The electric saz baglama is the 20th-century evolution of Turkey's national string instrument β an instrument designed from the ground up around a built-in pickup so it can hold its own on a loud stage. Unlike an acoustic saz with a clip-on microphone, a true electric saz resists feedback, sits cleanly in a band mix and gives the player a direct signal into an amp, mixing desk or audio interface. Sala Muzik has been shipping electric saz models from Istanbul since 2009, and this collection brings together hollow-body electroacoustics, solid flat-body stage instruments, double-neck designs, specialty caglama models and modern models with built-in effects and rhythm tracks.
Quick recommendation
If you mainly play at home or small acoustic settings but want the option to plug in, choose a hollow-body electroacoustic like the Dest W2 ($499). If you play on stage with drums and bass, a solid flat-body such as the SQR-402 ($799) will give you feedback-free volume. For built-in features, the RT1 ($699) with rhythm tracks or the MES-4 ($1499) with on-board reverb, chorus and delay are popular choices.
Quick picks by use case
Best entry electric
Long Neck Electric Saz Dest W2
$499 Β· hollow-body, traditional look with pickup
Best for stage
Professional Flat Electric SQR-402
$799 Β· solid flat-body, no feedback at high volume
Body styles β which design is right for you?
Electric saz instruments come in five broad body styles, and the right one depends almost entirely on how loud the room is and what you want to do with the signal. The table below summarises the differences.
| Body style | Look & feel | Best for | Trade-off | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow-body electroacoustic | Looks like a traditional long-neck baglama with a pear-shaped resonance chamber; built-in pickup and 1/4" jack | Home players who want one instrument that works unplugged and plugged-in for cafe, fasil and small acoustic gigs | Can feed back at high stage volume next to drums | $499 β $749 |
| Solid flat-body | Guitar-style flat solid body, no resonance chamber, pure pickup signal | Loud stages, folk-rock, arabesque touring acts, anything with full drum kit | Very quiet unplugged β you must plug in to hear it properly | $799 β $1499 |
| Built-in effects / rhythms | Electric saz with on-board reverb, chorus, delay or rhythm tracks & speaker | Solo performers, practice sessions, players who want an all-in-one instrument | Adds weight and complexity; fewer parts you can swap later | $699 β $1499 |
| Double-neck | Two necks on one body β usually one acoustic & one electric, or short-neck & long-neck | Working pros who switch tone or tuning mid-set without changing instruments | Heavier; higher price; longer learning curve | $1999 β $2999 |
| Caglama | Specialty professional saz model built by signature makers | Advanced players, soloists and signature-model collectors | Specialist instrument; not for beginners; limited availability | $1999+ |
What makes a quality electric saz
An electric saz is part instrument and part electronic device, so quality lives in both halves. When we curate models for Sala Muzik we look at six things.
1. Pickup type and placement
Most electric saz models use either a piezo pickup mounted under the bridge or a magnetic pickup positioned near the strings. Piezo systems capture the natural resonance of the body and sound more like a miked acoustic; magnetic pickups give a tighter, more focused tone that handles distortion and stage volume better. Hollow-body electroacoustics typically use piezo; solid flat-body models lean magnetic. Pickup placement and shielding determine how clean the signal is at high gain.
2. Electronics & output jack
Look for a properly recessed 1/4" (6.35 mm) output jack with a strap pin built into the same housing, a passive or active volume control that doesn't introduce hiss, and clean solder joints inside the control cavity. On models with built-in effects or rhythms, the on-board battery compartment should be easy to access without removing strings.
3. Fret accuracy
The saz uses microtonal frets β including the quarter-tone frets that make Turkish makam music possible. A quality instrument has each tied gut or nylon fret placed to within a fraction of a millimetre of its mathematically correct position. Cheap instruments are often built with shortcuts here and play sharp or flat as you move up the neck.
4. Build quality & wood
Hollow-body electric saz instruments still rely on resonant tone wood β typically mulberry, juniper or chestnut for the back, with a spruce top. Solid flat-body models use denser wood for stability and clean pickup response. The fingerboard should be smooth across the entire neck length, with no high spots that buzz against the pickup.
5. Weight and balance
Solid flat-body and double-neck instruments are noticeably heavier than a traditional acoustic saz. Anything you'll play standing up for two hours needs to balance well on a strap and not pull the headstock downward. Our product photos show strap buttons; ask us if you need a weight figure before ordering.
6. Built-in effects and rhythm features
On-board features are useful when they sound musical and stay out of the way. The MES-4 and MES-5 add reverb, chorus and delay that you can dial back to zero when you want a dry signal; the RT1 rhythm models include common Turkish folk patterns (9/8, 7/8, 4/4) that lock to a tempo you set. They are not a substitute for a full effects pedalboard, but for solo gigs and home practice they cover most needs in a single instrument.
A short history
The saz has been the dominant string instrument of Anatolian folk music for centuries, but the electric saz is a recent invention. In the 1970s and 1980s, Turkish folk-rock and arabesque acts started filling large concert halls and stadium tours, and the acoustic saz simply could not compete with drum kits and electric basses. Luthiers in Istanbul began experimenting with under-bridge piezo pickups, then with solid flat-body designs borrowed from electric guitar building. By the 1990s the electric saz was standard equipment on Turkish television variety shows and in arabesque touring bands.
Today, contemporary players use electric saz in jazz fusion, world-music ensembles, film scoring and Turkish folk-rock. The Ali Demir signature AYS-304 in our catalogue reflects that tradition β a working stage instrument built by a respected Istanbul luthier whose name is closely tied to the modern electric saz.
Related saz categories at Sala Muzik
Long-neck Saz Acoustic divan saz
Short-neck Baglama Compact acoustic baglama
All Saz / Baglama Full saz catalogue
Saz Accessories Strings, cases, picks
FAQ
What's the difference between an electroacoustic and a true electric saz?
An electroacoustic saz is essentially a traditional acoustic baglama with a pickup added β the body still resonates and you can play it unplugged at a useful volume. A true electric saz, especially a solid flat-body model, has no acoustic chamber: it is built around the pickup and is very quiet unplugged. Electroacoustics are the better choice if you want one instrument for both home and small gigs; true electrics win on loud stages.
Should I get a flat-body or a hollow-body?
If your loudest playing context is a cafe gig or a fasil ensemble without drums, a hollow-body electroacoustic like the W2 or DES-3 is more versatile and sounds beautiful unplugged. If you play in a band with a drummer, an arabesque tour, or any setting with stage monitors, a solid flat-body like the SQR-402, SHES-305 or SES-12 will avoid the feedback howl that hollow-body instruments produce at high volume.
Do I need special strings for an electric saz?
No β an electric saz uses the same baglama string sets as an acoustic instrument. Most pickups work fine with standard saz strings. We carry Pyramid Saiten and house-brand baglama string sets in our accessories collection. The exception is solid flat-body models with magnetic pickups, where some players prefer string sets with a slightly higher metal content for stronger output.
What is a caglama?
A caglama is a specialty professional saz model from the Turkish saz tradition. The Professional Caglama CAG-4 in our catalogue is the standard right-handed model; the CAG-4L is the left-handed equivalent. It is a specialist instrument favoured by advanced players and soloists β not a starting point for beginners, but well-suited for working professionals who want a signature-grade saz.
What is a double-neck baglama?
A double-neck baglama puts two playable necks on one body, sharing a single resonance chamber. The most common configuration pairs an acoustic baglama neck with an electric saz neck, giving you both tones from one instrument; some models pair a short-neck and long-neck. Our DBL-504 ($1999) and DBL-404 ($2999) cover this category. Double-necks are heavier than single instruments and take some practice to handle on a strap.
Are built-in effects and rhythms a gimmick or genuinely useful?
For solo performers and home practice, the built-in effects on the MES-4 and MES-5 are genuinely useful β reverb and chorus dialled in tastefully add depth without needing pedals, and the rhythm tracks on the RT1 are a real practice tool for locking your timing to Turkish folk metres like 9/8 and 7/8. For pro touring rigs they don't replace a proper pedalboard, but they reduce setup on smaller gigs.
What amp do I use with an electric saz?
Any clean acoustic-guitar amp or keyboard amp works well β the goal is a flat, uncoloured response that lets the saz speak. Small combo amps in the 30 β 60 watt range are enough for cafes and rehearsals. Avoid heavily voiced electric-guitar amps unless you want a distorted folk-rock tone. You can also plug straight into a PA or audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.
Will the output jack work with any guitar cable and amp?
Yes. Every electric saz we ship uses a standard 1/4" (6.35 mm) mono output jack β the same connector as an electric guitar or bass. Any standard instrument cable will plug straight in, and any guitar combo, PA channel or audio interface input that accepts a 1/4" jack will accept the signal.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, worldwide. Sala Muzik has shipped instruments since 2009. Every saz is professionally packed in a hard or semi-hard case inside a double-walled outer carton, fully insured. Free standard shipping delivers in 3β5 weeks. Express shipping is available at extra cost and typically arrives in 3β5 business days. You choose the carrier (DHL Express, FedEx, or standard postal) at checkout.
Will my saz arrive tuned and ready to play?
We ship every instrument freshly set up, with the action checked and frets correctly tied, but strings always loosen a little in transit and pressurised cargo holds can drop tuning by a half-step or more. Plan on a 5-minute retune when the case arrives. We include a tuning reference card in every shipment.
Istanbul workshopHand-built and inspected in Turkey
Worldwide shippingInsured express delivery since 2009
Hard case includedEvery electric saz ships in a hard case
Email supportSetup & pickup questions answered