I have just recently come home from Istanul with a short-necked (kisa
sap) baglama saz. I am looking for the best tuning for this instrument
that would let me play easily in the key of D. Suggestions? I am a
mandolin player and have instruments tuned GDAE and GDAD so a tuning
based on that would be an easy transition.

The other almost more important related question to this is then what
gauge strings should I be using to get to that tuning (remembering
this is a short neck 19 fret instrument)?

Thanks for any direction you can offer.
*-- Asha