Mike's Oud Forums

1000$ Oud

Hasan - 12-10-2014 at 11:43 PM

hello friends
it seems that a 1000$ cant get you a good new oud anymore.
i contacted few makers and their prices exceed 1k by far.

any ideas? (Arabic or Turkish doesn't matter)
many thanks

SamirCanada - 12-11-2014 at 06:17 AM

You are right, if you just take averaged inflation rates in consideration.

A 1000$ oud in the year 2000 is now $1400 approximately.

But really the price of everything has gone up over the years in different rates, the woods are more expensive due to shipping and scarcity, the costs of living etc... so no its not unbelievable.

John Erlich - 12-11-2014 at 09:44 AM

My sense is that the cheapest professional-quality Arabic ouds available were those of Sukkar. My understanding is that Ibrahim Sukkar's workshop was destroyed in the Syrian Civil War ( http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=13978 ), which may in and of itself had a significant impact on the price. I also gleaned from my conversations with Maurice Shehata in Cairo (in 2000, before he had a significant Web presence) that he travelled frequently to the Gulf States, where he gets top dirham (or whatever), to sell his ouds. In this light, I suspect the price of ouds has also been affected by the fact that Arab and Turkish oud builders are more internet savvy today than they were a decade ago, and are more able to sell instruments to folks living in the affluent West.

Jason - 12-11-2014 at 04:41 PM

I think it is important to remember just how 'cheap' a professional oud still is in comparison to other instruments though. Compare the price of a top tier luthier (Ghadban, Shehata, Turunz, etc.) oud versus a jazz guitar, bass, violin, or mandolin of the same level.

But yes, the prices have increased over the years just like with everything else.

slackandsteel - 12-11-2014 at 05:05 PM

I got a very nice, well made Turkish "standard" model from Bulent Eryalman for considerably less than $1000 and that included shipping. He built the oud for me (it wasn't off the rack) and even made some small mods I requested for no charge. Super nice guy, great communication, very easy to work with, honest. He does beautiful work.

http://www.bulenteryalman.com

slackandsteel - 12-11-2014 at 05:07 PM

I got a very nice, well made Turkish "standard" model from Bulent Eryalman for considerably less than $1000 and that included shipping. He built the oud for me (it wasn't off the rack) and even made some small mods I requested for no charge. Super nice guy, great communication, very easy to work with, honest. He does beautiful work.

http://www.bulenteryalman.com

Jody Stecher - 12-11-2014 at 07:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by slackandsteel  
I got a very nice, well made Turkish "standard" model from Bulent Eryalman for considerably less than $1000 and that included shipping. He built the oud for me (it wasn't off the rack) and even made some small mods I requested for no charge. Super nice guy, great communication, very easy to work with, honest. He does beautiful work.

[url]http://www.bulenteryalman.com
[/url]

I have played several Bulent Eryalman ouds and i agree with slackandsteel's assessment. The price is low but the oud is in no way "cheap". The materials and the workmanship is of high quality. And they play and sound well.

suz_i_dil - 12-12-2014 at 03:32 AM

I have tried a Bulent Eryalman oud and it was a great instrument Indeed.
As a few others tracks check the works of Zaher Khalifa (Syria), Huosain Sabsaby (Syria), Belhaiba or Majid Atik (Morocco), Huseyin Aktel (Turkey).
There should be others makers but at least a few trustful names I know who may fit your needs
Regards

spyblaster - 12-12-2014 at 04:42 AM

You can also buy a nice oud from masoud aghamohamadi, Iran.
Generally you can still buy nice ouds at this price if u dont care about the name written on it.

RonPeL - 12-12-2014 at 04:53 AM

Echoing suz-i-dil's comment, Majid Atik made me a custom oud during my stay (for work) in Morocco. A lovely instrument for about $1200, including soft case. Well worth it!!

danieletarab - 12-12-2014 at 06:52 AM

Yes, oud prices are MUCH cheaper than other handmade instruments. When I show my Reduced price Turunz to Italian luthiers (guitar or violin makers) they are amazed by the price. They say that if they were to make something like that (of course thay can't!) they would sell it for at least 5000 euro.
Let's go into the topyc: if you go TURKISH, you can find lots of good deals under 1000 dollars. Of course, if you lived in Istanbul and you could save 300 dollars more you could go for a reduced price Turunz.
But Ali Nisadir in Istanbul build also great instruments for ridicolous prices. 6 years ago I bought a mounir banshir model from him, and it was something like 500 euro.
If you don't have preferences of style, definitely go TURKISH! Turkish made ouds in that price range are much better than arabic (to my experience at least)

Brian Prunka - 12-12-2014 at 05:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Hasan  

any ideas?


Rob a bank?

Don Z - 12-13-2014 at 02:55 PM

Salih Bilgi has some nice instruments in that range.

Hasan - 12-13-2014 at 10:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Brian Prunka  
Quote: Originally posted by Hasan  

any ideas?


Rob a bank?

or rob mr. Turunz workshop instead?





selam usta Faruk :wavey:








Hasan - 12-13-2014 at 10:40 PM



Thank you for your input and suggestions

* yes SamirCanada 1400$ is common now and with hardcase+ shipping cost jumps to around 1800, and - god forbid- if you ask for any modifications the price jumps to sky. i'm crying as i type this. have a nice day.


*Sukars are decent I have model 1 but after trying few higher end ouds with better sound and playability i'm not able to relax or sleep with my sukar anymore ...


*i will check Bulent ouds.

* suz_i_dil - i contacted sabsaby. i like some of his oud in his vidos. i think his prices now start at 1500 with shipping. not 100% sure

* spyblaster - buying from distance is a bit risky. with known makers i think its much easier to predict the work and quality.


Hasan - 12-13-2014 at 10:52 PM

i contacted several turkish oud makers for the past week.
biggest problem was language.
many of good Turkish luthiers don't speak English or Arabic. i think few of them don't speak Turkish as well.. i used google translate, they used google translate, we ended talking about different subjects
- how much is your oud?
- weather is very nice today let's have tea outdoors

slackandsteel - 12-14-2014 at 09:34 AM

Bulent Eryalman speaks very good English.

Hasan - 12-14-2014 at 09:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by slackandsteel  
Bulent Eryalman speaks very good English.

yes
called him yesterday
he told me he needs 6 months to make the oud.
other makers promised to deliver the oud in 30-45 days, 8 weeks max (Ender). few makers have 1 or 2 ouds ready for immediate delivery if i like the looks and sound.

Luttgutt - 12-16-2014 at 11:48 AM

I heard so many times on Mike Oud now.. that is comparing prices of guitars to ouds.

It is like saying a chewing gum should cost 4$ in turky because it costs 4$ in Norway. This does not make sense!

Prices and salaries in countries where ouds are usually made CANNOT be compaired to prices where guitar is usually made.

So if I may ask: How much does Mr. Turunz pay his workers? How much does he pay for a chewing gum?