The Turkish Oud Soul of Ottoman Music
Authentic Turkish ouds built by master luthiers — for players who refuse to compromise on tone, tradition, or craft.
Turkish Oud
The Turkish oud is one of the oldest and most revered stringed instruments in the world — a fretless, pear-shaped lute whose voice has echoed through Ottoman palaces, Mediterranean courtyards, and modern concert halls for centuries.
Unlike its Arabic counterpart, the Turkish oud is distinguished by a shorter scale length, higher string tension, and a brighter, more piercing tone. Its 11 strings — arranged in six courses — allow players to navigate the intricate microtonal world of maqam music with an expressiveness no fretted instrument can match.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned musician seeking a professional-grade instrument, our collection offers the finest handcrafted Turkish ouds made by Istanbul's most respected luthiers.
Turkish Oud Instrument
Every element of the Turkish oud is shaped for one purpose — expressive, soulful music that transcends language.
Pear-Shaped Body
The iconic rounded body amplifies warm, resonant tones. Bent wooden ribs — steam-shaped by hand — form its signature silhouette.
Fretless Neck
No frets means no limits. The fretless fingerboard unlocks microtonal expression essential for authentic maqam performance.
Spruce Soundboard
Aged European spruce tops deliver clarity and warmth. Paired with walnut or rosewood ribs for a balanced tonal palette.
Bright Turkish Tone
Shorter scale length and higher tension give the Turkish oud its distinctive bright, singing voice — perfect for fast melodic runs.
Master Luthiers
Each oud is built by craftsmen who trained in Istanbul's historic workshops, carrying forward centuries of Ottoman instrument-making.
Play-Tested Always
Every instrument is strung, tuned, and played by a musician before it leaves our workshop. If it doesn't sing, it goes back to the bench.
Select Your Instrument
Classic Istanbul
Walnut body, spruce soundboard — rich, warm tone for maqam masters.
Ottoman Rosewood
Rosewood ribs meet a cedar soundboard for brilliant projection and depth.
Concert Grade
Master-level instrument for stage performance and studio recording.
Beginner Select
Stable tuning, laminated construction — the ideal first Turkish oud.
Oud Turkish Instrument
The oud is older than notation itself. Long before the guitar or lute, this instrument was the heartbeat of Silk Road civilisations — carried by merchants, played in palaces, and sung over by poets from Baghdad to Constantinople.
In Turkey, the oud found its most refined form. Ottoman court musicians elevated it into an instrument of extraordinary complexity, developing the maqam system — a vast library of melodic modes — that gives the Turkish oud its inexhaustible expressive depth.
Today, our Istanbul luthiers keep this legacy alive. Every oud we sell is a living link to six centuries of musical heritage, built for the hands of the next generation.
Turkish Oud Tuning
Standard C Tuning · Low to High
The single low C course (string 1) is unique to Turkish oud. The full sequence is C · C · F · A · D · G · c from lowest to highest.
Tuning is the gateway to the Turkish oud's expressive world. While the standard "C tuning" (C–F–A–D–G–c) is the most common starting point, skilled players adjust their tuning constantly to suit different maqams and musical contexts.
Getting your oud in tune requires patience — wooden friction pegs respond differently to temperature and humidity. Most players rely on a clip-on electronic tuner, especially at first, and retune before every session.
Standard C Tuning
C · F · A · D · G · c — the most common Turkish tuning, ideal for beginners and most maqam pieces.
D Tuning (Alternative)
D · G · B · E · A · d — used by some Turkish players for a brighter tonal character and easier maqam Rast positions.
Maqam-Specific Retuning
Advanced players retune individual courses to access microtones outside standard pitch — the ultimate expression of the oud's flexibility.
How Every Oud Is Made
Wood Selection
Aged spruce, walnut, and rosewood are hand-selected for grain stability and resonance before a single cut is made.
Steam Bending
The body's ribs are steam-bent by hand into their curved form — a technique unchanged since the Ottoman workshops of Eminönü.
Soundboard Carving
The spruce top is carved and internally braced to control bass, mid, and treble response — this is where tone lives.
Rosette Inlay
Intricate decorative rosettes are fitted by hand — both an acoustic necessity and a mark of the luthier's artistry.
Setup & Play-Test
Every oud is strung, tuned, and played for tone before leaving the workshop. No instrument ships without our musician's approval.
Voices Around the World
The tone is extraordinary — warm, bright, and so responsive. My Istanbul Classic has completely transformed my maqam practice.
Arrived perfectly set up and ready to play. The craftsmanship is immediately apparent the moment you hold it in your hands.
I've tried many ouds over 20 years of playing. Nothing at this price point comes close. Worth every single penny.
Your Oud Is
Waiting for You
Browse our handcrafted collection — from student first instruments to concert-grade masterpieces.