palestine48
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 6-9-2004
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I would like to change the pickguard and floating bridge, any ideas?
Hey group. I posted my oud when I first bought it and now I got the idea of changing the pickguard and the floating bridge on it. The pickguard is
just a sheet of veneer or something. I would like to use real wood , a nice type. I also would like to use a nice wood color for the bridge. Samir,
the maker who posts on the board has some nice ideas of what i might like. Any tips or quotes would be great.
Also on a side note I think one of my strings buzzes because of a loose brace. Any ideas how I can fix that with minimal surgery?
Heres my oud so you can see what it looks liek and what ideas I can use with it.
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Dr. Oud
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Removing the old pickguard has risks. Depending on the type of glue used, you may be able to soften it with heat from a hair dryer on high or a heat
gun on low to soften the glue. Then peel the material off slowly in the direction of the face grain to minimize pulling any face wood off. Don't
use water to soften the glue or you might stain the face.
Real wood also comes in veneer, it just means it's a thin sheet. I would not advise using any wood thicker than 1mm (1/32inch) for the pick
guard. Orient the grain of the wood across the face to minimize dampening the vibration. Pick a hard wood from the rosewood family, for instance.
Fixing a loose brace requires removing the rose to get inside. Use warm water to soften the glue around the edge of the rose and pry it away from the
face with a thin palette knife. Take care, don't use force and be patient. Don't use heat, because if the rose is plastic it may melt. After
the rose is loose, tape to the back while you repair the brace. If you know the separation is near an edge, (it often is) you might need to remove a
a section of the edging to clean old and apply fresh glue . If it is hide glue, don't remove it, just apply some warm water to soften the old
glue and apply a little more fresh. The brace must be clamped to make the repair effective. If the brace is in the lower section a long way from the
rose hole you might need to make or buy a deep throat clamp or use magnets.. Applying glue down there can be a challenge as well. After the repair apply glue to the face around the rose hole and pull the rose up against the
face and with string looped through the rose design at the edge and wedge it snug with sticks and blocks.
Repairing loose braces is not a trivial job, and many ouds are damaged by poor repair. If you are not an experienced wood worker I advise taking it to
a professional. If you tell me your location I might know someone in your area.
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Elie Riachi
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Doc, is there a risk of loosening the braces near the pickgaurd "raqmah" in the process of heating that area to remove the gaurd? Great
links Doc.
Palestine, I think the oud looks just fine the way it is now (I wish my cheapo Syrian looked half as nice.) Also, how did you determine that it is a
loose brace causing the buzzing? It may be some string buzzing in the peg box or at the end of bridge, are the ends of the strings trimmed short
enough to where they are not touching the wood?
Elie
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Dr. Oud
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The heat applied on the raqmah will dissapate off the top surface. There's no danger of loosening glue under braces underneath unless you over
heat the face, which will be evident when it turns brown, chars o catches fire! Remember I said LOW HEAT. Electric silicone heat blankets are designed
for about 140 degrees F. This is sufficient for synthetic glues including aliphatic resin, polyvinyl, and contact cement, the types you would likely
find holding down the pick guard. Hide glue isn't affected until you get around 375 degrees F, and the braces are usually glued with hide, so
there's little risk.
Frets.com is a great site for building tips, sources and ideas from Frank Ford, who is the guru of guitar repair.
Elie brings a good point to examine all the other possible causes of the string buzz before doing open rose surgery. You can test the braces by
tapping lightly on the face with the soft part of your finger or side of your thumb, while holding the strings on the neck to keep them out of the
exam. A loose brace will respond with a slight rattle without the strings. There will be a dull sound along the delaminated brace's length, and
the loose area will rattle. Tap all over the face and you will hear different sounds for open areas, braced areas and the loose brace will stand out
in it's different sound.
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palestine48
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I wasnt the one who figured out where the buzzing was coming from. It was a teacher with whom I had a lesson with last week and he figured it out by
the way doc described. He tapped the soundboard and I guess felt the rattle and told me the diagnosis was a loose brace probably from shipping but I
will check again. Its not bothering me since this is my beginner oud.
As for changing some of the components Elie, I appreciate the very kind comments. I just thought i'd get a little creative and add some personal
touches. And Inshallah when I go for a custom oud, it can help to accumulate all my favorite features and designs in a beautiful piece.
Hey that gives me an idea how about a new post where everyone can share what they think is their favorite looking or sounding oud. Maybe even
certain features that just made their jaws drop.
Anyone here willing to share?
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Zulkarnain
Oud Junkie
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Palestine48 what is your email address? Check your U2U msg!
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palestine48
Oud Junkie
Posts: 448
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hey Zulk, I'm having trouble checking my u2u message box. I log in and it wont recognize me as being logged in. I can only log in when i post
messages it seems but nothing else,
my email address is
rkb-181@hotmail.com, ive emailed u before.
ps can anyone help me to check my u2u
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Zulkarnain
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Hello Rami
I cancelled the U2U msg and email u instead-Thanks
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
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Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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Hi Rami,
Enable session cookies maybe.
Elie
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
Registered: 4-9-2004
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Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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Just a thought Doc,
Most likely someone else has thought of this idea also, but one could use one of those $25 PC cams (along with shining a flash light) to insert in the
oud to inspect the braces and also monitor the repair process. They are small enough to fit in the soundhole.
Regards,
Elie
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Dr. Oud
Oud Junkie
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Most guitar techs use this camera but it costs $350! I soldered some wires from a big battery to a flashlight bulb to get light in small places. Never use an
incandescent bulb inside any instrument because it can overheat in the confined space and warp things. There are flexible florescent bulbs out there,
or check Fraks Frets.com for a flourescent inspection light. Where did you find a $25 video camera?
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
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Here is one:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=31390...
Regards,
Elie
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palestine48
Oud Junkie
Posts: 448
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Hey Guys, Once again thanks for the tips.
Ellie and Doc, I tried what you guys did. I tapped around the soundboard and didn't here anything to odd so I am not sure if I'm hearing
what im supposed to looking for. I muted the strings while doing that. Also the buzzing is only on the 5th course from the bottom and not on any
other strings. Maybe the strings are too thick and/or too close? And finaly i noticed the buzzing is more dominent when playing in the first
position than the second or further down the fingerboard.
Anywho, It's not horribly obnoxious and I can live with it for the time being but the input is great, thanks.
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Dr. Oud
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OK, but it requires a pc to see an image, and I'm not sure it will focus at the short distance inside the oud. I'm looking for a color,
hi-res video camera that is ntsc compatible so I can plug it into a $50 tv. It needs a wide angle lens w/ macro focus ability to be really effective.
Got one?
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
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Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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Hi Doc,
I have bought a webcam for ~$45 with macro settings and remote focus using the computer. It is capable of 640x480 resolution which I think is better
than the TV resolution. The camera was made by Intel I think, but can be found from other manufacturer's as well. I think that one had glass
optics which is prefered. I'll do a search on the web and post more links.
Elie
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Jonathan
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Dr Oud, that camera looks very interesting. It is too bad that there does not seem to be a readily available flexible scope/camera that could be
inserted directly through an openning in a rosette, similar to a laparoscope or endoscope that a surgeon might use. If anybody happens to know if
there is something similar, please let me know.
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Dr. Oud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1370
Registered: 12-18-2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
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Mood: better than before
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Jonathan
It is too bad that there does not seem to be a readily available flexible scope/camera that could be inserted directly through an openning in a
rosette, similar to a laparoscope or endoscope that a surgeon might use. |
Actually a urologist/guitar maker made the same suggestion in a recent luthier's quarterly. A fiber optic Endoscope however has a very narrow
field of view. I actually found some on ebay, rigid ones for ~$500, flexible ones for $3,800! I found some flexible borescopes for less ($250) . I
actually found some laparoscopes, from $250. The trouble is they're rigid, since the gut is flexible, so looking around a corner is not an
option. So far Elie's webcam looks like the best option.
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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 haven't been able to find a link to one with remote focus. I tested my Intel webcam (under $40) with the manual focus ring and I can see the
pin holes on a keyboard adapter clearly and in focus at a distance of 5 cm from the lens. Intel doesn't seem to be in the webcam market anymore.
I think any webcam with a true resolution of 640x480 or higher and manual focus (min distance 10 cm or less, shorter better) and removable base will
do. Here is how: Remove base, mount camera to a snap-loc flexible tubing http://www.jtsmach.com/jtswebshop/Fluids/FC034.asp with enough length to reach inside oud, focus camera on an object at the closest possible focus
distance, insert camera into oud, once inside oud focusing can be made by moving camera closer or away from area of interest.
Elie
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