Oud Instrument Making - Preparing the Soundboard

[@rumeunner3245]

No matter where the craftsman is located in the world, its always a joy to see how they make their creations.

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot for your lovely attention and watch my videos. I'm happy that you liked it🙏❤️

[@lahlouwati]

Nice to see what you're doing. I made just 4 luths . I was exhausted then I stopped because no way to sell the good luths. Happy to know you. Many thanks from Marrakech

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for your kind words 🙏♥️ I have the same problem specially in my country (Iran) which economy is horrible right now, but I couldn't convinced myself to stop yet! 😅🙏❤️

[@srikaaant]

ASMR video for me as , this is really relaxing when your dear friend is constructing the oud . Beautifully done my brother

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot. happy that you felt it lovely. to me also this part is super emotional, relaxed and calm part. I describe it like: Crafting a soul for the instrument 😌🙏❤️

[@TarekSergiwa]

شيئ الذي شد انتباهي في الفيديو في الدقية 12:35 صدر العود عند تعريضه للمصباح الضوئي كأنه ورق فابريانو و هذا يدل على أن الخشب تحول الي رق من الجلد فهذا ذكرني بعود اقتنيته في تسعينيات القرن الماضي و كان أفضل الأعود التي مرت علي و لم يحدث أن رأىت مثله إلا في الفيديو ... أثمن عملك المتقن و الجميل و تمنياتي لك التوفيق و التميز .

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for your kind words 🙏♥️ Unfortunately I had to translate your comment because I don't understand Arabic, but if I got your point, your talking about the soundboard thickness and the light passing through the wood! Yes, it is so thin and light passes but not for all woods, not for all ouds. Some Ouds have thicker soundboard and you can not see light behind them

[@lahlouwati]

You working Very clean

[@mansouroud]

Thanks. It's your kindness 🙏

[@musbel4022]

تبارك الله وما شاء الله

[@mansouroud]

شکرا 🙏❤️

[@georgeyousef6750]

انتا فنان وتعمل شغل حلو كتير واضح بتعب شغلك بالتوفيق والنجاح

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot. it really needs lots of patience 🙏❤️

[@ShadyAlAngham]

احسنت.اجمل التهاني على إنجازك! أتمنى لك المزيد من النجاح والإزدهار في المستقبل

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot for your kindness 🙏❤️

[@shadeibrahim7592]

يا سلام ❤ فنان 👍⚘️👍

[@mansouroud]

Thank a lot 🙏❤️

[@Greebstreebling]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful craftsmanship.

[@mansouroud]

It's so great that you liked it. this is what I have learned from others and like to share what I get to others 🙏❤️

[@moradi_music]

به به لذت بردم

[@mansouroud]

به به. خوشحالم خوشت اومد. ممنون که دیدی ❤

[@henrycross8776]

Excellent work my friend

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot 🙏❤️

[@diysam7819]

Nicely done 👏👌

[@endubsar7442]

Great video brother . thanks again 😍🥰

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for watching 😍🙏❤

[@Mehdi.Esmailzad]

عالی❤

[@mansouroud]

سپاس از شما 🙏❤️

[@salmsalmm2017]

الله يسعدك ويوفقك 🎉😊

[@mansouroud]

thanks a lot. 🙏❤️

[@wintermanmuzika7650]

Great job

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot. ❤️

[@حكيم-و7ق]

❤ جميل

[@mansouroud]

شکرا 🙏

[@anepictree]

Fantastic to see and so beautifully executed. Mansour, how thick is the top? (Peter in Paris)

[@mansouroud]

this one is 2mm.

[@anepictree]

@@mansouroud Thank you! Is that usual for an Oude?

[@mansouroud]

As I know, these days oud makers make tops somewhere between 1.8 to 2.5 or maximum 3mm thick. Also there are some very modern techniques called Double Top used by some Turkish oud makers which is a different story.@@anepictree

[@victorhariry7483]

@@anepictree yes for oud Thanks for replying

[@GabbyRamos-e6h]

Thank you for sharing your videos I enjoyed the step by step process of the sound board. Are you using a homogeneous wood for the ladder bracings same wood as the sound board ? I hope you dont mind sharing the height and width of the bracing. Gracias!

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for your attention and good questions. about the bracing; yes, I do use same wood as soundboard for bracing it but sometimes oud makers use spruce wood to bracing cedar soundboards also. about the sizes; something around 4 to 5mm thickness, 1 to 1.5cm height depends on the feeling on that specific sound board. you know, this part is almost like crafting a soul for the instrument, tons of detail and feelings are engaged. at the end you have to hear it talking to you! no matter what kind of shapes the braces have. I say this because there is not any fixed info and data on oud soundboard bracing. or I can't find yet. 🙏❤️

[@Ahmad.Al.K]

Very good you have done nice Wehr is your workshop ?

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for your kindness. My workshop is in Iran.

[@almishti]

Really nice, I just learned a lot from watching you! Do ouds ever use a bridge plate under the soundboard like guitars do?

[@mansouroud]

Thanks for your kind words and I'm happy that these videos are been helpful to you. I have seen some modern oud makers do so, but personally, I haven't experienced it yet. also, it's not something traditional thing to do. 🙏❤️

[@victorhariry7483]

Thanks for your replying can you tell whats the hight and thickness size of bridges

[@mansouroud]

The height is not something fixed but I can say something between 8.5 to 9.5 or 10mm depends on the neck angle and fingerboard thickness. because It's about the Action, not about the bridge. means on every oud you have to measure it. but about thickness: for the part that hold the strings, I make it something between 7 to 8mm depends on the density of the bridge wood. for the bottom part 3mm

[@victorhariry7483]

Hi weldone nice job Could you tel what kind sound board are you using with bridges Thanks

[@mansouroud]

in this video I made the soundboard of german Spruce and Walnut for the bridge

[@yemarican]

يسلموا الايادي اخي الكريم و شكراً لك على رفع هذا الفيديو .. لو سمحت سؤال .. عندي عود .. انا في بلد غربيه .. عندي عود بس الاوتار مرفوعه نوعاً ما .. يعني الضغط عليها لازم يكون قوي لكي تتطلع النغمه .. هل تعتقد ان انا ممكن اقوم بتعديله من تلقاء نفسي ؟؟ اتمنى لك يوم طيب

[@mansouroud]

Thanks a lot brother for your kind words. If I understand your question correctly, you asked me about your Oud action changed (String got distant from the neck) and that's probably because of the Neck moved or changed its position. check out back of your neck, if you see any kind of little gap between the neck and body, so it is the problem, and if it happened so you definitely need an experienced person to give it a hand and fix the neck joint.

[@yemarican]

@@mansouroud Thank you for your quick response brother. I checked the back of the neck and its perfectly intact. I think it was made that way .. meaning its not an expensive oud. It still serves the purpose and I love the sound of it and that makes it precious for me. so now that you know the neck of the oud is in good shape.. what would you recommend? I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[@mansouroud]

@@yemarican If the neck is in its place, I need to see the oud then! Can you take some photos of your oud and send me to possiblity check what is the problem!? Mostly about the neck, fingerboard and bridge. You can contact me through my Instagram page or email. Also telegram is the best

[@ازهارالربيعداخل]

نقص ارتفاع الانف تبع العود حقك

[@hansdevries-f2z]

dear sir, love your video's! I wonder about the following: i once had a mohammadi brothers' oud for two weeks, the sound of which i did not like particularly, to my own surprise. the seller then said "ah yes, maybe that is because it has the old setup of the braces." apparently the newer ouds have a newer plan for the braces. do you have an opinion on old and new soundboard constructions?

[@mansouroud]

the short answer will be: yes, it is possible to replace the soundboard with new one which has different wood or bracing and of course different sound quality and color, by a professional oud maker. sound board plays key role in making oud sound (the kind -Cedar or Spruce-, thickness, quality and Bracing and it's tune) but replacing the soundboard is not an easy task and must be done by an experienced one. tell me what kind of unpleasant sound quality is you feel about it?

[@AdmOud-h3s]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@AhmedKerchaoui-xl7bz]

من فظلك ما هو مقياس دائرة الوجه؟ شكرا٠

[@mansouroud]

I decided to have a 11cm hole on this oud

[@fouadbassoute8854]

how to calculate the distance between the bracings

[@maherkayal4901]

Interested too in this issue.

[@mansouroud]

Very interesting question! Actually until now, I couldn't find any lets say, proved or fixed method to do this! My answer now is: Based on my experience and the oud I have checked yet (with letting the mirror inside ouds or with lamp), also I'm reading about how makers (specially masters) are discussing about it and so on, I decided to do bracing on this oud like this.

[@mansouroud]

Also I have to say, so far I understand that those braces close to the bridge are very important in different aspects! Tuning the top, bending the top under the pressure and other reasons... I follow the very classic form of bracing on this oud in general but about the measurements! I was doing it based on the size and distance of the bridge and hole

[@mansouroud]

As a confession I would say: I'm exploring this world myself right now, but I will search, test and share more later. But if you interested to know, I use Tap Tune technique to tune the top after bracing. So I tap the bridge place and check the sound with tuner. I reached the note Mi (E) on this top. Then after gluing on the bowl and tap the bridge, it gave me the note Do (C) and was completely tuned on the note, so I was so excited and happy about it.

[@mansouroud]

Also I have to mention that based on George Nahat (very famous Syrian oud maker) ouds and analysis, you can find some information an theories about the bracing. Also Turkish oud maker.

[@victorhariry7483]

What kind of wood bridge are you using please

[@mansouroud]

for the bridges I use Walnut wood for this oud

[@husseinali6360]

👍👏🌹

[@bralamzali2304]

👍👍👍👍👍🙏❤

[@mostafachahid203]

السلام عليكم لمادى العود العربي دائما يتغرف 99/100 جميع العود في العالم العربي غير صالحين للاستعمال لأنهم يتغرفون مع الزمن

[@mansouroud]

Can you please explain your question in English? I did translate it but still couldn't get what you said 🙏