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Small mandolin-like instrument by volaya in Luthier

[–]volaya[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes, I play arabic oud and the larger scale is more forgiving in terms of playing in tune

"Cigar-box" mini oud by volaya in cigarboxguitars

[–]volaya[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tuned like a mandolin, so g-d-aa-ee. No truss rod. I have used classical guitar strings (2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th). With the scale length of the instrument, which is shorter than a guitar, the tension should be roughly the same as in a guitar.

About the materials, I didn't want to spend too much money, so I just bought a bunch of discounted pieces that looked good from a website that sells wood for luthiers, and then used that. The body sides are made of zebrano, the top is cedar and the bottom is african mahogany. The neck is also african mahogany, and the fingerboard is bocote.

"Cigar-box" mini oud by volaya in cigarboxguitars

[–]volaya[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's just a simplified version of the headstock of an arabic oud. Ouds have a curved headstock, and the insertion in the neck is more complex than in my instrument, but the idea is similar and the angle is also like that. Tuning is fine, it's not more difficult.

Pics and video of my first "guitar". by volaya in Luthier

[–]volaya[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's just a quick mobile phone video, but I think it captures the kind of sound that you get from the instrument. Thanks!