Description
This wenge Arabic oud pairs a dense wenge bowl with a Canadian red cedar soundboard, delivering the focused midrange and warm sustain that Arabic maqam performance calls for. What sets this instrument apart from its sibling model is the soundboard itself: the front features a diagonal three-hole rosette arrangement — the center rosette and two flanking oval soundholes set along an angled, asymmetric line rather than a level row — a hand-cut decorative signature unique to this build, while the tonal recipe underneath stays the same proven pairing.
Materials — Wenge Bowl, Cedar Top
The bowl is built from wenge, a dense, stiff hardwood that gives the oud a brighter, more controlled voice with tight, well-defined bass — more articulate than a maple or walnut bowl on comparable builds. The Canadian red cedar soundboard responds quickly under the plectrum and adds the warm sustain cedar is prized for, balancing the wenge bowl’s clarity with a singing decay through long taqsim phrases.
Fingerboard, Bridge & the Diagonal Rosette
Fingerboard and pegs are ebony, chosen for hardness, smooth feel, and tuning stability across the fretless neck. The bridge is fixed — glued directly to the soundboard — for a stable, consistent response and settled string height, the traditional Arabic setup and the lower-maintenance of the two bridge styles. Eleven Kürschner Premium strings are strung in five double courses plus a single bass string, tuned Do–Do (C–C). The angled rosette is a hand-cut detail that varies slightly from instrument to instrument in this collection — part of what makes each handcrafted Tapadum Sultan Collection oud individual.
Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Collection | Tapadum Sultan Collection |
| Origin | Handcrafted in İzmir, Turkey |
| Bowl | Wenge |
| Soundboard | Canadian Red Cedar |
| Fingerboard / Pegs | Ebony |
| Bridge | Fixed (glued) |
| Strings | 11 (Kürschner Premium) |
| Tuning | Do–Do (C–C) |
| Body Length | 49 cm (19.3 in) |
| Fingerboard Length | 19.5 cm (7.7 in) |
| Scale Length | 58.5 cm (23 in) |
| Depth | 19 cm (7.5 in) |
| Neck Width | 3.8–5.6 cm (1.5–2.2 in) |
Who This Oud Suits
This oud suits intermediate and professional players working in Arabic maqam repertoire, where its articulate midrange rewards developed right-hand technique. Committed beginners who want an instrument to grow into will also find the fixed bridge and stable ebony pegs forgiving to live with.
Maqam & Ensemble Fit
Voiced for taqsim improvisation, ensemble accompaniment, and solo maqam work across the Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi traditions, the wenge bowl’s controlled low end keeps ensemble passages clear without crowding other voices, while the cedar top’s sustain lets long melodic phrases breathe. Pair it with a matching Kürschner Arabic oud string set when restringing.
Care & Maintenance
Store away from direct heat and rapid humidity changes, loosening string tension slightly during extended storage. Wipe the cedar soundboard with a soft, dry cloth after playing to keep the diagonal rosette detail free of dust. Because the bridge is fixed, string height stays consistent without the periodic adjustments a mobile bridge requires.
Explore the full Arabic Oud collection at Tapadum, or read more about the instrument’s history on Wikipedia. Worldwide shipping & 15-day return.
