Description
Bringing a fresh, portable voice to the electric saz family, the Caglama Box – Kutu Saz is a compact, box-bodied hybrid built for the stage, the studio, and the road. It carries the microtonal character of the Anatolian baglama into an amplified, travel-friendly format — a small box-shaped body paired with a full-length fretted neck, so the playing feel stays familiar while the footprint shrinks dramatically.
The caglama is a contemporary Turkish hybrid that blends traditional saz practice with electric-guitar amplification. The Box version keeps that identity but rethinks the resonating chamber as a slim, rectangular case — the kutu (box) that gives the instrument its name.
Materials & Body
The body is shaped from solid, light-toned tonewood with a natural, hand-finished surface. Rather than a deep bowl or a wide soundbox, the Caglama Box uses a compact box chamber that keeps weight low and handling easy, while still giving the amplified signal a woody, articulate foundation. A magnetic pickup mounted at the base of the neck feeds two onboard controls (volume and tone), so the instrument plugs straight into any guitar amplifier or effects chain.
One-Piece Neck & Construction
A defining feature of this build is its single-piece (yekpare) neck and body: the neck and the box are carved from one continuous section of wood, with no separately glued-on or added joint between them. This one-piece construction removes the usual neck-to-body seam — a common stress point on stringed instruments — improving structural stability, tuning reliability, and the way vibration travels through the instrument. The long fretted neck rises above the compact chamber, giving the Kutu Saz its distinctive silhouette. Overall the instrument measures 77 cm in total length, with a 58 cm string (scale) length.
Playing & Tuning
Stringing and tuning follow baglama conventions, so players moving over from saz or guitar settle in quickly. Several tunings are possible; a common setup is D–A–D, and the fretting keeps the microtonal (koma and quarter-tone) voicing of Turkish music intact. The electric setup lets you shape the sound with amp settings, pedals, and the onboard tone control, and it responds equally well to a plectrum, to fingerstyle šelpe technique, or to a standard guitar pick.
Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Instrument | Electric box saz (Kutu Saz) — caglama hybrid |
| Total length | 77 cm |
| String (scale) length | 58 cm |
| Body | Compact box-shaped, solid natural tonewood |
| Neck & body | Single-piece (yekpare) — no glued joint |
| Neck | Fretted, baglama-style tuning (e.g. D–A–D) |
| Electronics | Magnetic pickup, onboard volume & tone |
| Amplification | Amplifier- and effects-pedal compatible |
| SKU | C-Box1 |
| Price | €689 (list €750) |
Who It’s For
- Saz and baglama players who need a compact, amplified instrument for travel and small stages.
- Guitarists exploring Turkish microtonal music in a familiar electric format.
- Studio and fusion musicians blending Anatolian voicing with modern effects.
Musical Genres & Traditions
The compact, amplified voice of the Caglama Box – Kutu Saz suits:
- Turkish folk and Anatolian repertoire in amplified settings
- Fusion and crossover projects that place saz alongside electric instruments
- Experimental and studio work that calls for a portable, pedal-friendly string voice
Explore the wider string instruments collection, the traditional baglama saz family it grows from, or the full-scale amplified Caglama Double Pick Up for a different take on the electric saz.
Care & Maintenance
Keep the Caglama Box in a protective case when it is not in use, wipe the body and neck with a soft, dry cloth after playing, and check the tuning regularly. Because the neck and body are a single piece of wood, avoid sudden humidity or temperature swings to protect both the finish and the timber over time.
Worldwide shipping & 15-day return. Each instrument is made to order and tested before it ships from our Brisighella showroom, with a preparation time of 3–10 days.
