Have You Got an Oud?

Subject: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Dave Swan
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 11:58 PM

We've just had a phone call from a dear friend who, having seen our collection of Appalachian, Scottish, Irish, Indian, & African instruments wants to know where to find an oud.

The usual suspects yield no results. Anybody got any ideas?

Any smartass replies including "Do that oudoo that you do so well" will be forwarded to Catspaw who will discipline you severely.

Thanks,

Dave & Pam

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:03 AM

No ouds yet....and (forgive my ignorance) but would a Turkish Saz do in a pinch? They appear to be part of the same family.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:13 AM

Elderly had one last year and my guess is they don't want another.

Here's the OUD HOME PAGE......Oudy-doody-doo.

And here's Pablo's Oud Page and Pablo thinks they're fascinating! Pablo also thinks his dick is made of Silly Putty. He does have a section devoted to buying and selling for those recently released from the NYCFTTS who wish to sell and the freakazo..........uh, fine folks who wish to piss their money away.

I can't believe you're looking for an oud. Oudda thought it, even if it is for a mental cas........er, friend. Be sure to give the future oudler a big jar of vaseline..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wdyat12
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:19 AM

Dave,

I do not have an Oud. I still don't know what one is, but I looked it up in my Webster's New World Dictionary and this is all I could find out about the Oud: Oudh (oud), n. a part of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. That was a lot of help. Dave could you enlighten the unenlightened as to what kind of instrument you're looking for? I must warn you, I do like severe discipline.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:21 AM

I forgot to give you the rest of the story......I just got oudles don't I? Your best bet for a fuckin' with a smile is out your way at "Lark in the Morning." they carry all sorts of assorted wackiness and that means they got an oud......Lark and the Oud ...the Oud with a 'Tude you can play in the nude without being rude 'cause everyone knows you been screwed."

Best of.................Hell, I dunno' what you wish some fool wanting an oud.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:32 AM

'Course I've also heard it pronounced UD, in which case:

A dumbass who purchased an oud
Turned out as a player, a dud.
He gave up real soon
And felt like a buffoon,
So he sat back and played with his pud.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:45 AM

Wait, someone was talking real oud in a thread just the other day, now I can't remember oud. Was that you Dave?

I gotta oud, you gottta oud, all God's chillen gotta oud... no? Not that one?

Sawrree... 'fraid I haven't any oud just now, but I DO have Grey Poupon. Temporarily.

I'm sorry. In some other thread a sort of February Exception to Sense was worked out. I'm claiming it.

~S~

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:01 AM

Yes.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:11 AM

!

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:13 AM

Well he asked if I have an Oud, and seeing as Spaw has already answered his question, I was just being a smartass. Sorry Dave, Spaw is right, Lark in the Morning sell them.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:22 AM

+

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:50 AM

Aren't they a greek instrument?

they sound really cool where ever they're from!

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wdyat12
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 02:02 AM

Yes Spaw!

Thanks for the visual. Dave, I do have an Oud, and I bought it at a junk shop for $5.00. It has a severely cracked shell and I don't know if I can find it now.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 06:35 AM

I've fancied owning an oud since the Incredible String Band used one on "10,000 Spirits".

Only ever seen one for sale and, wouldn't you know, at the time I was broke!

Tried to buy one in Malta a couple of years ago (Malta being as near as I've ever got to North Africa), but to no avail, so bought a baclama (soprano bouzouki) instead.

The search continues!

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Noreen
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 07:30 AM

Those spike fiddles look painful...

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Willie-O
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 09:20 AM

I owned an oud for a few years. Kinda thought it was a cittern when I got it and so did the person that sold it to me.

It played OK but was not comfortable for two reasons:

1. the frets are far apart
2. said frets are not your standard metal-inset-in fretboard. They are some kind of heavy-duty fishing line--you know, plastic monofilament-- which is tied around the neck...with a very interesting and clever knot at the back. Ergo, the palm of your left hand, rather than sliding along on smooth polished wood, gets all roughed up on these knots.

After awhile the neck bowed and I sold it at my favourite funky music store. He was dubious about accepting it but it sold pretty quickly for about $200, when word got out through the grapevine (taxi drivers of Middle Eastern origin) that there was an oud in town.

Oud a thunk it? I still want a cittern.

Willie-Oud

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: RichM
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 09:32 AM

WYSIWYG said it's a + .
Naughty girl!

Personally I think it's a |

...with apologies to Dave Swan. I know you threatened to report us to 'spaw, but he's being bad too!

And, Willie-O, where's your favourite funky music store?
In Ottawa? I'm not looking for an O**, or a taxi driver, but I'm curious.

Rich

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: LR Mole
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 10:01 AM

Check you nearest Armenian bazaar. Go in your Oudsmobile. The Famous Mr. Oud

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 10:11 AM

Hi. Got to look at and (sort of) play an oud a few weeks ago on the radio show. Never would have connected it up with Somali music...but whaddo I know?

If there's a Somali restaurant, or shop in the person's neighbourhood, apparently asking a few questions should put them in the direction of an Oud.

Also seen a couple at the Twelfth Fret in Toronto.

Rick

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 10:23 AM

This doesn't seem like a place to get serious, but: Unique Strings at 165 Belmont St., Belmont, Massachusetts. Owner Peter Kyvelos builds ouds and is a fine player. Should be able to help Dave Swan's caller.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 10:27 AM

No Slim that's great. That gives at least 5 sources on this thread and we've still had fun. Oudles and oudles of fun you might say.

I think Rick's Oud is probably a leftover from the Toronto Chilean band with the tiple.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Jimmy C
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 11:09 AM

An "OUD" is an Arabic Lute - five strings and no frets. The name may be the (French influenced) version of Arabic al'ud ( flexible stick) from which "lute" was drerived.

From " The ultimate Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments" bt Robert Dwearing.

It is noted in this publication that " John Haywood recently collaborated with the Iraqi composer Salman Skukur on a concerto for oud and orchestra.

There is no illustration,

Jimmy C

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 11:15 AM

I love the sound of ouds, more bassy and "organic" (OK "Spaw I'm waiting for it!) than a bouzouki, mandocello or cittern and wish I had one. Nearly bought one in Morocco last year. I saw one for sale here in Brussels last weekend but I think that's probably a bit far for Dave's friend.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 11:20 AM

Hobgoblin also sell one. Their US site quotes $535.

Jon

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:07 PM

Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever clicks on the hot links. Oh well..........

Mooman......I wouldn't take advantage of any organic reference unless your oud pooed on me or something......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: CarolC
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:14 PM

Another possible source is the House of Musical Traditions...

www.hmtrad.com

Carol

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Willie-O
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 12:42 PM

RichM:

Used Sound of course. Chip's my buddy.

Willie-O

p.s. if you want to be on my e-mail list of music events in Lanark County, drop me a personal with your e-mail addy.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 02:14 PM

Any ideas about tuning? It's probably there in one of those links, but I couldn't find it. Only I know someone who's got one from Egypt, and he's never been able to work out what sort of tuning and strings would be right.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 02:23 PM

Lark in the Morning say...
Oud
Arabic DGADGC
Palestinian/Jordanian variant CFADGC
Old Turkish Bolahenk EABEAD
New Turkish C#F#BEAD
Turkish Classical, Old Mansur ADEADG
Turkish Classical, New F#BEADG
the last two may require restringing to a heavier guage set

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: wildlone
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 02:27 PM

Marcus Music
Tredegar House
Newport
Gwent
South Wales
Can get them, I saw a Oud bodied 6 string guitarnin there once.
dave

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Dave Swan
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 01:39 AM

Once again the 'cat does the trick. Thanks to everybody for the help and irreverence. I'll forward this to our friend who is one twisted, bent, (and highly talented) puppy. And I mean that in the best possible way. He may even show up around here one day. He'll choose a name like the Nudist Oudist and you'll know it's him.

Thanks again.

Dave

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: John P
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:47 AM

I've been playing the oud for the last year or so. I love it.

I work for a company in Seattle that also operates an acoustic music store. There are always at least a couple of ouds in stock there. The store is called Dusty Strings.

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Noudist
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:06 PM

Thanks to all those that responded to Dave & Pam's query, and special thanks to Dave & Pam for posting the request.

Looks like Hobgoglin & LITM are the closest alternatives. If I crap out there, then the search radius will expand.

Twisted & Bent? Not that I am arguing, of course, but I thought you had removed the security cameras...

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: John Routledge
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:12 PM

I thought this was to be an elitist thread. OUD stands for Open University Degree!! Cheers GB

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:12 PM

A new Catter named Noudist
Fancied himself as an Oudist
His manners weren't crude
And I hate to be rude
But an Oudist is really the screwedest.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:27 PM

A catter who aspired to be Oudist,
Was advised to begin as a nudist,
So with no last regrets,
He removed all his frets,
And wound up instead a Zen Buddhist.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:30 PM

Hey!!! NOUDIST......I forgot the most important thing and that's to say,

WELCOME TO THE 'CAT!!!!!!!

Its really a fantastic place filled with some of the finest folks........And of course, any friend of Dave's is ............................ uh ..........................er, uh....................hmmm......................uh, did I say welcome to the 'Cat?? ............Its really great...................................

Spwa

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:34 PM

Well stroked PT........well stroked!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: CarolC
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:35 PM

Welcome to the Mudcat, Noudist!

Carol

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:44 PM

You always bring out the cheap poet in me, CP.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 03:11 PM

"removed all his frets" ROTFL

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 04:03 PM

OOOPS I thought he said IUD and was about recommend that he not play with it. Sorry. I'll go away now.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: annamill
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 04:45 PM

Hi. I just wen to ebay to see a wetsuit I'm bidding on and just for fun entered "oud" under musical instruments. There were four at what seemed to be reasonable prices.

Good Luck.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:20 PM

Thanks for the tunings, bert - I'll pass the info on. And I might try out a few on the guitar.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:38 PM

Ouds are common in Turkish traditional music. Other traditional instuments there are saz (mentioned above) and canun.

Pronounced "ood" there, BTW.

I have some CDs from there of some of this music, but they're 4000 km away at the moment.

The traditional Turkish music has lots of quarter-tones (and even smaller steps); takes a bit of acclimatisation to get used to ... when I played it on the radio, not too many were impressed, even with some of the more "Western" pieces.

If you go to Istanbul, and go down Iskalal street from Taksim square, you'll find a number of music stores that sell oud, saz, and other such instruments. But the quality is not that great, I'm told, you really want to find a local player and find out where they got theirs; the ones in the easily found stores are more for tourists.

I don't know much about ouds to be found here; whether they are of good quality. I might be able to get a source through my Turkisk comments though; one friend has a friend from college days who plays in a traditional music ensemble. . . .

Just my two cents,

-- Arne Langsetmo [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:38 PM

Ouds are common in Turkish traditional music. Other traditional instuments there are saz (mentioned above) and canun.

Pronounced "ood" there, BTW.

I have some CDs from there of some of this music, but they're 4000 km away at the moment.

The traditional Turkish music has lots of quarter-tones (and even smaller steps); takes a bit of acclimatisation to get used to ... when I played it on the radio, not too many were impressed, even with some of the more "Western" pieces.

If you go to Istanbul, and go down Iskalal street from Taksim square, you'll find a number of music stores that sell oud, saz, and other such instruments. But the quality is not that great, I'm told, you really want to find a local player and find out where they got theirs; the ones in the easily found stores are more for tourists.

I don't know much about ouds to be found here; whether they are of good quality. I might be able to get a source through my Turkisk comments though; one friend has a friend from college days who plays in a traditional music ensemble. . . .

Just my two cents,

-- Arne Langsetmo [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:41 PM

I have one. I had a Saudi roommate in grad school about 30 years ago and her cousin found it cheaper to sell his oud to me before returning home and buy a new one than to ship it home. It has 5 double courses and room for a 6th course. When he tuned it, it sounded to me like the strings were in mandolin/fiddle type intervals, but went lower. Since I am not an instrumentalist, I knew I was unlikely to learn to play this fretless lute, but he did not charge me a lot and it is beautiful. The derivation of the word lute that I heard was that when the oud went to Spain with the Moors, they called it la oud, which became lute.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 12:28 PM

Here's a rather impressive One.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: RichM
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 01:00 PM

I never had an oud, but I once had a wen :)

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Rev
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 01:27 PM

I am currently taking a class in Middle Eastern music and I have it on good authority that the preferred spelling of the instrument in question is not "Oud," but " 'Ud " with that little apostrophe making all the difference. Just thought you might be interested.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 01:38 PM

The English spelling of Arabic words is usually pretty arbitrary, as the letters and sounds do not correspond exactly. Also Arabic has as many regional differences in pronunciation as English.

Also Arabs use the definite article more than we do so the instrument is more likely to be referred to as 'Al Oud'. The Gulf Arabic pronunciation rhymes with food. Or, as Spaw said above, 'Screwed'.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 01:57 PM

Hey JP....That is an "impressive" one, but can you imagine trying to learn fretless playing on THAT fretboard.................

".......uh, lessee, that was the 10th white, down 2.......no, wait, I'm on the 11th.........lemmee count that again.......so I just slide up a bit and.....yeah almost......oops, that'd be the little black one with the nick between the 11th and 12th whites and down not quite 2........AAAARARGGGHHH.....MY EYES!!!!!!"

Fortunately fretless is best learned by feel.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Peter T.
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:24 PM

There once was an Oudist quite rude,
Who played her instrument nude,
When she finished dropping her frets,
They collected their bets
As to which of them "ahh'd" and which "ooo'd".

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:29 PM

........awferchrissakes..................What have I done here? Talk about your "cheap poets"............oy.........................

Spaw (that was a winner PT)

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:33 PM

'Spaw I think there would need to be an element of "Zen" involved with playing this instrument, at the risk of converging two alternative relgious elements into it. You would have to "let the instrument play itself" :-)

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Bert
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:45 PM

That don't work Justa P. Mine just sits there and refuses to play itself.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Peter T.
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:51 PM

Actually I am quite proud of that one. It came to me on a bus last night!
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:55 PM

.........along with two winos, a junkie, and a bag lady. You should have taken a different bus.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: John P
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 06:33 AM

You know, I was pretty scared the first time I played my oud in public. I just kept telling myself not to fret ....

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Noudist
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 11:44 PM

Thanks, Ladies & Germs, it's great to be back in Mudville with you cats... or is that vile in back with you Mudcats...

OK, so I made myself believe that I had won the lottery and went to Lark and bought a Turkish Oud/Al Oud/'Ud. I think I got gyped [sic] since mine didn't have the little fishline frets. So I got some scotch tape and some picture hanger wire and now it plays just like my 12-string guitar when a fat string is broken. I got it tuned to C#F#BEAD and glued those pesky pegs in since they kept slipping on me (the hammer didn't work, either.) I was going to try the BEDDED tuning, but nobody wanted to try it with me.

THe maker forgot to lacquer the face of the instrument, so I liquored then lacquered the lute. There were two extra holes in the damn thing, but the bungs from wine casks fit just right. Of course, I then had to file down the bungs so my plectrum could get to the strings. That required more lacquer and liquor and lots of sanding. There was no room to put in a pickup, so I duct taped that bad boy to the side as well. I can't wait to hear it!

I never realized that it was a kit...

It sounds a lot like a cross between a violin and a banjo now. And maybe a tuba. Soon, like an electric tubanjolin!

But seriously, folks...

Not since Custer has a man been so humbled by those surrounding him. It is my pleasure to be here with you!

Having said that, it's clearly time to go make dinner.

BTW, now that I have the damn (la)O/ud, can anyone recommend someone in the SF Bay Area for lessons? There are some people referenced through Lark, but I was kinda hoping to find someone in the south bay.

Miss you more, Noudie

PS. I will send some tabulature of official "Noudie Bar Chords" to the person that presents the instructor reference ultimately chosen. Or maybe not, if you consider that a better present.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: John P
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 07:59 AM

Noudist, I think Gary Haggerty is somewhere in the Bay area. I have no idea if he teaches, or how to get in touch with him, but he is a really good oud player.

Subject: RE: Have You Got an Oud?
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 07:13 AM

There is a music shop in Tiberius that has a couple of gorgeous looking ouds. One is a Syrian style, the other Egyptian. They go for about a thousand or fifteen-hundred sheqels.