The Latest

A couple weeks ago I shipped off my latest oud. This is a rather simple one. I'm actually leaning more towards these simple designs, not only because of their understated elegance, but because they are quicker to make. Nevertheless, the owner of this instrument waited over a year and a half to get this one. I got to play it for a couple weeks before shipping it out. Click here for a sound file. Criticisms welcome!

Latest instrument

I posted a small update about this oud a few weeks ago. I finally had a chance to upload a page to the website with some more pictures and a video. Below are a few selected shots from that page, as well as a direct link to the video.

Video Link

A very special oud for a friend

In a few weeks, this instrument will be delivered to it's owner, Mike Malek.
Over the course of the last year, Mike and I have been designing every aspect of this instrument, from the bowl woods, all the way to the little inlays on the upper bout of the face. Over a year and dozens of Photoshopped jpeg-laden emails later, the oud is finally finished. This instrument was based largely on an oud made by Abdo Nahat & Sons in the early 1930's, with some elements borrowed from other Nahat ouds. Look for some more details about this particular instrument in some upcoming entries.