Description
The Turkish Lavta — Light of Tradition II from Tapadum is a handcrafted Ottoman lute from our signature lavta collection, built for players who want an authentic traditional instrument at an accessible price point. With a walnut-mahogany bowl, spruce soundboard, and ebony pegs, this lavta carries the characteristic voice of Istanbul’s classical music tradition in a beautifully crafted package.
Walnut & Mahogany Bowl
The bowl is constructed from a combination of walnut and mahogany — two tonewoods chosen for their complementary resonant properties. Walnut contributes warmth and density, providing a solid low-mid foundation, while mahogany adds clarity and a smooth upper-register response. Together they produce the rounded, expressive tone that defines the lavta’s voice in Ottoman classical and folk contexts.
Spruce Soundboard
The spruce soundboard is the primary tonal driver of the instrument. Spruce’s high stiffness-to-weight ratio delivers bright projection and harmonic complexity — qualities that help the lavta cut through in ensemble settings alongside voice, violin, or qanun. The soundboard is fitted with a central rosette that both ornaments the instrument and shapes air movement through the body.
Pine Fingerboard & Ebony Pegs
The fingerboard is crafted from pine, providing a smooth, responsive surface for left-hand technique. The instrument is fitted with ebony friction pegs — traditional and reliable, ebony’s density and low friction properties allow for precise tuning that holds well in performance conditions. The combination of pine board and ebony pegs reflects the classical construction approach of Turkish instrument making.
Technical Specifications
| Soundboard | Spruce |
| Bowl | Walnut & Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Pine |
| Pegs | Ebony friction pegs |
| Bowl length | 44.5 cm |
| Bowl width | 30.5 cm |
| Body depth | 15.5 cm |
| String length | 68 cm |
| Weight | 3.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 100 × 39 × 23 cm |
| SKU | Tap044 |
Who This Lavta Is For
The Light of Tradition II is an ideal choice for students, developing players, and musicians exploring Ottoman repertoire for the first time. Its accessible price makes it a practical first lavta — one that delivers authentic traditional tone without the premium investment of the Professional series. It is also well suited to performing musicians who need a reliable touring instrument and prefer not to travel with a high-value lavta. Players looking for professional-level gut fret construction can compare with our Professional Turkish Lavta II.
Music Genres & Traditions
The lavta sits at the heart of Ottoman classical music, Turkish art music, Greek rebetiko, and Sephardic traditions. Its fretted neck and articulate tone make it an ideal voice for melodic work in fasıl ensembles, where it traditionally paired with oud, qanun, and violin. The instrument’s 68 cm scale length gives it comfortable access across the full maqam range. For a broader look at the lavta’s history in Istanbul’s multi-community musical culture, the instrument’s story runs deep.
Care & Maintenance
Store your lavta in a hard or padded case at 45–55% relative humidity. Wooden instruments respond poorly to dry winter air — a room humidifier is a worthwhile investment. Wipe the body and neck with a soft dry cloth after each playing session. Ebony pegs may occasionally benefit from a light application of peg dope to maintain smooth tuning. Check string condition regularly and replace them when tone becomes dull or intonation becomes difficult to stabilize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Light of Tradition II suitable for beginners?
Yes — this is one of the most approachable lavtas in our range. The fretted fingerboard simplifies pitch placement compared to fretless instruments like the oud, and the traditional construction gives beginners a genuine instrument to learn on. Prior experience with any fretted instrument (guitar, saz, bouzouki) will accelerate the learning curve.
How does this lavta differ from the Professional series?
The Light of Tradition II features a walnut-mahogany bowl and pine fingerboard with fixed frets. The Professional series uses a multi-rib staved hardwood bowl with movable gut frets — the gut frets allow microtonal adjustment for Turkish maqam and are standard in conservatory settings. The Light of Tradition II is well suited for traditional and contemporary playing; the Professional series is optimized for advanced maqam performance.
What tuning is used for this lavta?
The standard Turkish lavta tuning is based on D or E, with common configurations including D-A-D-G and D-A-D-A across the courses. Players adapt tuning to specific maqams and repertoire. The 68 cm scale length provides comfortable string tension across the standard tuning range.
Does it include a case?
A gig bag for basic transport is included. For performers and players investing in long-term care of the instrument, a padded hard case is strongly recommended — particularly in variable-humidity environments.
