TAR LUTE CONSTRUCTION

Version Date On line Updates

V0.0 Aug. 2007 yes Creation dHerouville
V1.0 Jan. 2008 yes Alternate rose finisher, fingerboard assembly dHerouville
V2.0 May. 2008 yes Fingerboard and soundbox details dHerouville
V3.0 Jan. 2009 no Additional archive (Habib ZOLFONUN) dHerouville
V4.0 Febr. 2009 yes Carving by OFOGHI & Heritage Center dHerouville

V5.0 Oct. 2010 yes Gluein the skin acc. Hushang SAMANI dHerouville



PREPARING HALF SOUNDBOXES



Basic carving the soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.




Basic carving the soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.



DESIGNING THE BOX (PERSIAN DESIGN)


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Soundbox pattern by Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran
SHAPING THE SOUNDBOX



Cutting the tongue of the soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.




Carving inside the soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.




Out carving the Tar soundbox by hammering. Cultural Heritage Organization Center, Tehran.




Out carving the Tar soundbox by hammering. Cultural Heritage Organization Center, Tehran.




CARVING OUT INNER SOUNDBOXES


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Soundbox pattern in progress in Cultural Heritage Organization Center, Tehran


CARVING OUT INNER SOUNDBOXES



Carving inner soundbox of a Tar inside. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.




Carving inner soundbox of a Tar inside. Lutemaker Manzema KHALEDI , Sanandaj.


CARVING OUT SOUNDBOXES




Carving the soundbox of a Tar inside. Front side is carved at least Lutemaker
Hosein MASSOUD, Tehran.




Refining the inner shape of a Tar inside. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD



COUPLING SOUNDBOXES



Assemblying half- soundboxes altogether (airchamber +glue). Lutemaker RAHNIM , Qazvin.



Assemblying half- soundboxes altogether (clamp +glue). Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD , Tehran.



REFINING SOUNDBOX EDGES (OUT CARVING)



Carving the soundbox of a Tar outside. Lutemaker RAHNIM , Qazvin. RAHIM used to carve on a pillow.
KHALEDI prefers a car tyre



Considering the time for wood
preparation ( = about two years
in waterbath ) and the duration
of soundbox carving, the efforts
in Tar lute making is somewhat
rewarded by an excellent
accoustic performance and a
significant commercial value in
Iran.



The playing technic - in Radif
classical repertoire and
accompaniement of some
Tasnif - is also held as difficult .
So the instrument is highly
appreciated and much more
considered than Setar lute.




REFINING SOUNDBOX EDGES (OUT CARVING)




Carved soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Manzema KHALEDI , Shohada street, Sanandaj.

Carved soundbox of a Tar . Lutemaker Manzema KHALEDI , Shohada street, Sanandaj.




Tar maker Habib ZOLFONUN, at work in Abadeh, Fars.


FINISHING SOUNDBOX (PERSIAN DESIGN)


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Gaps are filled with wood cream. This view shows off neck site and ivory plates on the fingerboard.




DESIGNING THE PEGBOX (PERSIAN DESIGN)


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Neck components Design. Lutemaker Hosein MASOUD.




MAKING THE PEG BOX (PERSIAN DESIGN)

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Cutting the pegbox side rib. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.




Cutting the pegbox front rib. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.


ASSEMBLYING THE NECK (PERSIAN DESIGN)

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Adjusting the pegbox on the Neck (glue + clamp). Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.




Adjusting the pegbox on the Neck (glue + clamp). Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.



ADJUSTING TWO FINGERBOARDS ON NECK (PERSIAN DESIGN)

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Dove-tailed profile of the neck was carved before inserting ivory made - upper & lower decorative fingerboards.

ADJUSTING THE NECK (PERSIAN DESIGN)

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Adjusting the pegbox on the Neck (glue + clamp). Lutemaker OFOGHI, Tehran.




Assemblying the dove-tail profiled Neck on the Soundbox (glue). Lutemaker OFOGHI, Tehran.




ADJUSTING THE NECK (PERSIAN DESIGN)

.
Assemblying the mortised neck on soundbox of the Tar . Here illustrated on a white wooden uncompleted pattern
by Lutemaker RAHMIN , Montazeri street, Qazvin. This pattern is the maker s demo for pupils.

COVERING SOUNDBOX WITH SKIN



Cut the skin (lamb, fish) picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.


Imergeing the skin in water picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.
COVERING SOUNDBOX WITH SKIN


Mixing wet glue powder with water. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




Clean the bowl area and spread ready glue on it. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.

COVERING SOUNDBOX WITH SKIN



Apply the wet skin on the ready bowl. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




Maker slightly pulls out the skin surface. As the skin surface is drying,
maker repells unsollicited folds. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




COVERING SOUNDBOX WITH SKIN



Fixing the strings back to the holder, carefully. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




After drying the glue, the maker adjust the position of the strings with a gauge.
Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




COVERING SOUNDBOX WITH SKIN



Assemblying the bridge on the skin, with wax. Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.




After drying the glue, the maker cuts the skin in excess. Then wait the final draying.
Picture by Hushang SAMANI, Tehran.






An old azeri Tar . The strengthened neck/sound box allows the tense of up to 17 strings.

A modern persian Tar . The bridge is carved from a bone.

ALTERNATE TABLE FINISHER : ROSE

Both tables are usually tightly covered with lamb skin for resonator . On this innovative Tar baz fiddle variant of Tar, the
upper table is fitted with a carved rose. Chemical varnish is the usual finisher for wood protection.
BRIDGES DESIGN (PERSIAN DESIGN)

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Main Bridge Design. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.

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Secondary Bridges Design, illustrated by Mohammad Reza DARVISHI.
FINISHING THE NECK

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Adjusting decorative ivory plates (glue + clamp). Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.





Adjusting frets and bridges. Lutemaker Hosein MASSOUD.




Abdulgassimov, Vagif, Azerbaijaian tar , Ishyg Publ., ISBN 5 89650 4, 1990.

Alinejad, Said Khallil, Tanbur, Azedir baztakenoun , Anteshadat Danshioufan Publ.,
ISBN 964 90430 2 0, 1987. Persian language (i)

Deraz, Omid, interview, lutemaker. Dehnadi Street, Shiraz, june 2007.

Ghaffari, Ramtin, interview, lutemaker. Saadati Alley, Hashemi Street, Tehran, 2007

Khaledi, Manzema, interview, lutemaker. Shohada Street, Sanandaj, july 2007.

Masoud, Hosein, Art of making musical instruments / step by step along with traditional art of
making musical instruments , local publisher, ISBN 964-6218-29-6, 2002. Persian
language. ( i )

Rahim, Mohamed Reza, interview, lutemaker. Montazeri Street, Qasvin, 2006.

Shirazi, Naser, Setar Construction , Part Publ. Tehran , 2002