Anyone know anything about a Rubab?

[mchalebk]

A friend recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan and brought me a Rubab. None of us had any idea what it was, so I googled "11 string instrument Afghanistan" and A bunch of rebab links came up. Apparently, it has four melody strings and several drone strings and several sympathetic strings.

I have no idea how to tune this (or how to find strings for it) or if it would be considered playable. Here are some photos:






The instrument is (as you can see) very ornate. The inlay on the fingerboard appears to be mother of pearl. Even if it isn't playable, it will make a nice display piece.

[Craviola]

Have fun with that one. Check this site out. Online Afghan Rubab Tutor. http://www.oart.eu/joomla/tuning

The 5 nylon strings are in 3 courses: first and second double, third single. Other 6,7 and 8 from steel is resonating strings. Tuning is: C ff b'b'. The strings run over a loose wooden bridge on the lower skin, to 11 pegs fixed to the bottom of the body.

http://www.juststrings.com/ They have just about everything but I have a feeling you will have to make up your sets of sympathetic strings, the trick will be finding out what gauges they are.

[Craviola]

Have fun with that one. Check this site out. Online Afghan Rubab Tutor. http://www.oart.eu/joomla/tuning

You tube has some nice playing and tutorials as well.

The 5 nylon strings are in 3 courses: first and second double, third single. Other 6,7 and 8 from steel is resonating strings. Tuning is: C ff b'b'. The strings run over a loose wooden bridge on the lower skin, to 11 pegs fixed to the bottom of the body.

http://www.juststrings.com/ They have just about everything but I have a feeling you will have to make up your sets of sympathetic strings, the trick will be finding out what gauges they are.

[mchalebk]

Thanks for the info. I'll check those sites out.

[Steve DeRosa]

Heard tell some folks like it boiled, some like it stewed with strawberries, others like it in a pie...