Description
The Arabic Oud Maple (Mat) is a handcrafted arabic oud built by master luthier Ahmet Topan at his workshop in Izmir, Turkey. With a maple bowl, spruce soundboard, and ebony pegs, this matte-finish instrument delivers the warm, full-bodied resonance characteristic of the Arabic tradition: well-suited to maqam practice, taqsim improvisation, and ensemble work. Each oud passes individual quality control at Tapadum’s Izmir workshop, overseen by our strings specialist Sertan Sarioglu, before leaving for our Brisighella, Italy showroom.
Maple Bowl Construction — The bowl is shaped from carefully selected maple staves, joined with traditional rib construction. Maple’s even density and crisp tonal response give the instrument a balanced low-mid presence that anchors maqam phrasing without muddying the bass register. The bowl dimensions — 51 cm length, 38.5 cm width, 19.5 cm depth — follow the Arabic standard of a larger, deeper body compared to the Turkish oud, producing the warmer voice and stronger bass response that defines Arabic classical practice. The 60 cm nut-to-bridge scale is sized for the standard 11-string configuration in fourths tuning.
Spruce Soundboard — A spruce top sits over the maple bowl, transmitting string vibration with clarity and projection. Spruce’s stiffness-to-weight ratio favors quick response and overtone definition — essential for the rhythmic risha (plectrum) articulation that drives Arabic ensemble playing. The matte finish across body and neck reduces glare and gives the wood a soft, hand-finished feel that ages naturally with playing. Ebony pegs and fingerboard complete the instrument: ebony’s hardness and stability hold tuning across the fretless playing surface required for quarter-tone slides and maqam ornamentation.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Ahmet Topan |
| Origin | Izmir, Turkey |
| Bowl | Maple |
| Top | Spruce |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Pegs | Ebony |
| Strings | Kürschner (Arabic set) |
| Nut to Bridge (Scale) | 60 cm |
| Bowl Length | 51 cm |
| Bowl Width | 38.5 cm |
| Bowl Depth | 19.5 cm |
| Finish | Matte |
| Configuration | 11 strings (5 double + 1 single, fourths tuning) |
| Tuning | C–F–A–D–G–C (low to high) |
| Player Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
Who This Oud Is For — The Arabic Oud Maple (Mat) suits beginners and intermediate players looking for a serious Arabic-tradition instrument that grows with them. It is well-suited to musicians beginning their journey in Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi maqam repertoire, as well as intermediate players developing taqsim solo improvisation, ensemble playing, or vocal accompaniment. The matte finish and full-size Arabic dimensions are forgiving enough for learning while still rewarding developed technique. Players seeking the brighter Turkish oud voice should see our Turkish Oud collection for that tradition.
Musical Traditions and Repertoire — The Arabic oud occupies the harmonic and rhythmic foundation of Arab classical music, from the muwashshah and longa forms of Levantine ensemble work to Egyptian film music, contemporary Arab fusion, and modern crossover projects. The fretless fingerboard supports the microtonal slides and quarter-tones that define maqam practice (Rast, Bayati, Hijaz, Sika, and beyond). The maple-spruce voicing of this particular oud lends itself well to recording: an even bass register, controlled overtones, and a top that projects without harshness.
Care and Maintenance — Keep the oud at moderate humidity (45–55%) to prevent stress on the maple bowl seams. Clean the soundboard with a soft dry cloth after playing; avoid solvents or polish on the matte finish. Loosen strings before long-term storage. The Kürschner string set holds its tonal character for several months of regular playing before replacement.
Hear It in Action
Watch a recorded demonstration of this Arabic oud:
Tune It Yourself with the Tapadum Tuner
Our free in-browser tuner includes a built-in Arabic oud preset with the standard C–F–A–D–G–C tuning. It’s a Progressive Web App (PWA) — tap “Add to Home Screen” in your browser to install it on your phone for offline use, with no App Store or Play Store required. Works in any modern browser.
Each Arabic oud from our Arabic Oud collection is individually inspected at our Izmir workshop and shipped from our Brisighella, Italy showroom.
