Choosing a Turkish oud for professional performance is different from buying an oud simply to begin learning the instrument.

Faruk Türünz has been making ouds in Istanbul since 1984. His approach combines traditional oud craftsmanship with long-term experimentation in soundboard construction, brace tuning and acoustic design.

A professional player normally knows what he or she wants from an oud: a particular tuning, response, tonal character, projection, articulation and playing feel. At this level, the question is not simply which oud is the most expensive. The more useful question is:

What Makes a Turkish Oud Suitable for a Professional Player?
A professional Turkish oud needs to respond predictably to the player's technique.Turkish makam music can demand very precise articulation, rapid passages and a highly responsive instrument. For this reason, many Turkish oud players look for an instrument that responds quickly to the risha, separates notes clearly and does not feel slow under the right hand.These characteristics are influenced by many parts of the instrument. The soundboard, bracing, bowl construction, neck geometry, bridge, strings and setup all work together. It is therefore difficult to identify the quality of an oud simply by looking at its bowl wood or decoration.