At present the more popular of the two is the "Short-Neck(ed)" version(4), due to two main reasons: the presence of influential "Alevi" musicians and singers --who prefer and religiously advocate it-- and the inherent, albeit initial, simplicity in playing technique(s).

However, it is without doubt that the "Long-Neck(ed)" version --the original variant of instrument-- is the richer of the two. While the "Short-Neck(ed)" version essentially has one main tuning style, the "Long-Neck(ed)" version effectively has dozens and is grossly more flexible and transposable.

With the "Long-Neck(ed)" version you are able to play all regional styles(5).

I (badly) play both variants together with their different tunings and styles (although not "Selpe"(6)).

INFLUENCES & SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

Here's a partial list :-)

Eastern
~~~~~
- Abdullah Papur
- Ahmet Yamaci
- Ali Asker
- Ali Mahmut Baran
- Ali Ekber Cicek
- Ali Ercan
- Ali Ersan, "Cekic Ali"
- Ali Yilmaz, "Motor Ali"
- Ayhan Esma Savas ??? Serpil Omeroglu
- Ayse San
- Bahri Ilhan
- Baris Manco
- Bayram Araci
- Belkis Akkale
- Bengi Baglama Uclusu
- Betin Gunes
- Beyto Can
- Birol Topaloglu
- Cahit Berkay
- Cem Mert Rabia Mehmet Almislar
- Cetin Akdeniz
- Cuma Ulusan
- Damla Gulcin Sercan Sezer Gundug
- Didem Gizem Mustafa Sibel Caliskan
- Djivan (Ciwan) Gasparian
- Emel Tascioglu
- Ercan Irmak
- Erdal Cakiroglu
- Erdem Simsek LBD
- Erkan Ogur
- Ertan Fadime Kubra Ercelik
- Ertugrul Bayraktar
- Esra Dogan
- Ferhat Durmus
- Gokhan Coskun LBD
- Haci Tasan
- Hakan Kutlu BBU
- Hasan Genc
- Hasret Gultekin
- Hesen Zirek
- Hisarli Ahmet
- Ibrahim Rojhilat
- Ihsan Mendes
- Inan Karakis, Master Luthier
- Ismail Hakki Demircioglu
- Kamkar(an) Ensemble
- Kayhan Kalhor
- Kazim Koyuncu
- Kazo, Dengbej
- Kemal Yilmaz LBD
- Kenan Ozdemir BBU
- LAL Baglama Dortlusu
- Levent Keskin BBU
- Lutfu Haydaroglu, Master Luthier
- Mahsuni Serif, Asik
- Mehmet Erenler
- Mehmet Seske
- Mehmet Ucer
- Metin Kemal Kahraman
- Mikis Theodorakis
- Meryem Xan
- Mogollar
- Muammer Kuzey, "Hammer Muammer"
- Muazzez Ersoy
- Muharrem Neset Ertas
- Muhlis Akarsu
- Murat Bektas
- Mustafa Acar
- Mustafa Ufuk Duman
- Mutlu Torun
- Muzaffer Erturk
- Muzaffer Sarisozen
- Naser Rezazi
- Necip Fazil
- Nida Tufekci
- Nilufer Akbal
- Nizamettin Aric
- Nuray Hafiftas
- Nuri Erkaya
- Okan Murat Ozturk BBU
- Omer Orhan Ilhan
- Orhan Hakalmaz
- Orhan Temur
- Ozay Gonlum
- Ozay Onal BBU
- Ozlem Kafadar
- Qadir Elyasi
- Refik Basaran
- Reso, Hunermend
- Reyhani, Asik
- Sabahat Akkiraz
- Selda Bagcan
- Serdar, Hozan
- Serdar Yayla, "Hayalet Parmak"
- Seyfettin Topcu, "Divan Seyfi"
- Shams Ensemble
- Sivan Perwer, Hozan
- Suleyman Yildiz
- Talip Ozkan
- Tehsin Taha
- Tekin Karabey
- Ummuhan Yilmaz
- Yedi Karanfil
- Yucel Pasmakci
- Zara
- Zeki Adsiz, "Sari Zeki"
- Zulfu Livaneli

Western
~~~~~
- Akira Ifukube
- Aretha Franklin
- Bedrich Smetana
- Bernard Herrmann
- Bill Justis
- Camille Saint-Saens
- Diana Ross TS
- Don Ellis
- Ennio Morricone
- Erich Wolfgang Korngold
- Florence Ballard TS
- Frank & Nancy Sinatra
- Gioacchino Rossini
- Henry Mancini
- Jean Joseph Mouret
- Jennifer Holliday
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Jerry Reed Hubbard
- John Williams
- Lalo Schifrin
- Luther Henderson
- Mark Goffeney
- Mary Esther Wells
- Mary Wilson TS
- Max Steiner
- McLaughlin
- Michael Kamen
- Miklos Rozsa
- The Marvellettes
- The Supremes
- Tony Melendez
...and many more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) "patukuzunkol" means "Long Arm (made) of Patuk". Here the word "Arm" is in reference to the "neck" of the instrument. Patuk is a type of wood originally known as "Palo Rojo".
2) "Local" is the region spanning from Anatolia to the Western Zagros Mountains.
3) This is not the typical "Lute" that you might be accustomed to. The body is deeper, the fretboard narrower, the neck is considerably longer and there are a number of extra frets for micro-tonality.
4) Since circa the 1980's.
5) Regional styles are distinguished (mainly) by their "picking" techniques. They often have complex trilling techniques and require great skill to perform!
6) "Selpe" is a playing technique using the fingers instead of a plectrum. This technique has been "revived" (in Turkey) and developed by: Ramazan Gungor, Hasret Gultekin, E Erzincan and E Parlak. "Revival" was not necessary in the Western Zagros region. For authentic "Selpe" look no further than Aliakbar Moradi!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~