mavrothis
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Tasos Theodorakis - Greek luthier with new website
Hi guys,
Check out this very nice site for the luthier Tasos Theodorakis in Thessaloniki, Greece. His instruments look and sound really beautiful.
Tasos Theodorakis - Xilofonia
He even has a remarkable practice oud, very cool idea.
Take care,
mavrothis
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walkad
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That was a cool site indeed. Although I am not sure I understood the idea of this practicing oud.. Have anyone used something like that?
Regards
/Walid
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mavrothis
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Hi,
It's for when you need to practice without making a lot of noise. If you want to play late at night and live in an apartment building, your
mother-in-law hates oud, or something like that I guess.

Take care,
mav
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Mike
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Very cool website Mav. His ouds look very nice. There's one more option. I wish I had all these options when I first got into the oud. I loved his old
oud collection too!
Take care,
Mike
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john (beloved) habib
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very cool site... beautiful picture of the oud fingerboard on the introductory page... amazing...
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Elie Riachi
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Nice site. Love the rose designs. The practice oud is a good idea and I am certain that it can be easily electrified and I assume it can be played
without the back attachement.
I noticed the Manoles in the collection, what is Manole's origin?
Take care,
Elie
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spyrosc
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Manole
Dear friend Elie,
Manole was one of the Venios Brothers, a family of Greek luthiers in Constantinople (Istambul), very famous around the beginning of the 20th
century.
Their ouds were legendary. Manole (Emmanuel) was the better known craftsman, and consider one of the best, if not the best, luthier of the Ottoman
Turkish Empire at the time. Some people say he was the best of all time !? Anyway, his ouds have been copied and copied again, and he was the teacher
of many famous luthiers that succeded him.
I believe that after the wars of 1922 he moved (together with a very large number of Greeks and Armenians) to Salonika Greece (where Tasos Theodorakis
lives today).
He used many interesting techniques, especially in the shaping of the braces, the shaping of the soundboard, etc.
I believe Dr. Oud had mentioned him and his techniques in the past.
I hope that helps
Spyros C.
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Multi Kulti
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"
Quote: |
I believe that after the wars of 1922 he moved (together with a very large number of Greeks and Armenians) to Salonika Greece (where Tasos Theodorakis
lives today).
| "
Manolis Venios (aka Manol Usta) from Istanbul passed away in 1915.
He was one of the best oud makers of the modern time.Many oudmakers such as Faruk Türünz,Engin Erogler (son of Hadi Usta, apprentice of Manol)
studied his style and technik.
Nikos
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walkad
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Even Usta Ali (one of the greatest iraqi luthiers ever, used by Sharif Mohyeddin Tarqan, Salman Shukur, Jameel Bashir etc) was a student of Manol.
Generally the turks have made greate impression on the iraqi lutheri, thats why iraqi classical ouds are much closer to turkish ouds in sound than
syrian and egyptian ouds.
Regards
/Walid
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mavrothis
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Hi,
Manolis Venios was definitely the top maker of the Turkish style ouds of his time, and his instruments are the most respected of the antique
instruments. He made some interesting adjustments to the instrument, and was
probably one of the first if not the first to use the dovetail to connect the neck to the body, along with other improvements/changes.
Just to clarify, I don't believe he had any brothers, but his workers were referred to as his "brothers" on the instruments that were made with their
assistance. There are instruments with just his name on the label, though it's said that he always made the soundboard on his own for all his ouds
(in secret, in an upstairs room... ). Karibyan was also one of his famous
students/coworkers.
Take care,
mav
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Wm. De Leonardis
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Does anyone know the origin of the rosette design on his menu page? It’s identical to the one used on my Turunz oud. I know Faruk is greatly
influenced by Manol. Was this one of his designs?
Thanks for the link, Mav. It's nice to see yet another oud maker with a web-site.
William
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mavrothis
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Hey,
My pleasure man. My guess is it's from a Manol too. They can really be beautiful. Speaking of Turunz, I've heard from a friend that he's improved
on his sound (which is definitely saying something). I'm very curious to hear his newer models.
Tasos Theodorakis is really nice guy, I've corresponded with him several times. I wish him the best with his shop, his instruments look really
wonderful.
Man, I think ouds are going to drive me crazy. lol
Take care,
mav
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Wm. De Leonardis
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Hey, Mav,
Thanks for your thought on the rosette. I’m assuming that my Turunz was made with the modifications you mentioned, as he finished it only last
August. It’s an incredible sounding instrument. But, like you said, I keep hearing and seeing so many great ouds I can’t seem to escape the
madness of wanting yet another one—your new Dalkilic looks and sounds so great, I want to order one now!!!
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Multi Kulti
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I Have ordered a new Faruk too.Im getting it in march.It will be a rosewood-juniper wood combination and im really looking forward to seeing and
playing with this instrument...
As soon as i get it i will post pics and sound file with it..
Nikos
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mavrothis
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Hey Niko!
Me to kalo megale! That sounds great, I can't wait to see it and hear it. 
I actually just finished ordering a Turkish style oud from Dimitris in Greece. I'm really excited. It will be with
pallisander and maple.
Wooohoooo!
Take care,
mav
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Multi Kulti
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have a nice time waiting...it can be very "trippy".You see ouds in your dreams,in your food...
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mavrothis
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Guys,
Speaking of oud madness, I was just down in Philly today to pick up my Najarian after Mr. Dalkilic had done some work on it, and I ended up staying
all day trying out ouds and talking about music.
He had one new oud he had just finished, which was really great, with rosewood and paduk ribs. Also, I got to play one of his ouds that Udi Cinucen
Tanrikorur had owned, really nice man, all paduk that had aged into a very deep brown. That one, and some of his other ouds, are made a little more
shallow so they are easier to hold and play, and have a very sweet, personalized sound I think.
At the end of the day I got to play one of his Manols, which actually is all original except for new pegs and some repaired cracks (made in 1900).
Amazing man. The obsession never ends with these instruments. It's so great also to have him explain about his methods in making the instruments,
why he does this and that. I always get some great makam lessons every trip too. 
I'm telling you, I'm so lucky to be able to visit and play on instruments like this this often. Mr. Dalkilic told me that once when Udi Cinucen's
wife visited his house, she called it "Udistan" b/c of all the ouds on the walls and propped up against the couches. lol I call it paradise. 
Take care,
mav
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