Description
Experience the warm, lyrical voice of the traditional Lavta, an essential instrument in Ottoman classical, Greek island, and regional modal traditions. Often described as a fretted cousin to the oud, the lavta provides players with the resonant, acoustic warmth of a deep bowl combined with the precise microtonal pitch control of a fretted fingerboard.
The instrument features a staved tone-wood bowl crafted from ribbed staves with fine white pinstripe purfling in a high-gloss finish. The spruce soundboard is fitted with an intricate, laser-carved geometric rosette, a walnut pickguard (scratchplate) to protect against plectrum wear, and an ornate mustache-style tie bridge.
The dark fingerboard extends down onto the soundboard and is wrapped with traditional movable tied microtonal gut/nylon frets, allowing complete flexibility for quarter-tone maqamat (such as Rast, Ussak, Nihavend, and Hicaz). The angled pegbox is fitted with sculpted dark hardwood friction pegs inlaid with mother-of-pearl / pearloid eyes, strung in a traditional 7-string setup (one single bass string and three double courses).
Specifications:
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Instrument: Traditional Lavta (Lafta / Politiki Lyra/Lute)
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Bowl / Body: Multi-staved tone-wood bowl with white pinstripe separator purfling and gloss finish
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Top / Soundboard: Natural fine-grain spruce top with black perimeter purfling
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Soundhole: Single large circular rosette featuring an intricate carved geometric openwork lattice
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Bridge & Pickguard: Traditional mustache-style tie bridge and contoured hardwood pickguard
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Neck & Fingerboard: Hardwood neck with extended fingerboard, bound edges, and tied microtonal frets for authentic modal intonation
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Pegbox & Pegs: Angled lute-style pegbox with sculpted dark hardwood friction pegs featuring inlaid pearloid eye accents
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String Setup: 7 strings arranged in 4 courses (1 single bass + 3 double courses)
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Ideal For: Ottoman classical music, Greek folk/Rebetiko, modal maqam improvisation, and oud or saz players looking for a unique hybrid acoustic voice
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