Turkish Lavta:
The Turkish lavta is an attractrive combination among the Oud and Saz. Lavta is Known as a lavuta in Armenian, and occasionally called Politiko Laouto in Greek, is an instrument that was popular in the early 20th century, among the Greek and Armenian communities of Istanbul, but also in the Turkish community, it was one of the instruments played by noted Turk Tanburi Cemil Bey. It was slowly replaced by oud and survived until this day. Since 1980s there has been a revival of interest in this instrument, and now it is possible to find lavta again both in Turkey and in Greece.
Structure:
The Lavta instrument contains a small body made up of several ribs- made using carvel bending technique. Its appearance is like a small (Turkish) oud - the strings of lavta made from gut like an oud but it has only seven strings in four courses and tuned as E AA dd gg, or sometimes as A dd aa d'd'. It can also tuned to Turkish Bolahenk tuning C G D A, which is the same as G D A E in concert pitch. The adjustable frets are made up of tied bits of gut on the fingerboard, at the microtonal intervals of the makam system. Lavta is more closely related to instruments like tanbur than the fretless oud and the 12-frets of the octave laouto. The bridge has mustache-shaped ends. The fingerboard is florid with the soundboard, is unvarnished, and has a carved and inlaid rosette. Some of lavta instruments have a pegbox like the oud and others more like a guitar. The tuning pegs are shaped like those of violin, with three on right and four on the left side of the open tuning head. It is played, like an oud, using a long thin plectrum.
- Turkish Lavta is Comfortable to play.
- No synthetic material used in manufacturing.
- Shellac-polish is used on all parts of the instrument
- Special Bridge system is used in Lavta to raise or lower the string action easily.
- Contains a Special bowl.
Measurements:
- Bridge To Nut- 65 cm
- Bowl length is 45 cm
- Neck is 32 Cm
Materials:
- Bowl walnut Wood.
- Canadian Cedar Face.
- Ebony fingerboard.
- Ebony Pegs.
- Pickguard is walnut.
- Shellac Polish.
- Nut is bone.
- Neck is walnut wood.
Lavta comes with,
- Extra strings.
- Soft Case.
Lavta can be used accompanying other instruments and can perfectly use in a variety of musical genres whether you’re producing world music, ethnic & organic folk music, experimental, cinematic, ambient, meditation, live lounge, electronica or even hip hop also suitable for film score, documentaries and media compositions as well - the only limit is your imagination!
We have a collection of 4 products of Lavta in our Online store. You will be pleased if you purchase this instrument from us as we have a huge discount of 25% for you.