Afghan Rabab Rubab Rebab, Large, Old, Master Grade, Excellent Condition

Up for sale is my beautiful Afghan Rabab (sometimes spelled Rubab, Rebab or even Robap). I don’t know the name of the builder, or exactly when it was made, but from the color of the wood (Mulberry oxidizes and darkens over time) and the quality of the workmanship (much better than any current builders I’ve encountered), I would guess it was from the 1950s or 1960s. I got it from an American who had spent a year travelling around Afghanistan, and brought back three Rababs from the trip. This was, by far, the best of the batch, and was the one he had intended to keep for himself. I was not interested in the others, as this was the only one that was better than the Rababs I already had. I was patient, and eventually he sold it to me.

If you have any interest in a true top-quality Afghan Rabab, this is the one you want. It is, as stated, in excellent condition, with no damage or issues at all. It is in perfect working order and ready to be played.

The instrument is ornately inlaid with bone, shell/mother of pearl and copper wire and is really quite beautiful to look at. Also, the grain of the body (solid Mulberry wood) is a deep, rich chocolate brown and lovely, as well. Even the bone pins for the sympathetic strings have a beautiful patina to them. Truly an extraordinarily good instrument.

The skin head is in perfect condition, the action is great. The bridge and nut pieces are all in perfect condition. The tuning pegs all operate smoothly with no undue binding or slippage. This is a beautiful instrument, ready to be played.

I have owned a half dozen Afghan Rababs over the past 25 years, and this is, by far, the best one I’ve ever encountered, visually, sonically, and in terms of playability.

This is a large and very resonant Rabab. If you are under 5’ 4”, you might find it a bit difficult to play. I am 5’ 10” and have no trouble playing it at all, but it is not ideal for small players. At 6 lbs., 6 oz., it is quite comfortable to play. Overall length is 38.75" and the body is 7.25" at the widest point and 9" deep. The scale length is 29". String height above the 4th fret is between 3/32” and 4/32". This can be lowered by filing the slots in the nut and bridge.

It comes with a nice padded bag. This will provide some protection while storing it or carrying it to a performance or lesson.

As for the demo file that I have uploaded to YouTube, please forgive the playing. I haven’t spent much time playing Rabab for the past few years. Still, it will give you a good idea of the strong, clear voice of this excellent instrument.

It will be packed in an oversized, extra-strong box, with bubble wrap between the instrument and the gig bag, and other soft material between the gig bag and the carton. There will also be a special piece of foam to protect the bridge and skin in shipment. I have a lot of experience packing stringed instruments, having shipped roughly 1000 instruments over the past 40 years, to dozens of countries around the world.

The instrument comes with a 48-hour approval period. If, within the 48-hour period, you decide that the instrument is not for you, simply return it to me in the same condition as I sent it out, with full insurance, and I will refund your purchase price, minus shipping to you and a 10% restocking fee. Buyer pays return shipping.

TERMS, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Buyer pays selling price plus shipping and insurance. I typically ship with USPS, UPS or FedEx, though other arrangements can be made at the buyer's request. No fee is charged for packing or handling. I will gladly ship anywhere in the world, but beware, international shipping charges can be steep, and the buyer is responsible for all duties, taxes, VAT, brokerage and storage fees on their end. Please contact me with any questions.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA: Please send us your address for a proper shipping quote. We get special deals from DHL which are MUCH less expensive than UPS or FedEx.