The photos show a lovely workshop, with all sorts of parts of oud, and other instruments, in different state of manufacture. The master is cutting and shaping different parts and fitting them together. Part of the charm of these photos is to see how these raw bits of wood, take shape to become something where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The master, mastering
Yesterday, I got some beautiful photos from the luthier, and the show my oud in its early stages of build. Fantastic! If was to imagine a luthier's workshop, it would look like that. I've not yet asked if I can share these photos on the Internet, but I will ask. At this time, they are private :-)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 2: Pay deposit for Oud
Paid my 50% deposit today! We're on!
The luthier asked me to check the humidity of the environment of my oud will live (mostly). This is a good sign that these people know what they are talking about!
I've asked for some photographs, as they build it. However, I was reminded that I need to be sensitive to the craftsman's trade-secrets. OK, I think that is fair, so I will only show general photographs.
The luthier asked me to check the humidity of the environment of my oud will live (mostly). This is a good sign that these people know what they are talking about!
I've asked for some photographs, as they build it. However, I was reminded that I need to be sensitive to the craftsman's trade-secrets. OK, I think that is fair, so I will only show general photographs.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Day 1: Get Oud
Today I agreed with a luthier in Istanbul to build me an Oud ... to my specifications! How exciting! Of course, this is not how the story started. I'll elaborate throughout this blog ...
I would not have thought that I'm the blogging kind, but when I mentioned that I was getting an oud built, a friend of mine suggested that I blog about it. This sounded like a good idea. So hear it goes. I will use this blog to chronicle my oud journey onwards, and to document the story so far. Perhaps this can be useful to others doing the same.
I emailed the luthier to ask for the kind of oud I wanted and after exchanging a few emails regarding the spec, we got down to him sending me photographs of the patterns and types of wood to use, and we eventually came to an agreement. Tomorrow, I'll make the deposit payment to the luthier, and they (him and his father) will start building it. I've asked him to take lots of photographs of my oud being built and send them over, so that I can follow the build. This will of course create a special bond between me and the instrument, which I hope will increase my enjoyment of this wonderful activity.
I would not have thought that I'm the blogging kind, but when I mentioned that I was getting an oud built, a friend of mine suggested that I blog about it. This sounded like a good idea. So hear it goes. I will use this blog to chronicle my oud journey onwards, and to document the story so far. Perhaps this can be useful to others doing the same.
I emailed the luthier to ask for the kind of oud I wanted and after exchanging a few emails regarding the spec, we got down to him sending me photographs of the patterns and types of wood to use, and we eventually came to an agreement. Tomorrow, I'll make the deposit payment to the luthier, and they (him and his father) will start building it. I've asked him to take lots of photographs of my oud being built and send them over, so that I can follow the build. This will of course create a special bond between me and the instrument, which I hope will increase my enjoyment of this wonderful activity.
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