Yes, @FoundryRat, the fretting system allows for any quarter tones you might want. And the neck is so long, placing the body to the right would certainly allow a player to reach the end of the neck. I hadn't thought of that.

Wikipedia has a nice article on the baglama family of instruments that have varying neck lengths. They are fretted for something similar to quarter tones.  Images elsewhere show players of the longest ones holding them in a natural position with the fret board centered and the body of the instrument to the right of their hip.

wayyyyyyyyy cool.   When I played with a wonderful group of viol de gambas at the U. of H...I learned about those moveable frets....but never played those lovely instruments.  I wonder if you put that SAZ in front of you and played it with a bow?   just wondering.  long arm is what is needed here FOR SURE.   aloha, irene

I'm pretty sure those frets are some kind of nylon, and I certainly didn't take the time to position all of them. I just got a few in place like so I could play one diatonic octave.  But the flexibility is incredible. I was thinking the instrument would be great for experiments with just intonation and equal temperament.

Wha...!? Dusty!  Renaissance Man!

Those would traditionally be movable gut frets- they may actually be gut if you look close, but I imagine modern versions might be nylon/fishing line.  If you can get them to move you could create a diatonic or chromatic fretboard as you like.  If gut, they could be exposed to some humidity (steam?) and they'll absorb it and become temporarily softer/ more pliable and moveable.  They when in place they'll dry and tighten again.

This is basically a Turkish traditional style of lute.  Next thing we know, Dusty will be playing Greensleeves a la Henry VIII's court.  Get thee one of those saggy pancake hats, preferably in velvet.

Interesting instrument. The long neck would kill my short arms. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Neat instrument, Dusty! Unfortunately, "Angelina Baker" is an ancient dance tune from Eastern Anatolia in Turkey....sorry!

My uncle has a Turkish saz (baglama) hanging on his wall and admitted that he had no idea how to tune it.  But it has three courses of double strings (a couple clearly octaves), so I tuned it like a dulcimer and played a bit.  The neck was so long I had to put on a capo to be comfortable, and to be honest I struggled with the friction tuners, which had clearly not been used in years.  The really cool thing is that the frets are all moveable. They are made of some kind of plastic, like fishing line, that is wrapped around the neck. You can just slide them wherever you want.  I might have been the first person in history to play Angelina Baker on that instrument!