The short neck baglama is the modern face of the Turkish saz family β a compact, 19-fret instrument shaped in 1970s Istanbul to make the saz easier to play, easier to sing with, and ready for the studio. With its shorter neck, tighter fret spacing and warm mid-range, it has become the default choice for arabesque, contemporary halk turkuleri, singer-songwriter accompaniment, and most modern recording work. At Sala Muzik we build and stock 62 short neck baglamas, from a $249 beginner walnut-bowled saz to a $1999 Ahmet Kaya tribute model β all crafted in Istanbul and shipped worldwide.
Quick recommendationIf you are starting out, the Short Neck Mahogany Baglama ASK-111P at $249 is the safest entry point β walnut bowl, spruce top, case, strings and plectrum included. Serious students should look at the ASB-302 or MSS-201S at $499. For stage work, the ASB-305 electro-acoustic at $599 plugs straight into a PA.
Quick picks by player type
Best for beginnersShort Neck Mahogany Baglama ASK-111P$249 Β· walnut bowl, spruce top, case included
Best left-handedLeft Handed Short Neck Baglama ASK-111L$249 Β· mirrored stringing, beginner-friendly
Best for serious studentsProfessional Short Neck Baglama ASB-302$499 Β· upgraded bowl & soundboard, conservatory tone
Best electro-acousticProfessional Electric Acoustic Baglama ASB-305$599 Β· built-in pickup, plug straight into PA
Short neck vs long neck baglama
The two instruments share the same tuning system and the same Turkish folk repertoire roots, but they sit in different worlds. Here is how they compare at a glance:
| Feature | Short neck (kisa sap) | Long neck (uzun sap) |
|---|---|---|
| Total frets | 19 | 23 |
| Scale length | Shorter β frets closer together | Longer β wider stretches |
| Learning curve | Easier, especially for small hands | Steeper, traditional left-hand technique |
| Sound | Brighter, more focused mid-range | Deeper, more open low end |
| Best for | Arabesque, modern singer-songwriter, studio, vocal accompaniment | Asik tradition, conservatory training, long-form folk |
| Era | Developed in 1970s Istanbul | Traditional Anatolian instrument, centuries old |
If you also want to see the longer relative, browse the long neck saz collection or the full saz & baglama family.
What makes a quality short-neck baglama
Bowl wood (tekne)
The bowl shapes the instrument's body resonance. Entry-level short necks use walnut or mahogany staves β both are stable, warm, and well-suited for learning. Step-up models add chestnut and juniper, which lift the mid-range and add complexity. At the top tier, carved mulberry β a single block of wood hollowed by hand, as in the OSS-407 and DST-407S β produces the dry, vocal tone prized in classical and concert playing.
Soundboard (gogus)
Solid spruce is the standard, prized for tight even grain and warm projection. Premium and concert-grade models sometimes use Canadian cedar instead β a slightly softer wood with a darker, more complex tonal character favoured by some concert players. What changes with price is the age of the wood, the tightness of the grain, and the care taken in bracing. A well-aged spruce or cedar top opens up over months of playing and is the single biggest factor in tonal evolution.
Fret precision
Turkish music uses microtonal commas β small intervals that sit between Western semitones. A short neck baglama must have its 19 frets tied at exact ratios or every melody will sound subtly wrong. Every Sala Muzik instrument is set up and intonated in Istanbul before it ships.
Mechanic vs friction pegs
Beginner and mid-tier short necks use traditional friction pegs β light, authentic, and tunable with practice. Higher-tier models like the LSS-404 upgrade to geared mechanic pegs, which hold pitch better under stage lighting and humidity changes.
Electro-acoustic options
For players who gig or record direct, the ASB-305 adds a piezo pickup, while the ASB-303EQ includes a 3-band onboard equalizer so you can shape your sound before it hits the mixer.
A short history of the short neck
Until the 1970s the baglama was an almost exclusively long-necked instrument, played in the asik tradition by travelling poet-musicians across Anatolia. The change came from Istanbul. Arif Sag and a circle of fellow players at the Istanbul Conservatory wanted an instrument that could sit comfortably alongside vocals in modern recording sessions and television performances. Their solution was simple but radical: remove the top two frets β the B and the C β from the long neck. The result was a saz with 19 frets, closer-spaced and far easier on the left hand.
The timing aligned with the rise of arabesque and the new wave of Turkish singer-songwriters. Through the late 1970s and across the 1980s the short neck became the studio standard. The Ahmet Kaya era of the 1990s cemented its position as the voice of socially-conscious Turkish folk β emotional, vocal-led, and recorded close. Today most contemporary Turkish folk and arabesque recordings begin with a short neck baglama in the live room.
FAQ
Why short neck instead of long neck?
The short neck has 19 frets instead of 23, with the frets closer together. That makes chords and melodic runs much easier, especially for adult learners and players with smaller hands. It is also the standard for arabesque, vocal accompaniment, and modern studio work, so if your goal is contemporary Turkish music, the short neck is the natural starting point.
Is the short neck baglama easier to learn?
Yes. The shorter scale length means less left-hand stretching, and the missing top two frets simplify position changes in the upper register. Most beginners reach basic melodies and song accompaniment faster on a short neck than on a long neck.
What is the difference between baglama and saz?
In day-to-day Turkish use, baglama and saz refer to the same family of long-necked lutes. "Saz" is the older, more general word; "baglama" became the standard conservatory term in the 20th century. Every short neck saz in this collection is also a short neck baglama.
Can a short neck play all Turkish folk music?
It can play most of it. The short neck handles arabesque, modern halk turkuleri, singer-songwriter material, and the bulk of contemporary studio repertoire with no compromise. Traditional asik repertoire that lives in the upper register sometimes calls for the longer instrument, but for 90% of players the short neck is the more practical choice.
What is the Ahmet Kaya tribute model?
The KAYA-4 is our tribute to Ahmet Kaya (1957β2000), the Kurdish-Turkish folk singer whose recordings defined a generation. The build mirrors the proportions, woods, and setup of the instruments heard on his classic albums β concert-grade craftsmanship at $1999. It is an independent tribute model, not an officially licensed signature edition.
What strings should I use for a short neck baglama?
Standard short neck baglama strings are sold in matched sets calibrated for the shorter scale length. We stock genuine Pyramid Saiten and Turkish-made sets in the baglama accessories collection. Avoid using long-neck string sets β the tension will be wrong and tuning will suffer.
Electro-acoustic or pure acoustic for beginners?
For pure home learning, an acoustic short neck like the ASK-111P is the right call β simpler, lighter, and easier to maintain. If you already know you will play with a band or record direct, the ASB-305 electro-acoustic gives you both worlds in one instrument.
Do you ship internationally, and will my saz arrive tuned?
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.
Crafted in IstanbulBuilt by Turkish luthiers since 2009
Worldwide shippingTracked delivery to your door
1-year warrantyFull workshop coverage
10-day returnsBuy with confidence
Explore the rest of the saz family: long neck saz, electric saz, or the full saz & baglama collection. For strings, cases, and tuners, visit baglama accessories.