this is a solid body electric saz. the saz is a traditional Turkish instrument, related to the Persian setar and asian dutar. these instruments are the modern versions of what was likely the ancestor of all modern lute family stringed instruments, from the Indian sitar to the Irish bouzouki to the modern banjo and guitar.

the body is alder, and the neck mahogany; both materials commonly used in electric guitars. the fingerboard, bridges, and knobs are striped ebony. the body and headstock are topped with mahogony and birdseye maple plates. the pickups are blade-style humbuckers in a narrow, stratocaster-style package. there are volume and tone controls.

the frets are standard electric guitar fretwire; however, they are placed at intervals based on measurements of several traditional sazes. since traditional saz frets are tied, and can be moved, i picked what seemed to be a common spacing. there are sixteen frets in the first octave, instead of the usual twelve of the equal tempered scale. the extra pitches are the result of the use in middle eastern and asian music of more than one "minor second" interval. different combinations of these seconds produce different larger intervals; most notably a "neutral third" between the minor and major thirds, and slightly flat fifths and sixths.

the six strings are doubled into three pairs, like a mandolin or twelve string guitar. there are various traditional tunings; i usually use G-D-a.

there are also two sets of drone strings hanging off the fretboard on the bass side. these are usually tuned D-G and D-A. the drone strings have a separate pickup, and a stereo output jack allows the drones to run through separate processing.

