Sacit Gurel Oud (2003), black gig bag case.

Sacit Gurel Oud (2003), made in Istanbul, Turkey, natural finish, maple and rosewood bowl, spruce top; laminated maple and rosewood neck with ebony fingerboard, black gig bag case.

This beautifully crafted oud was made in Istanbul in 2003 by Sacit Gurel, a master Turkish luthier well known for his high grade traditional stringed instruments. His workshop Sacit Gurel Muzik Aletleri Yapim Merkezi in Istanbul specializes in the traditional Turkish instruments the tanbur, oud and lavta. Established in 1989, his shop is very highly regarded for the highest grade handmade instruments, played by prominent Turkish classical musicians and virtuosos both in Turkey and internationally.

This is a fairly simple but beautifully made oud with very clean lines. The bowl and neck are constructed from alternating maple and rosewood strips, the fingerboard is rosewood. The three-soundhole top is very tight-grained spruce, left unfinished as is traditional with these instruments. We don't have any good oud players on staff, but it sounds great to us!

Overall length is 29 in. (73.7 cm.), 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm.) across at the widest point, and 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) deep. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/16 in. (36 mm.).

This Oud shows some very light play wear but appears not much used with no notable damage or repair. There is some discoloration to the soundhole insets but no deterioration. It is a fine playing and sounding instrument, a professional quality instrument far superior to the tourist grade ouds often sold in the US. It is supplied in a modern gig bag. Overall Excellent + Condition.