Tanbur makers and Fash village
Tanbur making is a family craft handed down through generations. Each great maker has his or her own mark, and players often know an instrument by its maker’s name.
Centres of tanbur making
Fash village (Kangavar): today one of Iran’s largest centres for making tanbur, setar and tar. Instrument making in Fash began with Yadollah Ashrafi (1921–c. 2007); according to his students, more than 300 families in the village now make instruments.
Sahneh: home of many players and makers, including Saeed Zolnouri. The “Sheyda” workshop of Seyed Khalil Alinejad and Abdolreza Rahnama was in Sahneh.
Gahvareh and Guran: the Farmani family of Gahvareh have been tanbur makers for several generations.
Dalahu: Ghobad Ghobadi, kalam singer and tanbur maker.
Some makers
Maker | Note |
|---|---|
Founder of instrument making in Fash | |
Nephew and student of Yadollah; “Tanbur Mehrab” | |
“Majzub” workshop; creator of the tantar | |
From the maker family of Gahvareh | |
Maker of the tanbur and the delsaz | |
Tanbur maker in the Yarsan tradition | |
The “Saeb” mark | |
One of the women tanbur makers |
Many great players, including Seyed Khalil Alinejad, also made instruments themselves.
How a tanbur is made, in brief
Seasoning mulberry and walnut wood, sometimes for several years.
Making the body: carving it from one piece or gluing staves.
Making and fitting the soundboard.
Making the neck, nut and peg holes.
Tying the frets, fitting the bridge and strings, and adjusting the sound.
Makers say an instrument’s sound also depends on the maker’s state of mind and care, not only on tools and wood.
Sources: makers’ pages on Tanburban, based on published profiles of and interviews with them.
About the tanbur: What is the tanbur? · History · Construction · Tuning and technique · Maqams · Makers and Fash village · Buying and care · Where to start