Zulu
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 6-21-2004
Location: Austin, Texas
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Fixed vs. Floating Bridge Strings
I have a 6 course Fadi Matta 60 cm scale fixed bridge oud. CFADGC
I am going to try some new Aquila strings on it.
http://www.oudstrings.com/index.php?route=product/product&produ...
I ordered a new 60 cm scale floating bridge oud from Fadi and it will be tuned the same CFADGC.
Can I use the same strings on my new oud. I don't know if floating bridge ouds need different strings than fixed.
Thanks.
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Microber
Oud Junkie
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Hello Zulu,
I also have a Fadi Matta 60 cm, but 7 courses.
I recently tried the Aquila set for oud you want to try and I found the tension was too low.
A floating bridge oud is able to support a higher tension than a fixed bridge one.
They generally sound better with higher tension. I think they are made for.
But personnally I prefer a not too much high tension. Because the oud tends to sound more like a guitar.
I have used Pyramid for Lute for years. And since 2 years or so I use the Aquila for lute. I am very satisfied with both. Each time I change my
strings, I ajust the gauge according to the feeling of the previous set.
Also something important is that the Nylgut strings for lute are rectified (smoother surface). The ones in the oud set are plain (not rectified). The
price is similar at Matthias Wagner or at Aquila website. About the double of the oud set of Aquila. I don’t know if Brian Prunka sells the Aquila
for lute.
Here are the gauge I use :
------ Aquila------Pyramid
C-----260D-------PY1440
FF----190D-------PY1028
AA---145D-------PY1018
DD---104D-------PY1010
gg--- 82NNG-----PYNR0900
cc----62NNG-----PYNR0675
The tension is around 4kg, except fot the low C that I prefer higher.
You can find on the Aquila website a gauge converter with the Pyramid for lute.
https://aquilacorde.com/string-gauge-coverter/?lang=en
I hope all this will help you.
Robert
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Zulu
Oud Junkie
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Robert,
Thanks so much for the info.
I've had others tell me to use LaBella Arabic Oud OU80A 12 String Set and to get rid of high ff and purchase a low C. It's been said that set is
higher tension.
I love the rich low sound of my Fadi Matta fixed bridge oud and am exited to have another of his ouds with a different sound.
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norumba
Oud Junkie
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Robert thx for that Aquila/Pyramid comparison... What are using fir high ff in both cases?
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Matthias
Oud Junkie
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Hello,
I wrote a text about string sets and tensions for an aoud. Have a look here:
https://www.music-strings.de/en/shop_content.php?coID=3210127
best regards
Matthias
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Microber
Oud Junkie
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Hello,
Last time for high ff, I used NNG46 for Aquila which is equivalent to Pyramid PYNR0525.
The link to the converter table of Aquila site is broken. The new one is this one : http://aquilacorde.com/old/string-gauge-coverter/?lang=en
I also attache another converter table available on the Aquila site.
I hope it will help.
Robert
Attachment: conversion.pdf (49kB)
This file has been downloaded 279 times
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norumba
Oud Junkie
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Thank you Robert that helps...
I just heard back from Aquila has I had questions about any differences in tensions on Both their oud sets. Interesting to note that the dimensions
and therefore the tensions on AA to cc are the same in both sets:
These are the details of the diameters:
"Arabic Oud set - cod.13O
#1 cc synthetic 0.56 mm
#2 gg synthetic 0.74 mm
#3 dd synthetic 0.93 mm
#4 AA red wound 0.73 mm (approx)
#5 FF red wound 0.83 mm (approx)
#6 C red wound 1.24 mm (approx)
Iraqi Oud set - cod.61O
#1 ff synthetic 0.47 mm
#2 cc synthetic 0.56 mm
#3 gg synthetic 0.74 mm
#4 dd synthetic 0.93 mm
#5 AA red wound 0.73 mm (approx)
#6 F red wound 0.91 mm (approx)
The average tension for each string is around 3.4 kg "
I m encouraging Enrico at Aquila to make a low C available as a single.
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Matthias
Oud Junkie
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Quote: Originally posted by norumba  |
The average tension for each string is around 3.4 kg "
I m encouraging Enrico at Aquila to make a low C available as a single. |
It will make a big difference, if you apply the strings to a 60 cm scale or a 57 cm scale. The difference will be approx .3 Kg.
So the question is to which scale AQUILA did calculate the new sets.
After I received recently the new sets from AQUILA to offer them in my shop I did also measure the diameters. Btw. it makes no sense to measure the wound strings, as that value will not help in any way.
I calculated the tensions for 60 & 57 scale and asked Mimmo to proove/confirm my calculations.
As far as I got a feedback, I will come to that topic here again.
The color of the strings is red and the plain strings are of a clear red. And an interesting point is the dd string, which is unwound. It's made of
AQUILA's new material the "loaded Nylgut". That are his Nylgut strings which made specifically heavier by copper powder. The color of this string is a
dark brown/red. You can see pictures of that set, especially of the dd strings here
6 sets are on stock.
best regards
Matthias
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norumba
Oud Junkie
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Hi Matthias,
You're right in that diameter s on wound strings don't mean much in real life, so from a hands -on perspective, how thick is the new unwound D pair
compared to their previous wound D? Specs seem it may be a little fat, but what's the reality?
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Matthias
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Hi Stefan,
the diameter of that dd-string is
.93 mm = 0.93 gut = 1,05 mm Nylon = 0,82 Carbon
Best regards
Matthias
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norumba
Oud Junkie
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Well I strung the oud with the new Aquila set and this new unwound D *broke* as I was bringing it up to tension.😠. Nut and bridge
recently polished and filed for any burrs so it wasn't that. Didn't bring it up fast. Very disappointed and I've lost confidence in Aquila now. I have
no spares so I ha e a one string D course at the moment.
Anyone else have issues with this new D string?
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