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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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175829 No.175829 [Reply] [Original]

Alright, /diy/, I need to make a SETAR. It's a three stringed Iranian instrument, a forth string was added sometime in the last couple of decades for a droning effect, cool. I'll add it anyways.

There is very little to no information regarding the specifics. I'm certain I can build one with no problem, I just can't find a proper scale length, nor can I find proper fret spacing. They're kind of wonky, and movable, made of gut or nylon. I plan on fixing them in place, as this will be somewhat electric, the acoustic resonator won't be necessary.

So, and /dirany/ians around? If so, please help!

>> No.175832

are we talking about a regular Setar, or a baby Setar?

personally, I prefer to play with my baby Setar.

>> No.175835

>>175832

From what I understand, there's many different types, but they fall into general categories of "Setar" and "Tar," the latter having more drone strings like the traditional Indian SITAR.

I'm assuming the baby Setar has a higher pitch? It's getting played next to a Santoor, and a standard Bass guitar. The Setar is really just going to have short parts played on it, then looped, or only picked up when I'm not playing drums to fill gaps. What we're trying to accomplish is a somewhat traditional, more so-bastardized version of traditional Iranian music, but... modernized. Mixed with some post-rocky/ambient weenie music. We've been jamming with the bass/drum/Santoor combination for a little while, and it sounds fantastic, but we're thinking we need something more.

>> No.175847

Some discussion on this subject occurred here:
http://www.nonoctave.com/forum/messages/8275.html

>> No.175857

>>175847

GLORIOUS! Alright, once i get the specifics down.

What should we use for wood? I plan on bumping as I make and go along? I've got all kinds of shit around the shop, Purpleheart, oak, mahogany, poplar, walnut, etc. I plan on making it similar to a neck-through guitar, a neck that goes from head to butt, with wings glued to it.

>> No.175858

In the more modern western world people make what are known as "Stick Dulcimer" which can have 1 to 4 strings and may have a metal or wooden soundbox.

Here's video series on how to make them,

http://www.youtube.com/user/michaeljking

It's very similar to a setar and some of the methods you should be able to imploy in your own instruments.

>> No.175879

>>175858

Oooo more fun toys to make. I'm not trying to ~completely~ bastardize it, I still plan on using gut frets and whatnot, I just needed to figure proper scale length so the intonation wasn't so far off from the Santoor that it's noticeable.

>> No.175905

>>175857
Well it's my understanding that the neckbs on these things are traditionally made of Walnut, ut you are building it solid body, shit man, I don't know.

>> No.175908

>>175905
Fuck, it looks like a drunk typed this post.

>> No.175990

> I'm assuming the baby Setar has a higher pitch?

nope, it's a homophone, as in "I prefer to play with my baby sitter.''

over your head!

>> No.175999

>>175990
Witty bastard.

>> No.176085

>>175990

I WORK WOOD LEAVE ME ALONE!

:D