Saz

[Huda]

Hi all,

I am trying to balance the needs of my soul with the needs of my wallet. My soul says that I need to buy a saz or an oud in order to get in touch with my Middle Eatern roots. My wallet says that we can't afford one (and my wife would kill me).

So I compromised and purchesed a set of saz strings to put on my Irish bouzouki body (scale length 23.5").

How should I tune this baby? In fifths like a bouzouki? In fourths like a saz?

And what about string tension. I assume that the saz scale length is longer than 23.5". Will my strings go out of tune every 5 minutes?

Thanks!

[EdSherry]

IMHO, you should first decide what tuning you want to use, then get the string set that is appropriate for that tuning and your scale length. Much easier than the other way around (buying strings and then deciding what tuning to use).

Given that you have the strings already, all I can suggest is that you experiment with different tunings to see how the instrument responds.

Check out the following article:

http://larkinthemorning.com/article....2926185 (http://larkinthemorning.com/article.asp?AI=47&&bhcd2=1162926185)

Sure looks (to this outsider -- I don't play saz myself) like there is no such thing as a "standard" tuning for saz. #

Unfortunately, given the scale length difference,if you tune the instrument to saz-like pitches, the strings are going to have way too little tension. #

Have fun.

[Huda]

OK. I just finished putting the saz strings onto my OM. It actually sounds pretty cool. Nice sustain. Nice Middle-Eastern echo.

I had to tune it in fourths - D G C F

Now I have to retrain my left hand.

Does anybody have any advice about going from fifths to fourths?

[Klaus Wutscher]

I don´t know where you live, but around here (Austria) a saz can be had really cheap (under USD 200.- for a decent used instrument). I used to play saz once and still have one around which has been unplayed for about 8 years. I can give it to you (for free, that is) if you want if you pay shipping. It´s a plain jane but is structurally ok and decent sounding.

[Paul Kotapish]

Huda,

I have found a few hanging in music stores and pawn shops. The proprietors often don't know what they are or how to set them up and will let them go on the cheap. I picked up a very simple one in reasonably good repair for about $70 recently in a tiny little music shop on in the Sacramento delta area. I'll pay Mr. Hostetter to set it up properly, but it will still be a relative bargain.

You can sometimes find inexpensive saz-family instruments sold as wall hangings at places like Pier One and Cost Plus. They aren't particularly great instruments, but they can be fixed up to play reasonably well, and they can be had for under $100.

Keep you eyes open. The bargain-basement instrument might not fulfill all your latent yearnings, but it might get you going.

[Huda]

Hi Klaus,

Thank you so much for the generous offer. Let me do a little research and see how much the shipping would cost. (I live in Israel,so it might be pretty expensive.)

Approximately how much does the saz weigh? Approximately what are its dimensions?

Thanks!

[jim simpson]

I picked up mine at a yearly auction last winter. The auctioneer described it an an "African" instrument. That got the attention of my only counter bidder. I picked it up for $25.00. I still need to make a bridge for it and glue up a couple of seams.
It does look cool propped up in the corner of the dining room.

[Klaus Wutscher]

Huda,

Length is approx. 1, 10 m, width is 26 cm and depth is 30 cm (including the gigbag).
Weight is a little under 2 kg. I would definitely require carefull packaging , so that might possibly add to the cost.

[Huda]

Hi Klaus,

I just sent you a PM. You can email me at:
yehudahg@livelinx.com

Thanks!