Factors That Shape Tone in Electric Bağlamas

Electric bağlamas are modern Turkish instruments, mostly used on stage, made by adding pickups and electronic parts to the classic bağlama. They were first built on the model of the electric guitars used in Western countries, but after several stages of design and development they have become a system of their own.

This article looks at the factors that affect the tone (sound character) of electric bağlamas, at how to optimize them, and at what to do to reach the ideal tone.

Prepared by:
Kenan Budak
Electrical-Electronics Engineer

Contents

How an Electric Bağlama's Wooden Body Should Be Built Where Pickups Should Go on an Electric Bağlama How Pickups Affect Tone in an Electric Bağlama Electronic Connections and Circuits in an Electric Bağlama Strings and Tuning: How They Affect Electric Bağlama Tone