Musical instrument question

[Tusky]

Does anyone happen to know what the instrument is that forms the main motif in this song?

Also is it the same instrument that they are using at the beginning of this song (about 10 secs in)?

My best guess is either a lute or an oud

[Jubal]

I'll try and remember to have a listen when I get home - if I can't work it out I can probably find a specialist to help, I know at least one person who plays reconstructed medieval music plus a lot of folk and celtic musicians

[Tusky]

That would be amazing if you would be able to find it out

It's something I've wondered for ages, and isn't the kind of thing you can find on the internet!

[Jubal]

My inexpert guess is that it might actually be a sitar - have a listen to this for comparison:

[comrade_general]

Woo! Now do Free Bird!

[Tusky]

Yes that is a good call. Could be a Sitar.

HOWEVER! I have been doing extensive sleuthing (when I probably should have been working). First I asked a musician friend of mine who said:

no idea tbh, there are so many different pluck instruments in each culture. For example - in russian - we have Balalika
[...] I've purchased an OUD library [...] For my ears, oud is a bit lower But it all sounds very close

So not much clarity there. Although he said maybe oud.

I then looked into some interviews with the band concerned with the second video I posted. this one mentions an oud explicitly.

There's some decent guitar and keyboard solos sprinkled about, but it's the oud and other Arabian instruments that garner the most attention.

So I suppose the short list is oud, sitar and "other arabian instruments"...

[Silver Wolf]

Here's my small contribution:
This reminds me of Percival from the Witcher III soundtrack.

And they use long-necked lute (saz or Bağlama), byzantine lyra (rebec), drums and flutes.

[Jubal]

I mean, yeah, I guess if you wanted a similar effect there's a range of instruments you could use. I think lutes/lyres tended to traditionally have gut strings, whereas sitars traditionally have metal?

[Tusky]

Got an answer! (that's my friend asking on my behalf)

[comrade_general]

Awesome doot! Heard from the legend himself!

Also your friend seems nice

[Silver Wolf]

Yep, I never would have guessed that.