Buy Oud Instrument in USA
Looking to buy an oud instrument in the USA? You are in the right place, and to be clear, this is the musical instrument: the fretless, short-necked lute at the heart of Arabic, Turkish and Persian music, not oud perfume or fragrance oil. At Sala Muzik we source and set up the full oud family, from Arabic and Turkish to Syrian, Iraqi and electric, handpicked from Istanbul luthiers we have worked with since 2009, every instrument inspected and tuned before it ships. We deliver across the United States, and you can also play instruments in person at our Hollywood, Los Angeles showroom.
Quick picks by player type
Oud instrument, not oud perfume
Because the word "oud" is shared, US search results mix two very different things. Oud (the instrument) is a wooden, pear-shaped, fretless stringed lute, usually 11 strings in six courses, played across the Middle East, Turkey and the Balkans. Oud (the fragrance) is agarwood resin used in perfumery. Everything on this page is the instrument: something you play, not something you wear. If you landed here looking for the lute, keep reading.
The oud family: pick your regional sound
"Oud" covers several regional traditions. Body size, scale length and tuning change the tone and the music each one is built for. Browse by type:
Arabic vs Turkish oud: which one to start with?
The two main oud traditions sound and feel different. An Arabic oud is larger and tuned lower for a deep, full voice; a Turkish oud is slightly smaller and tuned about a step higher, giving a brighter, more articulate tone. Choose by the music you want to play.
| Feature | Arabic Oud | Turkish Oud |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Larger bowl | Slightly smaller bowl |
| Tuning | Lower, deeper | About a step higher |
| Tone | Deep, full, bassy | Bright, focused, articulate |
| Scale length | Longer (~60-62 cm) | Shorter (~58-59 cm) |
| Best for | Arabic maqam, classical takht | Turkish classical and folk |
Full breakdown in our blog: Choosing the Right Oud.
Buying an oud in the USA: shipping, delivery & support
We ship ouds across the United States. Many popular models dispatch from our US-side stock for faster delivery, while others ship directly from our Istanbul workshop, with the carrier and delivery timeframe shown at checkout. Because it is a domestic delivery, US orders arrive without import customs surprises. Prefer to try before you buy? You can visit our Hollywood showroom at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 125, Los Angeles, CA 90028 and play instruments in person. Every oud is strung, set up and inspected by our specialists before dispatch, backed by a 1-year warranty and 10-day returns.
What makes a quality oud
Four things separate a starter oud from a professional instrument: tonewoods, the bowl, the fretless neck, and setup.
- Tonewoods: a solid spruce face over a walnut or mahogany bowl resonates far better than laminate; tight, even grain matters more than a flawless look.
- The bowl: built from many thin ribs. Clean, gapless joinery and consistent rib colour are the marks of careful work and long-term stability.
- Fretless fingerboard: usually ebony, and it must be true and smooth. With no frets to hide an uneven neck, the fingerboard quality directly shapes intonation.
- Pegs and setup: smooth, well-fitted ebony pegs hold tune, and accurate string action makes the oud comfortable to play. Every oud we ship is set up and tuned first.
Read more: oud buying guide.
A short history
The oud's name comes from the Arabic al-ud, meaning "the wood." Its ancestors reach back to ancient Mesopotamia and Persia, but the instrument as we know it took shape across the medieval Arab world and travelled with it: east into Persia and Anatolia, west through North Africa into Andalusian Spain, where it became the direct ancestor of the European lute. For centuries it has been the lead voice of the Arabic takht ensemble and Turkish classical music, and twentieth-century masters such as Serif Muhiddin Targan and Munir Bashir reshaped it as a solo concert instrument.
FAQ
Is this the oud instrument or oud perfume?
This page is entirely about the oud instrument, the fretless, pear-shaped stringed lute played in Arabic, Turkish and Persian music. It is not oud perfume, fragrance oil or agarwood. Everything listed here is a playable musical instrument.
How much does an oud cost in the USA?
A reliable, well-set-up beginner oud starts around $350-$450. Electric and silent ouds sit near $700, and professional, master-built instruments from named luthiers run roughly $1,900-$2,500 and above. Every tier at Sala Muzik is inspected and tuned before shipping.
Do you ship ouds within the United States, and how long does it take?
Yes. We ship ouds across the US; many popular models dispatch from US-side stock for faster delivery, while others ship from our Istanbul workshop. The exact carrier and delivery timeframe are shown at checkout, and domestic US orders arrive without import customs.
Can I visit a store and try an oud in person in the USA?
Yes. You can visit our Hollywood showroom at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 125, Los Angeles, CA 90028 to play ouds and other instruments in person before buying. If you cannot visit, our specialists can help you choose by email.
Which oud is best for a beginner?
A well-set-up handmade oud around $399, such as the Arabic Handmade Walnut Oud AAO-108, is ideal. Because the oud is fretless, a comfortable action and accurate setup matter more than decoration, so a properly inspected beginner oud is easier and more rewarding to learn on than a cheap unset one.
Should I buy an Arabic or a Turkish oud?
Choose by the tradition you want to play. An Arabic oud is larger and tuned lower for a deep, full sound suited to Arabic maqam music; a Turkish oud is smaller and tuned about a step higher for a brighter, more articulate tone suited to Turkish repertoire. Neither is harder to learn; the choice is musical.
Will my oud arrive tuned and ready to play?
Every oud is strung, set up and inspected before dispatch, but a stringed instrument rarely holds its tuning through shipping, because string tension shifts in transit, so it will almost always arrive out of tune. Re-tuning on arrival is normal and is not a fault or shipping damage; see our oud tuning guide.