mavrothis
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1674
Registered: 6-5-2003
Location: NJ/NYC
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Aquila Nylgut Strings
Hi guys,
I know it's been said by many often, but I have to say it too. The Aquila Nylgut oud strings are the best I've every used. I just put them
on my new oud, and the sound is phenomenal. It really reminds me of the quality of tone that is associated with Sunbati.
I highly recommend these strings.
mav
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david
Oud Junkie
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 Hey Mav, Well once you threw in Sunbati you got my attention. Did you use
these on your Nahat oud? And where can we get these strings at?
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
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Hi David,
Yes, I've just put them on my Nahat copy by Dimitris. I'm telling you, the resemblance is too much to Sunbati's oud. Next I'll
put them on my Farouk Shehata and the Turkish style ones on my Najarian.
In my opinion, the two best ready made sets for ouds are first Aquila Nylgut, and second Pyramid. I don't like the others much at all. 
Here is the link for the Aquilas:
Aquila Dealer
Here is the email contact for Pyramid in Germany (they'll be back from holiday in Sept.):
PYRAMID
I'm in love with the Aquilas, they are even better than the Pyramids, which are very good.
Take care,
mav
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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Hey Mav,
I almost bought a set of these day before yesterday. I'm going to now definitely. So, how much can you say about them, let's hear 'em!
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
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Hey Jameel,
As soon as they set in my friend, I'll post a clip, or maybe one on each of my 3 ouds. By the way, they wouldn't sound half as good if it
wasn't for your amazing Tortis picks. I love them! I feel right now that I have the perfect balance of quality instruments, strings, and picks.
It's a great feeling. Now if I can only find a good live sound with no feedback...
mav
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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waiting eagerly...............
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Jonathan
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OK, I know I am getting off on a tangent, but do those tor-tis risha break? I ordered the rectangular Tor-tis material, but when I tried to make the
risha, they kept breaking on me. Maybe I ordered the wrong thickness, or I got a bad batch, or I am cutting them wrong. I love tor-tis pics for my
guitar, and I would really love to make a risha out of the material.
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samzayed
Oud Junkie
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I know what you're saying! I've made a few, and 3 or 4 have broken. I think you shouldn't keep them exposed to air when not using
them. Also, the more you straighten them with warm water, they seem to get more brittle and more likely to break. Any thoughts Jameel?
(I too aplogize for the tangent)
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Greg
Administrator
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jonathan
OK, I know I am getting off on a tangent, but do those tor-tis risha break? I ordered the rectangular Tor-tis material, but when I tried to make the
risha, they kept breaking on me. Maybe I ordered the wrong thickness, or I got a bad batch, or I am cutting them wrong. I love tor-tis pics for my
guitar, and I would really love to make a risha out of the material. |
You MUST soften the material in warm to hot water, before trying to cut. Once warmed, the material cuts easily with scissors. I have made several
rishas without breaking any. I can't attest to the longevity of the material, as I haven't being using it for long.
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Jonathan
Oud Junkie
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Thanks a lot. I was hoping it was something basic like that.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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I fill my kitchen sink with hot water and drop the sheet that I've already drawn accurate lines on, depending on the width of the pick I want,
into it. It only takes a few seconds. I take it out and immediately cut it with some heavy duty scissors. I haven't broken one yet--making or
using them. I don't really re-soak mine to reshape them. Most the time I just use then as-is, or when I'm surfing the web I'll lay one
down on my desk and hold my left hand flat on it for a couple minutes which does a decent job. Sam--I havent done numerous re-soakings, so I havent
experienced the brittleness, but I suppose you could be right. The material is basically epoxy (I've discovered recently-here) And although I doubt that the water degrades it, it is possible that it weakens under repeated straightening. When I had a lesson with Simon
Shaheen, he chided me for storing my horn pick in the pegs of the oud, which gave it a permanent bend. He said the pick should be straight, he showed
me his (real turtle shell) which was straight as an arrow. He keeps several in a littlle pocket-protector type envelope in his chest pocket. I
don't know how he keeps them straight in his hand, mine always bend, but I've been trying ever since.
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billkilpatrick
Oud Junkie
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one of the things that came out of the attic when my mother-in-law died was a box of carved ivory "things" used in the game of majong.
haven't a clue how but one piece makes a perfect risha; very stiff but ultra smooth. forbidden fruits indeed. anyone pen pals with a mahout?
i second your opinion of aquila strings. if there are composers amongst us, i think mimmo peruffo of aquila should have a piece dedicated to him - he
deserves it.
ciao - bill
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chuckerbutty
Oud Maniac
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Wish he'd start selling them in Britain.
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billkilpatrick
Oud Junkie
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you poor man! - depraved by being deprived!!!
here is the address in italy: http://www.aquilacorde.com/home1.htm
write a letter to mimmo peruffo, asking for oud strings (turkish or arabic). he should be able to send you a set easily but he may already have a
distributor in the uk (david van edwards, perhaps?)
despair not!
kind regards - bill
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oudman
Moderator
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rishis
Hey guys
Jameel made me a couple of those rishis, i succeeded somehow or another to break each of them (i was storing them in between the pegs)...
Even so, im going to email Jameel for more, they are so comfortable and easy to play with.
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mavrothis
Oud Junkie
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Hi guys,
Here's a clip so you can get an idea of the great sound these Aquila Nylgut strings can produce on a great instrument. Feel free to compare this
clip with the other one I posted before here: Newest Oud Thread
The mic and pick I used are the same as before, the original strings were D'addarios.
Also, I just changed the strings yesterday, so they are also setting in real fast.
Take care,
mav
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
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Hello Mav,
Aquila Nylguts are very much the best so far and they are probably the only set out there which truely for Arabic tuning. I have had them in my oud
for about few month now. If you like them now, they will sound even better in a month or so, especialy the plain ones. Mimmo should be commended for
making this superb set available and at a reasonable price.
I would like to share this little tip with the forum: It is a common practice to speed the settling-in process of a new string by stretching it with
the finger after installing it in the oud, THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED. It will make the string not have the same uniform thickness over the span of its
length. It is best to let it stretch out on its own by retuning it over the period of few weeks.
Well, Mav my friend, I enjoyed your music and keep on ouding....
Elie
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
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Very nice, Mav. I can hear the difference. Not as shrill as the Dadarrios. I have two sets on the way and look forward to trying them.
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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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I better place an oredr for some before you folks buy them all out. Mine had a short life due to a fault in the nut. Not a deffect in the strings.
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