Tambour with pick is the major instrument in Turkish music. We construct this beautiful instrument by following the Ottoman tradition and with a great attention in our workshop. We construct them by using 40 years old or older bowls. Real tambour sounds can be achieved by using old woods. Antranik Uncuyan who lives in 1800s, during the reign of Sultan Selim III, used old woods, too.
In 1800s, size of rotund or apple shaped tambours was 106 cm and they generaly used woods of walnut and hornbeam. After this period, they started to use woods of mahogany, elm tree, ivy, and oak. Master Vasil constructed apple shaped tambours whose size is 104 cm. He is the master who constructs Cemil Bey’s instruments in Şehzadebaşı.
For neck, oiled pine or fir tree is used in both Ottoman period and after. Frets are used to made from catgut or waxed hemp cord. Today, tambours of our production are in the sizes of 100 cm, 104 cm, and 106 cm.
Violin Tanbur
We started to construct yaylı tambour in 1970s. Tanburi Cemil Bey is the one who first uses this instrument. Afterwards, bowls of yaylı tambours started to be made from wood and metallic bowls.
Cengiz SARIKUŞ, after a long period of study, invented a new system. Its sound is two times more than the normal tambours. Except the neck bridge, all components of Master Cengiz’s tambours are made from wood. Their depth of bowl is 25 cm. A prominent factor for these tambours is their electronic michrophone system. Master Cengiz’s tambours are demanded in many countries.
The leather of the tambour should deffinitely be tanned and clean. Bridge should be made from maple. This wood, before constructing, should be waited in salted water and boiled in milk.
Mahogany or walnut tree should be used for the bowl of yaylı tambour.
