in detail when building a oud.. I wish I will build ouds some day.. This is great art!
sabbassi - 5-6-2009 at 01:50 AM
Urfali,
May be 1 day I will. but it is not as easy as it looks. But I will definitely give it a try one day.
Reda, Paul, Thank you for the comment. I will post more pictures today or tomorrow.
Soundboard almost ready
sabbassi - 5-6-2009 at 04:03 AM
Soundboard is almost ready, the calipper shows 2.0mm all around and the Oval sound holes ready to be opened by hand with sharp knife.
The very final light sanding when the oud is finished will bring the board down to 1,8 or 1,9mm
sound Holes are open and braces in place
sabbassi - 5-6-2009 at 04:10 AM
Sound Holes are open and the braces in place.
When dissembling an old closet at home, I found a very old light and yellowish piece of Sitka spruce (in one of the draws). The fibers are middle wide
open and very straight. I have used it for the braces. This closet must Be 15 years old at least.
almost there
sabbassi - 5-6-2009 at 04:14 AM
Neck dovetail opening
sabbassi - 5-6-2009 at 04:16 AM
Neck dovetail opening
At the back of the neck, the height of the opening is about 15mm, at the front 16,5mm
Soundboard in place
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:13 AM
I had plenty of time this weekend, so decided to go as far as I could with the OUD. The soundboard is in place and the neck has been finished and
fited. All seems to fit nicely in place. the purfling around the soundboard is inside (walnut) outside (Ebony).
Ebony Fingerboard
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:15 AM
Ebony Fingerboard is been cut from a solid Ebony piece of wood. The thickness is about 2mm. final will be around 1.5
Almost there
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:22 AM
Solid Walnut hard wood peg box also finished.
The peg box and the neck are from Moroccan Walnut. Moroccan walnut is more stiff and solid than American walnut, which is more open and lighter.
fitting the pegbox
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:23 AM
fitting the peg box
Opening peg holes
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:25 AM
Opening peg holes
ALmost finished
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:28 AM
At last, I'm almost finished with the oud. the bridge, and the strings are in place.
I have put a coat of Lineseed oil on the back, I will finish the whole with the shellac later this week.
the OUD
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:29 AM
The last picture
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 12:33 AM
the back
Closer shot of the pickguard
sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 01:45 AM
It was a 5 mm thick piece of beautiful wood (root). I don't know the name but as you can see, the patterns are amazing. The pick guard is brought down
to little less than 1 mm.sabbassi - 5-11-2009 at 01:47 AM
I will try to post a sound sample later this week as the strings get used to the new home and the ud has been acclimatized.paulO - 5-11-2009 at 11:33 AM
Beautiful combinations of walnut, with some lovely grain on the neck and pegbox, and of course the bowl. Great work, thanks for posting the project.
Way to go !
Cordially..PaulOurfali_63 - 5-11-2009 at 01:21 PM
i don't have words for....but it's"prachtig"Reda Aouad - 5-11-2009 at 01:32 PM
Very nice and clean work
Waiting to listen to this beauty!khalil - 5-13-2009 at 08:56 PM
Very very nice work.
it looks great.
congrats
i copied all the photos in this topic to page website below:
I'm on the South coast of England and should get over to see all you udis in the Netherlands sometime.
Cheers
Leon
IT's the root of Juniper
khalil - 5-14-2009 at 12:15 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by sabbassi
It was a 5 mm thick piece of beautiful wood (root). I don't know the name but as you can see, the patterns are amazing. The pick guard is brought down
to little less than 1 mm.
IT's the root of Juniper (العرعار )(Juniperus) it's a kind of tree wich found only in morocco .specially in
region of essaouira;nowhere else in Africa. it has a beautiful and pleasant smell.
IT's the root of Juniper
khalil - 5-14-2009 at 12:38 PM
it' the same in those boxs.
thanks
sabbassi - 5-15-2009 at 01:27 AM
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Here are 2 more pictures after the shellak has been applied.
Khalil , It looks like the root of juniper, but It is not. this one has no smel and it's very light and flexibel. I will come back later with the
name.
I hope to post a sound file this weekend.
another one
sabbassi - 5-15-2009 at 01:28 AM
another onekhalil - 5-15-2009 at 04:43 AM
Thanks sabbassi for information about root.
your oud looks Great.
you are a great and admirable artist maker.
congrats again;
best regards.Jonathan - 5-15-2009 at 08:57 AM
beautiful workkhalil - 5-15-2009 at 01:37 PM
HI;DEAR SABBASSI
I'M VERY GLADE TO SEE YOUR NAME IN ZERYAB SITE;ARE YOU MEMBER OF ALBSRYOUD ICOPIED YOUR OUD'S PHOTOS TO?
SALAMI WA TAHIYATI.jdowning - 5-15-2009 at 02:11 PM
Impressive workmanshipsabbassi - 5-15-2009 at 02:27 PM
Many thanks to everyone for the encouraging words. I have realized myself that building an oud is not only nice but is does also free up all the week
stress and open up many doors. not only the Oud itself but also the passion around it and the love of the music are helping me to improve my oud
building skills . I still have many things to learn .
Khalil, yes I'm also at zeryab.org . they have fascinating subjects.
My name by the way is Samirkhalil - 5-15-2009 at 03:47 PM
Hi samir
it's realy a great pleasure to know somebody like you;ther's a great subjects in this site:
you will learn lot of things there.
my name is khalil badi
in arabic:خاليل مبارك بادي
it's me. you have asked me how far i'm now. you were very curious to see the end result of my first oud!!!
you have mentioned the name Khalid Belhaiba.is he an oud maker?if so;where does he live?
friendly yours;sabbassi - 5-17-2009 at 11:45 PM
As promissed: a video sample of the new born. 1 week old now.
Played with the talended friend Mohamed Ahaddaf
Impressive work.. and the sound quality of the oud is truly amazing.
What is the string length? It looks a bit long.. 62 cm??
What are the dimensions of the soundbox?
Can you also share the bracing locations of your soundboard?? Exactly where are the braces (each brace) located?
Thank you .. and I would sure love to see more ouds made by you... this was truly an amazing oud to listen to and it also looks excellent.
AliAlioud - 5-24-2009 at 12:07 PM
Mr. Sabbassi
Impressive work.. and the sound quality of the oud is truly amazing.
What is the string length? It looks a bit long.. 62 cm??
What are the dimensions of the soundbox?
Can you also share the bracing locations of your soundboard?? Exactly where are the braces (each brace) located?
Thank you .. and I would sure love to see more ouds made by you... this was truly an amazing oud to listen to and it also looks excellent.
Ali
great work
muthada - 5-24-2009 at 01:36 PM
is it long like renaissance lute?sabbassi - 5-25-2009 at 04:36 AM
Thanks guys.
The strings length is exactly 58.5. From bridge to nut.
You know the rules right? The neck is 19.5cm multiply this by 3 and this where
the bridge need to go.
The sound board is about 51cm long and 35 wide...
I will check my book records for the braces location and I will post them. The secret here is the braces age, weight and off course the thickness and
height with minor modification on the first and last brace.
msimon - 5-28-2009 at 04:08 PM
Great Job!
It is fascinating to see how the different people approach building an oud!
MSpaulO - 5-28-2009 at 06:24 PM
Hi sabbassi,
The oud sounds great, and of course it's just going to improve -- and your friend Mohamed Ahaddaf is a really fine player too.
Regards...PaulFaladel - 7-28-2009 at 01:47 AM
Dear Sabbassi :
I send you U2U , please answers me as soon as possible.
Thank you patheslip - 7-28-2009 at 04:26 AM
Brilliant project, well done indeed.
Juniperus thurifera is the tree with the marvellous root wood. It's also found, rarely, in France and Spain.
The habitat is severely degraded over much of its range.Faladel - 7-30-2009 at 03:38 AM
Dear Sabassi:
where are you? you have not answered me my U2U.Edward Powell - 7-30-2009 at 07:51 PM
Great Job!
Great Oud!
Great SOUND!Edward Powell - 11-28-2012 at 10:20 AM
The ribs are bent and cut. The are now almost 100% flat after shaping and make exactly 90 degree when laid on the floor, without any pressing. The
first 3 ribs are joined without mould or anything, Just but a matching them and putting the tulip strips (1mm) in between and using a rope to tighten
them.
this is if you have a REALLY FLAT FLOOR
...GREAT WORK!
what exactly do you mean by; "make exactly 90 degree when laid on the floor" ??
Very clean and meticulous craftsmanship 
