Mike's Oud Forums

afghan rubab

chismes - 5-14-2009 at 03:41 AM

Hi everyone,

Where can I get a afghan rubab? Is there any page of this kind of instruments for sale?
I look for someone but it´s very difficult find it.

Thanks

Afghan Rubabs

RubabPlayer - 5-20-2009 at 04:49 PM

Hello,

I'm from Sasurai-Gakki, we are an ethnic music instrument buying service in Japan.

I have several Afghan Rubabs available for shipping now. These were made by Master Khuram. He is one of the best makers still in existence and makes wonderful instruments.

I own and play two of his instruments. One classical size and one standard size. They have great sound and are made from very good mulberry.

I currently have several I can send photos of if you give me your email address. Here is a quick listing of what I have.

2 - Standard Size Plain/No decoration Rubabs: They are $450.00 each before shipping. These instruments were made and shipped to us in April. The mulberry is still yellowish but will darken over time. Both have three melody strings, 2 drones, 12 sympathetics and 1 high string.

1 - Smaller Folk Rubab: This instrument is 2 years old. The wood has taken on a warm orange brown tone. It was shipped to us in Japan in early May and has never been used here or before shipping. It has an unusual design mark on the fret board that is a signature mark of the maker. The sound of this Rubab is a little brighter than the standard size. The tone is wonderful. The asking price for this instrument is $425.00

1 - Full Decorated Rubab: This instrument is a special made instrument made and delivered a few weeks ago. It has 1/2 face detailed decoration and a larger design lower on the fretboard by the maker. It has neck decoration and detailed decorative circles on the body. The tuning head also has full detailed decoration.

This instrument is very special as it has a great look and wonderful sound. The asking price for this on is $700.

All instruments are shipped well packed and include a change of strings. Shipping costs from Japan depend upon your preference. We advise insured postal service or airfreight and can provide pricing for shipping upon request.

Sasurai-Gakki provides instruments to the Japanese ethnic music community. We are a not-for profit group supporting ethnic music study and performance. We import instruments directly from makers and provide Persian, Turkish, Afghan, Uzbek and Chinese instruments. If you are looking for something, chances are we can help you find it.

Cheers,

Sasurai-Gakki

michoud - 5-21-2009 at 05:05 AM

Hi rubabplayer.
Can you send me photos of the instruments you have for sell, prices and shipment costs to Spain?
I´m interested in afghan, uzbek and chinese instruments
micheloblues@yahoo.es
Thanks in advance

Photos

RubabPlayer - 5-21-2009 at 04:43 PM

Sure. I'll send some photos tonight of some of the instruments.

Is there anything special you are looking for?

Other Instruments

RubabPlayer - 5-21-2009 at 04:51 PM

We have a few other instruments available too.


Uyghur Dotar made in Kashgar. Very nice instrument with great decoration. USD350.00

2 x Decorated Mahogany Saz from Izmir Turkey. These are very nice instruments for intermediate players. Good sound and very nice design work. USD250.00

1 x Uzbek Rubab: This is the six string type with a body similar to the Afghan Rubab but with a longer neck similar to the Persian type. It has great sound and is a pretty rare instrument to find available. USD400.00

We can also provide some of the following.

Chinese Ruan (Zhong Ruan)

Chinese Erhu

Japanese Shamisen (Nagaota or other types)

Japanese Sanshin from Okinawa

Japanese Biwa (special order only due to very limited availability and high price of these instruments)

Japanese Koto: (special order only due to the size and shipping limitations)

Afghan Dotar: Herati or two string type.

Afghan Tanbur: Standard type.

Persian Setar: Special order

Persian Tar: Special order

Persian Daf Drum

Turkish Saz: We can provide several types from various makers.

michoud - 5-22-2009 at 01:02 AM

Hi rubabplayer!
did you send me the photos and information? I ask you because I delete all my new mails by mistake...:shrug:

chismes - 5-22-2009 at 04:01 AM

hello rubab player, send me the photos and the costs of shipping to my email arroba,yahoo.es. ,, I´m interested in the ruan and the sanshin too. Thanks

hello michoud,
creo que alguna vez ya habiamos coincido por este foro, veo que tambien estas interesado en instrumentos dificiles de encontrar y aun más de tocar, luego te enviare un email con algunas fotos de los instrumentos que me he agenciado, un saludo.

michoud - 5-22-2009 at 04:38 AM

ok!
Gracias! ya te manaré las fotos de los mios, pero dame un poco de tiempo porque ando liadisimo, ya que presentamos el documental de la música en siria junto con el concierto en una semana, y no tengo las fotos en el ordenador.

RubabPlayer - 5-22-2009 at 06:28 AM

Dear Michoud and Chismes.

I sent photos a few moments ago to your email accounts. Please let me know if you have questions or want to see other photos.
And feel free to ask any questions too.

One other note. We can custom order Rubab also. So if you have a specific set up, size or detailing that you want we can provide it.
Custom instruments take about 30 days to make and prices are based on quotations from the maker when we submit your requirements.

Very best,

Sasurai-Gakki

francis - 5-22-2009 at 08:30 AM

Hi Rubabplayer.

Could you send photos here, on this forum.....for all those who are reading this thread with interest, like I do?
It's a little bit frustrating to read :"I sent photos to your email"......the shop without the pictures.:shrug:

Regards,

Francis

Photos

Tkoind - 5-24-2009 at 05:09 PM

Hi Francis,

Here are a couple photos. I will add more later today.

Plain Rubab side.

Rubab photo 2

Tkoind - 5-24-2009 at 05:10 PM

Plain Rubab front

Rubab Photos

Tkoind - 5-24-2009 at 05:11 PM

Rubab Decorated

Tkoind - 5-24-2009 at 05:15 PM

More photos to follow

RubabPlayer - 5-24-2009 at 05:30 PM

Thanks Tkoind for help posting the photos. I will post more photos of some of the other Rubab later today.

I also wanted to post that we can order custom made Rubab also. They take about 30 days to make and you can provide specifications.

I'll post photos of our past instruments so you can see other options soon.



francis - 5-25-2009 at 01:13 AM

Hi Tkoind and Rubabplayer.

Thanks for the photos!

Link to Rubab Photos

RubabPlayer - 5-29-2009 at 11:47 PM

I have set up a gallery with more photos of the four instruments I have available now. All are great instruments that I have tested. The sound is fantastic and all are made of very nice mulberry.

If you have questions, please email me.
http://s344.photobucket.com/albums/p354/Tkoind/May_June%201009%20Ru...

Special Offer Plain Rubab

RubabPlayer - 5-30-2009 at 06:08 AM

We have two great plain Rubab available now. Summer is coming and we will have a few more instruments arriving soon. So I would like to clear a couple of the plain instruments soon.

So I am offering a significant discount on the Plain Rubas if purchased between today and June 15th. The original price was $450. For orders before June 15th I will let these go for $400 each.

Cronan - 5-30-2009 at 02:02 PM

Hello,
I am from France, I do have some musical instruments from Central Asia for sell :
Afghan rebab
Afghan Tanbur
AFghan dutar
Dutar Uzbek
Sato Uzbek
Tanbur Uzbek
Qoshnay
Doyra
Ney...
I will be in Uzbekistan this sumer, if you have sepcial order, let me know !
My email address : cronan.sr @ wanadoo.fr
Best regards

Other Sasurai Gakki Instruments

RubabPlayer - 6-4-2009 at 02:50 AM

http://s344.photobucket.com/albums/p354/Tkoind/

Here are photos of other instruments we offer.
I currently have one great Uyghur Dotar available for $300

You can also see the great Tanbur from Uzbekistan that we have as well. The ones in the photos are not for sale, but this level instrument is available by special order.

michoud - 6-6-2009 at 09:33 AM

Hi Rubabplayer
Real good instruments.
The distance between frets in rubab, dutar... are the same like western instruments (haf tone) or like persian instruments like tar or setar?
About Uyghur Dotar...is from afghanistan??Is this instrument like the one Aziz Herawi plays in his cds?
Thanks

Cronan - 6-6-2009 at 10:03 AM

Hello Michoud !

I think Uygur dotar is different to Afghan dotar.
Uygur dotar is long neck 2 silk strings.
Afghan dutar is not as long as the Uygur dotar and the 2 strings are from metal more as the Iranian dotar.

Abaout the fret, in all Central Asia, and more..., the frets are not as on the Occidental systeme : call "tempered" in French is tempéré. Except the instruments made under the influance of the Russian music (I saw in Tachkent, Uzbekistan, dutar and rebab with fixted fret in tempered systeme). Rebab, dutar, sato, rawap, tanbur, satar, etc., are all in natural systeme.
For your question Michoud, the fret on the rebab are disposed in half tone, but in natural systeme. Tar, setar, Turc tanbur use to have some thing mixted between natural and tempered systeme : they play with "coma" or micro intervalle.
If you tune your rabab, oud or all instrument in natural systeme with a electronic "tuner" you will do some thing wrong because electonic tuner use to tun only in tempered systeme. Then your instrument will be tuned ready to play with a piano but all the symatic strings will never sing !
We should to tune instrument like that with ear, "à l'oreille". It taks time, but you will get exactly what you want.

All the best

RubabPlayer - 6-6-2009 at 07:15 PM

Hello Michoud,

Cronan's response is pretty on target.

There are serveral types of Rubab that are made. The ones in my photos are traditional Afghan types that are made in Afghanistan and the Peshawar region of Pakistan.

There is a similar instrument made in the Herat area that has a slightly longer neck. This Rubab has six frets with a mixe of Persian and Afghan fret spacing. And a different configuration of the strings. These are extremely hard to get but I have been pursuing a maker in Herat to see if we can get some.

About the Dotar. Cronan is right here too. The Uyghur Dotar is 2 silk strings and is very different than the Aziz Herawi instrument.

I have two Afghan Dotar in stock now and am expecting to have one or two more sometime soon. The two I have now are made by the same maker as the Rubab. These are similar to some I have seen Aziz Herawi play but also a little closer to the Afghan Tanbur than his usual model. The sound etc... is quite similar.

One is a 4 main string, 10 sympathetic string instrument. The other is a 13 sympathetic and 6 main string (closer to the Tanbur type).

For Afghan Dotar this is an instrument that has only existed about 50 years when Herati artists combined the standard Afghan Dotar of old (similar to the Uzbek instrument) and added the drone strings. This gives it the same intense reverb and singing quality that you get with a well tuned Rubab.

But the Afghan Dotar are tricky. I had asked John Bailey about tuning and scale and he said that nearly every instrument is unique. So I've asked our maker to make a video with his interpretation of scale and tuning so I can include copies of it to help buyers know how to make this instrument sound as the maker intended.

If you are interested in the Afghan Dotar or the Afghan Tanbur I have stock and can send you photos. All are nicely decorated and sound great. The only issue I have is that they ar hard to play with non-Afghan instruments in an ensemble setting as many of our clients want to do. So I am exploring with the maker a new scale to reset the frets so that they are friendlier to ensemble play. But either setting is available.

We can have one made to specific settings on request too.

RubabPlayer - 6-6-2009 at 07:17 PM

The Tanbur is 15 sympathetics and 6 mains. Note that 4 of the 6 mains are drone strings on the Tanbur with a single pair played for melody.

Dotar are similar but with 1 melody string.

michoud - 6-7-2009 at 08:50 AM

Thanks, please send me all details (photos, details of tunning...) about afghan dotar and afghan tambur, with price and shipment costs to Spain.
Thanks a lot

RubabPlayer - 6-8-2009 at 12:43 AM

Hi Michoud,

I'll send some photos on to you soon.

Please PM or email me your contact details.

chaotikend - 6-12-2009 at 11:25 AM

Hello RubabPlayer,
I've been looking for quality Rubabs outside Afghanistan for years, but have only come across the cheap imports from Mid-East Mfg. Please send me photos and prices of your rubabs to me. I live in the U.S. How much do you think shipping would be?
Thanks alot,
Shan

RubabPlayer - 6-14-2009 at 04:02 PM

Hello Shan,

Thanks for your post.

I had the same problem when I was looking for a Rubab. Most on the market are not authentic and made from woods other than proper Mullberry.

The instruments I have are made by a well known master maker in Peshawar. He is famous for his decoration work as well as for the sound of the instruments. I play two of his instruments in our band RainInEden. One is a classical sized large instrument, the other is a standard sized instrument that is the best Rubab I have seen to date.

Here are some photos. I can send you more if you like.
http://s344.photobucket.com/albums/p354/Tkoind/May_June%201009%20Ru...

Shipping to Canada for a recent order was about JPY17,000 or USD170.00 it is a bit expensive, but this is a pretty fast and safe shipping method though Japan EMS. Good tracking and we've never had any issues with their service.

Cheaper methods go via sea and I don't recommend it for instruments with skin or sensitive wood.

Please PM your email to me and I will send a few more photos also.

We can special order instruments too if you have something specific in mind. It takes about 30 days to have made.

RubabPlayer - 6-15-2009 at 03:56 AM

http://s344.photobucket.com/albums/p354/Tkoind/May_June%201009%20Ru...

Hello Shan,

Sorry we had trouble with the link. Here is the correct one.

RubabPlayer - 6-17-2009 at 05:06 PM

Update.

Three of the four Rubabs in stock are now reserved for clients. I have one remaining in stock plain Standard Size Rubab available. This is still available at the sale price.

Once this one is gone future instruments will be at regular price and will require the 30 day wait from our master maker's shop to produce the instrument.

I still have two Afghan dotar and one Tanbur available at sale prices.

radixfc - 6-18-2009 at 11:22 PM

:D hi everybody!
if crisis doesn´t make me poor this year, I probably get one of those herati dutars from rubabplayer nexte year!
one question... has anybody heard about an afghan instrument called chahartar??? I think they call it to persan tar, but I´m not sure. Chahartar means four-strings in persian, and I found a really nice song in a compilation that is said to be played with this instrument
michoud, we must contact!!! we have so much in common! I live in Pamplona, and I also play citole and oud, and have a small collection of central asia lutes (setar, azeri tar, saz...) I also have a chinese pi-pa I bought in Kumming (Yunnan)... would you be interested in a change of my pipa to any of yours? un saludo!
I post a photo of my new citole in construction (By Evaristo Bretos), much bigger than the one played before

[file]9726[/file]

RubabPlayer - 6-18-2009 at 11:32 PM

Not sure what a chaharta could be.

I know that along the western region there are instruments that are semi-persian Afghan instruments. Maybe that is another cross border exchange instrument. If you have a link to where I could hear the recording, I can ask our makers also.

Where did you pick up your Azeri Tar? I'm hoping to pick up the Uzbek cousin if I am able to travel to Uzbekistan later this year. I play the larger Persian Tar but love the interesting sound and string set up on the Azeri type. How are you tuning it?

radixfc - 6-19-2009 at 02:46 AM

hi rubabplayer!
I took my azeri-tar from baku, a nice music shop close to te center, called Royal. I tried with other tar-makers and shops at Sekhi, but at the end a big shop with more than 50 tars to play was the best choice!
i post some photos about my tar hunting
the tunning I use the same as persian setar

radixfc - 6-19-2009 at 03:02 AM

the track belongs to a cd "VA- Afghanistan.- Traditional music of Herat" and it´s called "Dokhtar amu Jan". I have no links and no choice to edit my file to attach... sorry
I post another photo playing citole (for michoud)

RubabPlayer - 6-22-2009 at 12:02 AM

June Sale is nearly over. I have one remaining standard size plain Rubab available. This is a great instrument with wonderful sound. We've had several inquiries so first to place a confirmation order will take this one home.

The conflice in the region has made work on new instruments a little slower than usual. Our makers have now set up secure places to continue their work and are offering custom orders again. So we can take custom special orders for Rubab, Tanbur and Dotar. Turn around is still about 30 days from order to shipping.

The maker wishes to help promote the larger Classical Sized Rubab. These are larger instruments with a 70-75cm scale length and the most amazing natural reverb from the depth and size of the body. There are very few of these in circulation outside top Afghan players and offers a distinctive sound and feeling over the standard size instruments.

These are better for experienced musicians as the size makes it a little harder to handle. I play both and find the larger instrument a bit more challenging.

If you would like to know more, please contact me. I can send along some photos of my instrument for reference.

RubabPlayer - 6-25-2009 at 04:42 PM

One more plain Rubab left. This is a great instrument. Wonderful sound, great workmanship and a rare chance to own an instrument made by one of the best Afghan Rubab makers still in practice.

Classical size rubab

chaotikend - 7-13-2009 at 12:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RubabPlayer  
June Sale is nearly over. I have one remaining standard size plain Rubab available. This is a great instrument with wonderful sound. We've had several inquiries so first to place a confirmation order will take this one home.

The conflice in the region has made work on new instruments a little slower than usual. Our makers have now set up secure places to continue their work and are offering custom orders again. So we can take custom special orders for Rubab, Tanbur and Dotar. Turn around is still about 30 days from order to shipping.

The maker wishes to help promote the larger Classical Sized Rubab. These are larger instruments with a 70-75cm scale length and the most amazing natural reverb from the depth and size of the body. There are very few of these in circulation outside top Afghan players and offers a distinctive sound and feeling over the standard size instruments.

Hello, How much does it cost for the classical size rubab? Do you have any photos?

These are better for experienced musicians as the size makes it a little harder to handle. I play both and find the larger instrument a bit more challenging.

If you would like to know more, please contact me. I can send along some photos of my instrument for reference.

coyootie - 7-20-2009 at 07:08 AM

hello, I have a nice old (perhaps 40-50 yrs) rubab, fully playable,inlaid neck. I'd sell this for 500 US$ plus insured shipping. let me know if you're interested, I'll email pix.

corridoio - 7-21-2009 at 02:52 PM

Hi Coyootie
I sent you a u2u

michoud - 7-22-2009 at 09:45 AM

Hi
I sent you a u2u to...

Cronan - 11-5-2009 at 01:59 PM

Hello,
I am back from Uzbekistan.
So I do have instruments for sell.
I have finich to restaure Afhan Pashtu rebab. I had hard work to do on it : new sounding bord, new skin, and new forme of the body. I have set the instrument with new strings, it sounds well but I think the strings are not well.
So, I do have a question. Where did you get your afgan rebab strings or what do you use. I use harp strings.
Bien à vous,
Sylvain

m.abba - 7-13-2010 at 12:33 AM

Hey guys,
im new here but i love this place.
im a Tar player i play the irani tar in a small ensemble here in california,
we play songs from all over, persia,turk,armenia and also some afghan style music.

Im actually looking for a real descent quality rubab, and i know their hard to find...
looks like some of you may have links...

would love if anybody could reply to this and let me know if there is any connection happening.

Thank you all.
may the music sings within.
M.abba

RubabPlayer - 7-14-2010 at 06:18 PM

Hello,

We are able to provide master quality Afghan Rubab made to order.

Classical, Standard and Folk sizes are available. Decoration can range from none to very ornate. Also you have some choices for string set up.

Please contact me if you would like to hear more. Or visit our site.

http://www.rainineden.com/sasurai

Cronan - 7-23-2010 at 01:36 AM

Hello Rubab Player,
You still in Japan?
Your instruments look nice, it will be great to try some.
Back to you.

RubabPlayer - 7-25-2010 at 05:46 AM

Hi Cronan,

Thanks for your message. I am still in Japan.

We are still bringing in Rubab from our Afghan Rubab maker. And more recently I started importing very rare Persian
Rubabs. There are several types including a bass Persian Rubab and the standard classical Persian type.

If you are in Japan, let me know and I can arrange time for you to try some of the instruments.

Take care

RubabPlayer - 8-10-2010 at 06:15 PM

Hello Everyone,

The flooding and problems in NWFP have pretty much shut down production for Rubabs for the time being. I expect by early fall, things will resume.

Until then I have two very wonderful instruments available.

1. Full Standard Size, undecorated Afghan Rubab. Wonderful instrument for JPY45,000 or USD475.00 This instrument has a wonderful sound and is ready for shipping.

2. Full Size Afghan Herati Dotar. This is a very rare instrument and it is the last we expect to have for a very long while. JPY40,000 or USD425.00.

Shipping will be from Japan, if you are interested, please le us know your address and we will quote for shipping costs.

rocco786 - 11-5-2012 at 05:38 AM

HI Rababplayer-

I have been looking for a Herati dutar....it sounds like your the man that can get one. Please let me know hoe to get one made for me?