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— Long reads from the atelier

Blog.

Field notes, workshop visits and long reads from the atelier.

Ozgur Yalcin playing a Persian santur on stage
— Buying Guide · 9 min

How to Replace Santur Strings: Tools, Tuning and Practical Advice

A practical guide to replacing a broken santur string, forming the anchor hook, seating the tuning pin, checking bridge position and caring for zahme.
A musician inspecting a handmade oud before buying an instrument online
— Buying Guide · 6 min

Before You Buy an Instrument Online: Ask These Five Questions
Newly delivered oud, handpan and darbuka ready for their first inspection
— Instrument Care and Tips · 7 min

Your Instrument Has Arrived: The First 24 Hours
A real handmade oud prepared for Tapadum’s pre-shipping quality inspection
— Instruments · 7 min

How We Evaluate a Handmade Instrument Before It Reaches You
A Turkish oud surrounded by traditional luthier tools on a dark wooden workbench
— Instruments · 8 min

Meet the Makers: The Hands Behind Tapadum’s Instruments
Handmade long-necked lute showing wooden tuning pegs and vibrating strings
— Instrument Care and Tips · 8 min

Is This Normal? Buzzes, Slipping Pegs and New-Instrument Sounds
Handcrafted buzuq on an indigo ornamental light stage
— Buying Guide · 5 min

Buzuq Buying Guide: Choosing Your First Long-Necked Lute
Handcrafted handpan in a warm, dark studio setting
— Buying Guide · 9 min

The Handpan: A Complete Guide to Scales, Sound, and Choosing Your First One (2026)
Oud, frame drum and handpan arranged for seasonal humidity care
— Instrument Care and Tips · 6 min

Heating Season and Humidity: A Care Guide for Traditional Instruments
Oud padded gig bag and fiber hard case side by side - two classes of oud case
— Buying Guide · 9 min

Oud Case and Gig Bag Guide: Padded or Hard Case?