Description
The Diba setar is an affordable beginner Persian setar — a handmade long-necked lute that brings the intimate, singing voice of Persian classical music within easy reach of new players. Stamped with Diba’s own maker’s seal (mohr) and supplied with a fitted soft case, it pairs an unusually bright maple bowl with a traditional mulberry soundboard — a first setar that still carries genuine workshop character.
A maple bowl with a brighter voice
Most Persian setars are carved from mulberry or walnut, so Diba’s choice of a maple bowl gives this instrument a personality of its own. Maple is a dense, close-grained tonewood that tends to speak with more clarity and focus, lending the setar a crisp attack and clear note separation that beginners find easy to hear and tune to. The bowl is finished in a warm glossy lacquer and decorated with traditional ornamental motifs running down the back — a quietly elegant touch on an entry-level instrument.
Mulberry soundboard, walnut neck and tuning
The matte mulberry soundboard is the classic choice for the setar, prized for the warm, resonant response that defines the instrument’s character. A cluster of small sound holes lets the top breathe, while the walnut neck carries its movable gut frets along a comfortable 65 cm playing length. Four strings are turned by friction pegs of walnut and maple and brought to the standard setar tuning, ready to play straight out of the case.
Technical specifications
| Instrument | Persian setar (long-necked lute) |
| Maker | Diba (Tehran, Iran) |
| Soundboard (top) | Mulberry, matte finish |
| Bowl / body | Maple, glossy finish |
| Neck | Walnut |
| Pegs | Walnut & maple |
| Strings | Four (three steel, one bronze) |
| Scale length (nut to bridge) | 65 cm |
| Total length | 87 cm |
| Bowl dimensions | 23 × 16 × 13 cm |
| Weight | 0.40 kg |
| Includes | Fitted soft case |
Who this beginner Persian setar is for
At 0.40 kg and just 87 cm long, the Diba setar is light, compact and forgiving — an ideal first instrument for students, music-school beginners and anyone exploring Persian music for the first time. Its modest price and included soft case make it an easy step into the tradition, while the clear maple voice rewards practice as your technique develops. Players who already own a setar will find it a practical travel companion. Browse the rest of our Persian setar collection to compare makers and tonewoods.
The music of the setar
The setar sits at the heart of Persian classical music, where it carries the radif and the modal system of the dastgah. Plucked with the nail of the index finger, it is an intimate, contemplative voice — as much at home in solo practice and meditation as in ensemble and accompaniment. Its quiet dynamic range makes it ideal for apartment practice and late-night playing, and a natural companion to the wider family of Persian string instruments.
Care
Keep your setar in its soft case when not in use, away from direct heat, radiators and large swings in humidity. Wipe the soundboard gently with a dry cloth, and detune slightly for long storage to ease tension on the top. For travel and added protection, a dedicated hard case is available.
Tune Your Setar
Use our free online tuner at tuner.tapadum.com — it includes the standard setar tuning and a chromatic mode for fine adjustment after restringing.
Curation & craftsmanship
Each Diba setar is hand-built in Diba’s Tehran workshop and selected for Tapadum by Sertan Sarioglu, our strings specialist, who checks the setup and intonation across the fretted range before it ships. Worldwide shipping & 15-day return.
