Meet Lebanon's artisan oud maker

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Nazih Ghadban is one the few remaining oud makers

Location: Ras Baalbek, Lebanon

The 66-year-old luthier has been handcrafting instruments since 1976

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE OUD MAKER AND PLAYER, NAZIH GHADBAN, SAYING:"I worked on about 1,400 instruments, and I know who each one is with now. I keep a file for each oud, with my notes about the material it is made from and the sound of the oud."

Oud is one of the oldest musical instruments in the Middle East

Ghadban calls it "the sultan of instruments"

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE OUD MAKER AND PLAYER, NAZIH GHADBAN, SAYING:"Oud means a lot to me, it's my life companion. I use it in all circumstances, through all the emotions and feelings I go through, in happiness, in sadness, at all the times, I always have the oud."