A part of the Greek Lute family, this lavta is made by Luthier Kamil Gul in Turkey as a replica or a near copy of those surviving historical instruments that are in museums or private collections. It has a small body made of many ribs made using carvel bending technique. It boasts a spruce top with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and a walnut bowl which is highly resistant to wear and tear. The lavta's appearance is somewhat like a small Turkish oud with 7 strings and 4 courses and is tuned: ? A dd gg c'c' (like the oud ), or A dd aa d'd' (in intervals of 5ths like) It is also sometimes tuned to Turkish tuning C G D A, which is the same as G D A E in concert pitch. The adjustable frets are made from tied bits of gut on the fingerboard, at the microtonal intervals of the maqam system. With a bridge that has mustache-shaped ends and a fingerboard that is flush with the soundboard this lavta has a pegbox like the oud (angling down). The tuning pegs are shaped like those of the violin or the oud, with 3 on the right side and 4 on the left side of the open tuning head. ? Comes with an extra set of Kurschner brand Lute Strings (a $34 value) , a padded lute bag ($79 value).
