Dikran Najarian Based in Beirut, Lebanon. To the right, a photograph of the luthier in his workshop.
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Dikran Najarian Based in Beirut, Lebanon. To the right, a photograph of the luthier in his workshop. |
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Viken Najarian Born in Lebanon, immigrated to the United States in 1975. Grandson of Dikran Najarian, noted above. Now California-based. Makes both traditional acoustic as well as electric ouds. To the right, a custom-made Najarian from 2002. Photographs courtesy of Mavrothis Kontanis. Additional examples of Najarian ouds. |
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Hagop (Agop) Ohanyan. Also made tanburs, and was a fairly well-known tanbur and oud player. To the right, an original Ohanyan from 1968. |
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| Ohanness Oozoonyan (see Uzunyan) | |
| Papazian An uncle to John Merjanian (see above). Made a limited number of ouds. |
| Stepan Payaslyan (1922-2007). Based in Armenia. Born in Marash, Turkey. Photograph to the right shows Payaslyan in 2003 (on right) with one of his ouds. Also, on far right, his business card. Both courtesy of David Yaldezian at www.Yaldezian.net Pictures which follow are of a recent Payaslyan oud.
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Hagop Saatjian (?) Name known to me only because it was found written inside of an early Atikyan oud, at the base. Suspect that Saatjian repaired the oud, although this might not be the case. Whether or not Saatjian made ouds is also unclear. Photograph to the rights reads "Hagop Saatjian 466 Michigan Ave 1931" Likely this refers to the Michigan Avenue in the Detroit area, as another label in the oud is from Sam (Sarkis) Varjabedian, who also resided in the Detroit area. |
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SARI ONNIK (SIVASLI SARI ONNIK) |
| SEROPE Born approximately 1850. Kayseri region. Also made baglama and tanbour. |
| Bogos and Bedros Sivaci Oud from 1950 known to exist. |
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Krikor Tachdjian (Tashjian) Based in Ghazir, Lebanon. To the right, a fragmented Tashjian oud from 1927. Despite its condition, the beauty of the original oud comes through. The rosette and label are from this oud. The label would suggest that Tachdjian was originally from Ourfa, Turkey. |
 
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| Tokatli Onnik Based in Konya, Turkey. Oud from 1823 known to exist. | |
| Torosian | |
| T. Trupenyan | |
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AGOP TSAKIRIAN. Born in Turkey, emigrated to Greece. Considered one of the best bouzouki makers in Greece. Photograph to the right courtesy of Ara Dinkjian (www.AraDinkjian.com) . |
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| Karalos Tsakirian. Son of Nick Tsakirian, and grandson of Agop Tsakirian (born Turkey, emigrated to Greece), all instrument makers. Came to the US in 1977 from Greece, and was based in New York City for 17 years. Relocated to Athens, Greece in 1993. Learned art of making ouds (and other instruments) in his father's shop. Also makes bouzoukis, baglamas, and other instruments. |
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GEORGE TUTUNJIAN Furniture maker based in Chicago, Illinois who also made ouds. Died in Los Angeles. There is a belief that Tutunjian originally had a shop in Istanbul which was either close to, or adjacent to, the shop of the brilliant Greek ud maker Manol. Tutunjian is said to have learned the craft of ud-making from Manol. The oud to the right is dated 1934, and numbered 20. The mizraplek (pickguard) is clearly not original, and the bridge was likely replaced. Even with these changes detracting from the oud, it remains stunningly beautiful, with particularly well-executed rosettes. The oud is in need of repair--the ribs are separating, and the peg box is resting in place for this picture, but is otherwise broken away from the neck. |
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| Artin (Haroutiun) Uzunyan (1845-?) |
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Ohanness Uzunyan. To the right, an Uzunyan from 1908, courtesy master luthier Cengiz Sarikus at www.veyselmuzik.com |
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Sam (Sarkis) Varjabedian. (1892-1963). Part-time luthier, based in Detroit, Michigan. Born in Fennesse, Turkey (near Kayseri), and emigrated to the United States (Detroit, Michigan) in 1913. Examples of his ouds exist from as early as mid-1920s, and last example dates from 1963. Varying sizes, from "hanum" to Turkish to Arab-sized ouds. Also made a very small number of lutes. Example to right probably late 1940s or early 1950s. A "hanum" oud. This oud once owned by Udi Hrant Kenkulian. Additional examples of Varjabedian ouds. |
 
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Onnik Zadoravyan (?Zadurian) (1888-1968). Labels under his name may indicate ouds that he had made, and then sold in his music store, and not instruments made by Zadoravyan himself. Photograph to the right courtesy master luthier Cengiz Sarikus. The oud to the right, dated 1927, bears Zadorovyan's label, again courtesy Cengiz Sarikus. |
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