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Buying a traditional musical instrument online can be straightforward if you verify the instrument type, maker, materials, specifications, intended use, package contents, shipping information and return policy before paying. The most common mistake is making the decision from one factor—usually price or appearance—instead of evaluating the complete listing.

TL;DR

Before buying a traditional musical instrument online:

• Identify the exact instrument and type you are buying.
• Check the maker and available product specifications.
• Read the material and construction information carefully.
• Look at detailed product photos rather than relying only on a single main image.
• Consider your playing level and intended use.
• Check exactly what is included in the package.
• Compare prices only after confirming that you are comparing comparable instruments.
• Review shipping and return information before payment.
• Remember that photographs and specifications cannot establish every aspect of sound or playability.
• If an important characteristic cannot be verified online, ask the seller or consult an experienced musician.

What should you check before buying a traditional instrument online?

Start by verifying the identity and specifications of the instrument before comparing its price. A useful order is: instrument type → maker → materials → construction/specifications → intended use → package contents → shipping and return information.

This approach prevents a common online-shopping problem: comparing two listings as if they were equivalent when the listings actually describe different instruments, makers, materials or configurations.

For Persian instruments, product pages can contain details such as the maker, wood used for different parts, instrument category and included case or accessories. For example, Delaram product pages for Persian Setar models identify makers and materials rather than presenting the instrument only by name.

Mistake #1: Choosing an instrument based only on price

The lowest listed price should not be treated as the only criterion for comparing traditional instruments.

Price comparison becomes meaningful only when you know what you are comparing. Before deciding that one instrument is more expensive or cheaper, check:

Comparison factor	What to verify
Instrument type	Are both listings for the same type of instrument?
Maker	Are the instruments made by the same maker?
Materials	Are the listed materials comparable?
Construction	Are the specifications comparable?
Grade/use	Are they intended for similar levels of use?
Included items	Are the same accessories or case included?
Condition	Are both instruments new and described under comparable conditions?
Shipping	Is shipping handled under comparable conditions?

Delaram’s Persian Tar category, for example, contains instruments from different makers and at different listed prices, demonstrating why comparing only the displayed price can omit important product differences.

Practical rule: compare the specifications first and the price second.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the maker and materials

For a handmade traditional instrument, the maker and construction materials are information that should be examined rather than ignored.

When reading a product page, look for information such as:

• Maker or instrument builder
• Wood used for the body or bowl
• Wood used for the neck
• Soundboard or face material where applicable
• Instrument category
• Included accessories
• Size or configuration
• Other clearly stated construction details

For example, Delaram’s Persian Setar listings identify details such as the maker, face material, bowl material, neck material and included case.

However, material names alone should not be treated as proof that an instrument will have a particular sound. Material information is one part of the buying decision, not a substitute for evaluating the complete instrument.

For buyers researching Persian instruments, Delaram also provides separate educational material about the structure and characteristics of instruments such as the Setar and Tar.

Mistake #3: Trusting photos without checking the actual details

Photos are useful for inspecting visible characteristics, but they cannot establish every aspect of an instrument’s condition, sound or playability.

Before ordering, examine whether the listing gives you enough information to understand what is actually being sold.

Check:

1. Is the instrument clearly identifiable?
2. Are important parts visible?
3. Are the product specifications written clearly?
4. Are the materials identified?
5. Is the maker identified?
6. Are included accessories listed?
7. Are there photos or other information that address the condition of the actual instrument?

If a characteristic is important to your purchase but cannot be established from the listing, ask the seller rather than assuming.

This distinction is particularly important for handmade instruments, where the individual instrument can matter in addition to its general model or category.

Mistake #4: Buying without considering skill level and intended use

The right traditional instrument depends partly on what you intend to do with it and your current playing level.

Before choosing a model, define your intended use:

Question	Why it matters
Are you a beginner or experienced player?	Helps narrow the appropriate product category.
Are you learning or performing?	Your requirements may differ depending on use.
Are you buying for practice or recording?	Different evaluation criteria may become relevant.
Do you already play this instrument?	Existing experience can help you evaluate playability.
Do you need a specific instrument type?	Similar-looking instruments can have different construction and playing characteristics.

Delaram’s catalog itself distinguishes between categories such as student, standard and professional for some instruments.

The important point is not to assume that a more advanced category automatically corresponds to a better choice for every player. The category should be considered in relation to the buyer’s actual use.

Mistake #5: Assuming similar traditional instruments are interchangeable

Do not assume that instruments with similar names or appearances have identical construction, sound or playing systems.

This is particularly important when comparing Persian and regional forms of traditional instruments.

For example, Delaram maintains separate information and product categories for Persian Tar, Tanbour, Santour, Setar and other traditional instruments.

Before ordering, confirm:

• Exact instrument name
• Regional or traditional variant
• Number and type of strings where relevant
• Construction
• Intended musical tradition
• Tuning system where relevant
• Maker
• Product specifications

If you are unsure whether two similarly named instruments are actually interchangeable, this is an appropriate point to consult a teacher or experienced player.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to check the package contents

Always verify what is included in the purchase instead of assuming that every accessory shown or mentioned elsewhere is included.

A product page may specify a case, extra strings or other accessories. These details should be checked on the specific product listing you intend to purchase.

For example, one Delaram Persian Setar listing explicitly states that it comes with a special hard case, while another Setar listing specifies a hard case as part of the product.

Before checkout, make a simple list:

• Instrument
• Case
• Extra strings, if stated
• Playing accessories, if stated
• Other included items
• Items that must be purchased separately

This avoids confusing “available on the website” with “included with this product.”

Mistake #7: Ignoring the return policy, support and shipping information

Shipping and return conditions should be checked before payment, not after a problem occurs.

For an online traditional instrument purchase, confirm:

• How the instrument will be shipped
• Whether the seller provides support
• What the return conditions are
• What happens if the received item differs from its listing
• What information the seller requires for a return or claim
• Whether the package contents match the product description

This is especially important when the purchase involves a handmade instrument and the buyer cannot inspect the physical instrument before ordering.

The purpose is not to assume that something will go wrong; it is to know the process before committing to the purchase.

How can you evaluate a traditional instrument before it arrives?

Separate remotely verifiable information from characteristics that require direct inspection or expert evaluation.

Information	Can it be checked online?	What to do
Instrument name	Yes	Confirm the exact product
Maker	Usually, if stated	Check the listing
Listed materials	Yes, if provided	Read the specifications
Product category	Yes	Check the classification
Included accessories	Yes, if listed	Confirm package contents
Dimensions/configuration	If provided	Compare with your requirements
Visible appearance	Partly	Inspect detailed photos
Structural condition	Partly	Request additional information if necessary
Sound	Partly	A recording may provide useful information, but has limitations
Playability	Limited	Direct testing or experienced evaluation may be necessary
Subtle defects	Limited	Ask the seller or seek expert inspection

The key principle is simple: do not convert missing information into a positive assumption.

If the listing does not provide enough information to answer an important question, ask for clarification.

What should you check when the instrument arrives?

Inspect the instrument and its package contents as soon as practical after delivery, and compare what you received with the product information you used when ordering.

Use this checklist:

1. Confirm the instrument

Check the name, model or maker against your order.

2. Check the visible condition

Look for visible damage or anything that appears materially different from the listing.

3. Check the package contents

Confirm that the case and any other explicitly included accessories are present.

4. Check the basic playing condition

If you have the required experience, evaluate the instrument’s basic playability and tuning.

5. Document problems

If something appears damaged, missing or materially different from the listing, document the issue and contact the seller according to the applicable support or return process.

A practical checklist for buying traditional instruments online

Before clicking Buy, ask these questions:

Instrument

• Do I know exactly which instrument I am buying?
• Is the regional/traditional variant clear?

Maker and construction

• Is the maker identified?
• Are the important materials specified?
• Are the relevant construction details available?

My needs

• Does the instrument match my skill level?
• Does it match my intended use?

Listing

• Are there enough product photos?
• Are the specifications clear?
• Is the actual package contents clear?

Price

• Am I comparing equivalent instruments?
• Have I considered differences in maker, materials, configuration and included items?

Transaction

• Have I checked shipping information?
• Have I read the return conditions?
• Do I know how to contact the seller if there is a problem?

Expert assessment

• Is there anything important that I cannot verify online?
• Should I ask a teacher, experienced musician or instrument specialist before purchasing?

If the answer to these questions is clear, you have a much more structured basis for making an online purchase.

Explore Persian Traditional Instruments

Once you have established the criteria that matter to you, you can compare instruments according to their type and specifications rather than choosing from price or appearance alone.

For example, Delaram provides dedicated information and product pages for Persian Tar, Setar and Santour, as well as educational material covering these instruments.

• Persian Tar
• Persian Setar
• Persian Santour
• An Ultimate Buying Guide for Persian Tar
• How to Tune a Setar

CTA: Compare the relevant instrument category and product specifications before choosing a model.

FAQ