Looking for Oud for Beginner - Bay Area, CA

Greetings,

I'm currently situated in the South Bay Area, California.
I'm looking for a good Oud for a beginner. As most people know, the Economy is tough right now, so I'm limited on budget, but if something really great came along, I'd be more than happy to shell out the extra dough.

I'm looking to play Arabic style Oud, and would prefer to get my hands on anything from Syria/Egypt etc. Not interested in Turkish Ouds at the moment.

I'm more in to simplicity, and not really seeking anything to swanky or fancy. A basic wooden finish and look is very appealing to me

Thank you for your time, and help!
Feel free to e-mail me if its easier: nikolaus.bartunek@gmail.com