11 Best Oud Instrument Reviews 2022 – Best Oud Brands

Best Oud Instrument & Best Oud Instrument Brands

Best Oud Instrument & Best Oud Instrument Brands

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Lovers of the stringed instruments like the guitar, violin, etc. would definitely find oud musical instrument equally fascinating and interesting. As an ancient musical instrument with Arab origin, it gives an intriguing quality and rich musical tone. There are some basic things to know and consider if the intent is to get the best oud instrument.

What are the Best Oud Instrument to Buy?

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Quality Beginners Oud "The Turkish Butterfly" With Soft Carry Case (Mahogany-Linden/Glossy Finish)
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Turkish Walnut & Padouk Oud w/Soft Case - BLEMISHED
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Professional Turkish Oud" The Turkish Star",Cat#166B with Soft carry case
Quality Beginners Oud "The Turkish Butterfly" With Soft Carry Case (Mahogany-Linden/Glossy Finish)
Turkish Walnut & Padouk Oud w/Soft Case - BLEMISHED
Professional Turkish Oud" The Turkish Star",Cat#166B with Soft carry case
1
Quality Beginners Oud "The Turkish Butterfly" With Soft Carry Case (Mahogany-Linden/Glossy Finish)
Quality Beginners Oud "The Turkish Butterfly" With Soft Carry Case (Mahogany-Linden/Glossy Finish)
Check on Amazon
2
Turkish Walnut & Padouk Oud w/Soft Case - BLEMISHED
Turkish Walnut & Padouk Oud w/Soft Case - BLEMISHED
Check on Amazon
3
Professional Turkish Oud" The Turkish Star",Cat#166B with Soft carry case
Professional Turkish Oud" The Turkish Star",Cat#166B with Soft carry case
Check on Amazon

Types

First, this amazing instrument comes in different types with the most common being the Arabic Oud. This is the most common type because of its versatility and the deep melodious tone it produces. It has a bowl shape design and comes with 11 Strings.

Other types of oud instrument are the Turkish Ouds, Iraqi Ouds, and Iranian Ouds. They all have their unique features and tone. Therefore, the types and attributes of Oud to buy should be the-the first thing to consider before making any purchase.

Design and artistry

The next thing to check out for is the design of the oud. The distance between the fingerboard and the strings should be small for those that are new to the instrument. This is because it makes playing the oud easier. Oud with high action is not suitable for newbies as it is difficult to play and might make the experience a very hectic one. So, before making any purchase, the neck of the instrument should be checked to be sure of the distance between the fingerboard and the strings.

Appropriate strings

It is also important to use the appropriate strings necessary for each type of oud. There are various types of oud strings out there, and they all have different tunes. Therefore, it would be a great mistake to use Turkish oud string on an Arabic Oud. Therefore, care must be taken in this regard as this makes or breaks a person’s Experience especially first-timers.

Quality of the oud instrument

Best oud instruments are mostly made out of ebony. However, other wooden materials like maple, walnut, etc. can also be used. Oud instrument with ebony tuning pegs and fingerboard would be easier to tune and play compared to any other materials. Others are more difficult to tune. 

11 Best Oud Instrument Reviews and the Best Oud Instrument Brands

1) Beginner Turkish Oud “The Turkish Butterfly”

This amazing masterpiece is an intricately designed handmade turkey oud instrument. It has a unique structure and comes with a decorative fingerboard that may get any beginner hooked with fascination.

It comes pre-made with 11 turkey strings but gives users the freedom to tweak the strings as wished. This means that the number of strings can be increased or decreased depending on personal choice.

The Turkish oud may be perfect for beginners as it has lower string action. This implies that there is a small distance between the fingerboard and the strings making it easier to play. It could produce a bright and clear sound with a melodious tune.

Compared to Arabian Oud, it may give a deeper and fuller sound. Though this particular Turkish oud is handmade, the factory made instruments are equally of decent quality. Material suggestion for this oud is mahogany, walnut, and ebony depending on availability.

Therefore, for those that are just getting to know about oud musical instrument, the beginner Turkish butterfly oud may be a great choice when it comes to choosing best oud instrument.

2) Turkish Walnut & Padouk Oud

This Turkish oud is made out of walnut and padouk wood material. This instrument has an excellent sound, and it is very durable in comparison to other Turkish ouds. The oud has a distinctive sound which makes it stand out amongst others.

The dimension is mostly as 32 inches length and 14.5 inches width. The pegs are made out cattle bones which gives it the best durability ever. The instrument also has 11 wooden pegs and 5 courses of strings. Like most Turkish oud, it has three Rosette sound holes which enhances the clarity and richness of the sound.

It produces a very realistic tone; the high notes may get the attention of people around you. The instrument is not too loud nor is it too small to practice different sounds with for beginners or intermediate players.

It works fine, and it remains an inexpensive option to go for when learning for the first time. Whether the player is a first timer or a professional, the Turkish walnut and padouk oud instrument may be one of the best oud instruments to go for.

3) Professional Turkish Oud ” The Turkish Star “

This is a specially made supreme quality Turkish oud for those that know the worth. The instrument comes with an amazing design and texture with a decorative fingerboard and colorful bowl design.

The wood material is mostly mahogany and ebony, and the sound is rich, deep and eccentric. Just like other Turkish ouds, it has a thin soundboard that gives this elegant and sleek music frequency between a high and low range. This Turkish Star oud is a factory made design that may be more efficient than other factory made ouds.

It is durable, can stand the test of time, and is easy to play, and this may make it a great choice for beginners. The device may also be a great choice for professionals as it produces a clear and distinct sound when played. The 11 strings embedded in this masterpiece makes it one of a kind.

People of different experiences and age grades can use the instrument. Most Turkish Star ouds are designed with specifications such as 50cm body length, 37cm width, and 19.5cm neck length. So, any oud player that hasn’t had an experience with Turkish Star may find it easy to adapt to.

4) Turkish Quality Walnut String Instrument Oud

Walnut tree material is one of the best material to use for a musical instrument. It has been in use since ancient times probably because its durability has been tested and guaranteed.

Walnut tree material has great resistance to scratch, wear and tear. So, when a Turkish oud is made of walnut, ultimate perfection is what is to be expected. This particular Turkish quality walnut musical instrument may be a great instrument to use.

The instrument has a total length of 59cm, bowl length of 48cm and width of 37cm. The bowl is made purely from walnut, but the pegs are made from ebony due to its strength. Its sound is nothing short of brightness and clarity with the frequency ranging between high and medium.

Likewise, it is quite affordable and easy to maintain. In fact, players may get a good deal if this masterpiece is purchased. Due to its versatility and durability, it may be suitable for those playing oud for the first time as well those that have been playing for a while. The instrument can be played and enjoyed by kids, adults, families, and friends.

5) Black electric frame oud

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This beautiful rich black piece was handcrafted in the ancient city of Egypt. One unique thing about this musical instrument is that it has a blend of both western and Eastern culture. Meaning it can be used in an eastern and Eastern setting whenever required.

As an electric oud, it just needs to be plugged into an electric socket and get excellent playability and sound. This black electric frame is slightly smaller and deeper than other Turkish oud musical instruments. This particular model is designed with a Soho Piezo ceramic design and a 4-band equalizer alongside volume control and a low battery indicator.

The body and fingerboard are made of hardwood then finished with catalyzed polyurethane. It can come with 12 strings or tuners, but this particular design has 11 strings, which is how most Turkish ouds are made.

The beautiful melodious sound that emerges from this piece has more than three octaves. It may be a good instrument for the professionals as newbies might have a tough time getting along with it.

6) Mid-East Egyptian Oud Sheesham Round Wood

This is also an oud with an Egyptian origin. The body is made out of sheesham round Wood while the octave is made out of rosewood with a teardrop shape. The instrument also has three spruce soundboard holes, which give its memorable high-quality sound.

Those three holes also come with an inlay decoration. The dimension is most commonly 34.5 inches total length with 15.8 inches breath. It has a shorter sound compared to other ouds because most Egyptians prefer their instruments like that.

The Sheesham round Wood used for this piece makes it very durable and scratch resistant. This means it has a longer lifespan compared to other ouds. The mid-east Egyptian oud may be a great instrument for beginners as it has easy playability.

The instrument may also perfect for professionals as it produces a very rich quality sound when played. It has a high resonance, a good volume, and tone. Players can always think of this Egyptian oud as a decent instrument whenever the feeling of playing any string instrument comes around.

7) Professional Turkish Flat Oud ” The Shine Star “

Professionals and those that have had previous experiences in playing oud instrument may find this particular Turkish oud fascinating. The shine Star professional Turkish flat oud comes with a fantastic design and texture.

With great fingerboard decoration and beautiful color design, this masterpiece may give any player great satisfaction. With its sleek and thin soundboard, it gives a sustainable and unique sound tone. Also, it came with 11 strings that can be tuned between low to high strings. Because of its smaller sound holes, Turkish sound is embedded with awesome brightness and clarity that can go a step higher than any other oud instrument.

The distance between the fingerboard and the strings is larger than that of beginner Turkish butterfly oud. This makes it not too suitable for beginners as it requires some level of experience and expertise, but it may be perfect for professionals. When it comes to class, beauty, reliability, efficiency, and quality, this oud instrument may be ideal.

8) Oud, Turkish, Electric Std

This is also a brand of Turkish oud except it comes with a slight difference. The instrument comes in a unique teardrop shape, and it is electric. The instrument’s amazing drop shape can come in different wood materials like African wood, mahogany, walnut, etc.

In addition, with the presence of three small Rosette holes, this produces a deep, rich, and amazing musical tone. It may be more suitable for professionals than beginners as it has higher string action. This electric Turkish oud also comes with 11 strings that can be tuned between low and high strings.

When it comes to quality sound and playability, this electric oud instrument may be a good option. However, if the classic traditional warm sound is what is desired, this might not be a great choice. This Turkish oud gives a kind of electric sound. But compared to other electric ouds, this particular one comes with a deep and more traditional sound.

Therefore, for the younger age group, this type of oud might be a greater choice compared to other classical types. However, it might not be a perfect choice for the older generation due to its electric attributes.

9) Classic Egyptian Deluxe Oud

There is nothing more satisfying than a beautiful melodious sound from an amazing instrument. For a classical and heartwarming tune, nothing can take the place of a Classic Egyptian Deluxe Oud.

This type of Arabian oud has a romantic tune to it. The sound it produces is well balanced and deep. This particular one comes with 11 nylon strings which can be adjusted on the hardwood. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of users.

10) Halabi Rosewood oud

This unique oud instrument got its inspiration from the ancient Syrian culture. The device is a beautiful masterpiece that produces a delicate, rich tone. As a finely constructed musical instrument, it gives an amazing sound similar to that of a violin.

As one of the best Iranian oud instrument, it has a five-course tuning. When looking for a unique and different feel of music different from the normal oud sound, the Halabi rosewood oud may be a perfect choice. The most common dimension is 34.5 inches body length with 15.9 inches width, which is meticulously designed with a mahogany wood stapled with dark oak tree material.

The instrument may be suitable for beginners as well as professionals because the 12 strings attached can be adjusted as desired. It can be played for recreational purposes or serious business.

Halabi rosewood oud may also be a good way to get started on the oldest string instrument known in modern times. However, it is advised that the strings be changed after purchase because it might not be as durable as it is required due to transporting damages.

11) Egyptian mosaic oud

This also has the classic teardrop shape with the bowl and neck made with solid staves. The artistry of this piece is one of a kind. The back is designed with simulated Mother of Pearl inlay. The instrument has three sound holes, which are also rimmed with this simulated Mother of Pearl.

The device has 12 strings in six courses, which are made out of nylon materials. It comes with 32 inches length and 15 inches width. With a weight of fewer than 13 pounds, it is quite movable and easy to carry. This instrument may be perfect for those aspiring to experience the beautiful art of oud.

Therefore, whether the player is just starting out or has been playing for some time, this musical instrument may be right for any situation. The device has an outstanding artisanship as well as a deep resonating tone. Novices can have a good time learning and practicing with this musical instrument.

Like every other oud, it is advised that the strings be changed after purchasing it. Because the strings are easily oxidized which may lead to poor sound quality. Therefore, any passionate oud instrument player should acquire the skills of changing oud strings.

Choosing the Best Oud Instrument from the Best Oud Instrument Brands

Purchasing the best oud instrument can be a great source of entertainment for anyone who decides to have an awesome musical experience. Eventually, it might be easier for oud players to get a sentimental attachment to the musical instrument as it can get addictive with time.

Therefore, when buying one, it is important to take care to get the suitable ones. According to the reviews done above, it is obvious that some oud types are more suitable for beginners than others are.

Whether the purchase is to be done online or through other methods, various aspects of the oud to be purchased such as the type, the length, the weight, the type of material used and the quality of strings used on it should all be considered.

Narrowing down the decision for the oud instrument to be purchased can start from deciding whether a Turkish, Arab, Egyptian, Iraqi, Iranian or electric type is desired. Then, the decision of whether romantic Middle Eastern tone or eccentric western tone is desired is to be considered next. This will make two options, and the player can proceed from there to pick whatever he or she wants to buy by inspecting their details.

Inspection of potential purchase for cracks or faults in their design and body is paramount. Most of the times, scratches and a little wear and tear on the outer surface does not in any way reduce or diminish the quality of sound. However, a slight crack in any oud will significantly deteriorate the sound quality.

Then lastly, oud instruments require constant changing of strings to keep the sound quality in check. It is advised that depending on usage, oud strings should be changed every three months for light usage or every month for heavy usage. It is therefore important that all oud players know how to change strings.