The Saz is perhaps the preeminent Central Asian string instrument. Considered to be the direct ancestor of the Greek bouzouki, the saz has two courses of two strings and one course of three strings. Their rounded bodies are either carved from solid wood (called "oyma"in Turkish) or constructed of multiple tapered staves ("yaprak", meaning leaf in Turkish). The saz is incredibly resonant with a ringing sound unlike any other string instrument. With spruce sound boards, and necks and bodies of assorted hardwoods our instruments are hand-made by master craftsmen in Turkey.

Saz, like mnay stringed nstruments, are made in a variety of sizes. Nomenclature varies even among traditional saz-makers and musicians. After dealing with this issue and its confusing nature, we elect to name the instrument according to the length of its neck. Thus you will find "long-neck" and "short-neck" saz on this page. If you are used to hearing them called "baglama" or "cogur" and are not certain how this relates to our instruments, please contact us and we will help to clarify this for you. We also have both extra-large (Divan) and extra-small (Cura) saz available.

Long-Neck Yaprak Maun Saz by Hasan Sarikaya

Master Saz-maker Safak Turan

On our most recent trip to Turkey we met with Safak Turan, a master saz-maker from whom we purchased wonderful instruments in the past. He informed us of a new relationship between his workshop and Arif Sag, who is perhaps the most famous saz musician in Turkey. Safak's saz have now been endorsed by Arif Sag and are made to his specifications, ensuring incomparable quality of manufacture and, hence, sound.

Touch The Earth is very proud to be a distributor for Onar Muzik Evi / Arif Sag Muzik. We feel they represent the ultimate in the traditional "marriage" between a Master Craftsman and Master Musician.

Saz Virtuoso Arif Sag in concert at the Istanbul Convention Center 11/04

OME/ASM saz are available in three qualities: Amateur, Half-Professional and Professional. None of these instruments are "production" saz, each one individually crafted of the finest materials available. Safak's Amateur models are superior to the professional models of most makers we have encountered. If you are a saz-player, all it takes is one chord on an OME/ASM saz to realize what is possible with these instruments.

We are also excited to be able to offer a custom-made instrument of slightly smaller dimension created by Safak Turan and designed for finger-picking style. This small "saz" is set-up for the usual seven strings but is meant to be plyed with only one string on each course. The sound produced by this instrument called a Shelpe (pron. shell-pay) is especially sweet and delicate.

As stated above, OME/ASM instruments are individually crafted. Because of this, custom orders will take 4-6 months or more to fill. The Saz pictured at right are currently available and we have 9 instruments being made in the workhop at this time. These should be completed and in stock in the USA by late February 2005.

The models and types of instruments ahve just arrived from Turkiye and are avaivable immediately.

Amateur Model -

1- Long -Neck Yaprak Maun Saz

1- Short-Neck Yaprak Maun Saz

1- Short-Neck Yaprak Maun Saz with piezo-electric pick-up.

Half-Professional Model -

2- Long-Neck Yaprak Ardic Saz with piezo-electric pick-up.

1- Short-Neck Yaprak Ardic Saz with piezo-electric pick-up.

Professional Model -

1- Long-Neck Yaprak Maun Saz with piezo-electric pick-up.

1-Long-Neck Yaprak Ardic Saz with piezo-electric pick-up.

1- Short-Neck Yaprak Maun Selpe.

Pricing:

Amateur Models - $625.00 each.

Half-Professional - $850.00 each.

Professional Models - $1075.00 each.

Instruments with Piezo-electric pick-up add $95.00. Pick-ups are of the highest quality and are factory installed.

All instruments come to you complete with a soft but highly protective carrying case, a set of plectrums and an extra set of strings custom made in the OME/ASM workshop.

Please note: As prices for components of these instruments are tied to the Euro, prices may vary slightly according to the relative strength or weakness of the US Dollar.

Erdal Erzincan with OME/ASM Saz

Safak Turan, Bob Beer, Scott Eutsler of Touch The Earth and Tolga Sag, son of Arif Sag at ASM

Ted Monnich of Turku at Saz Muzik Factory

While traveling in Turkey with Ted and Carla Monnich of Turku in November of 2003, we were fortunate enough to find Hasan Sarikaya's shop. Fortunate is the correct word as Ted had been trying to locate Saz Muzik for quite some time. Fortunate is also the correct word as it would be extremely difficult to find a better saz for the money than what Hassan and company produce. Hasan's motto is "First comes the quality and then comes the price". In our opinion, Saz Muzik Aletleri acheives excellence in both regards. For beginning and intermediate saz players, when budget is an issue, you just can not do better than Saz Muzik Aletleri.

Pictured to the right are images of but a few of the stages in the progression of saz-making. From tree to instrument is a labor and time-intensive process that takes the craftsmen at Saz Muzik Aletleri a total of fifteen years! Most of this time is spent in the curing process of the various stages of production. Hasan is a very meticulous man and he will not cut corners in any way. This is why, even at the "student saz" level, his instruments are absolutely playable with no distortion of the neck, soundboard or body due to warping or twisting. Anyone who has purchased any string instrument that was not so carefully crafted understands what a frustration and disappointment it can be dealing with this situation.

Considering the fact that there are few workshops outside of Turkey that can effectively deal with problem instruments, and those which can are likely to be quite expensive, it is even more important to purchase a well-made saz the first time. Given a minimum of attention and care, a Hasan Sarikaya saz will provide you with a lifetime of enjoyable musical experiences. You can count on this as Hasan has been staking his reputation on that fact for many years.

Saz awaiting sanding

Saz Accessories

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