Best Santoor for Beginners: What to Look for Before You Buy

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Whether you’ve fallen in love with the shimmering sound of the santoor in a classical Persian concert or discovered it through world music, buying your first instrument is an exciting — and sometimes overwhelming — step. This guide cuts through the confusion so you can make a confident, informed purchase.

Table of Contents

What Is a Santoor?

The santoor is a hammered dulcimer with deep roots in Persian classical music. It consists of a trapezoidal wooden box strung with multiple courses of strings, played by striking them with two lightweight mallets called mezrabs. The result is a cascading, resonant sound that sits somewhere between a harp and a piano — delicate yet deeply expressive.

In Iran, the santoor is one of the most beloved instruments in both classical (radif) and folk traditions. Today, it has attracted musicians worldwide, from students of world music to professional performers.

Santoor for Beginners vs. Professional: What’s the Difference?

Before browsing options, it helps to understand what separates a beginner instrument from a professional one.

Feature	Beginner Santoor	Professional Santoor
Wood quality	Walnut or mixed wood	Aged walnut, carefully selected
String material	Standard metal alloy	High-grade steel or mixed metal
Tuning stability	Moderate	Excellent
Sound projection	Good	Rich, nuanced, concert-ready
Price range	$200–$600	$800–$3,000+
Maker	Factory or small workshop	Master luthier (ustad)

As a beginner, you do not need a professional-grade instrument — but you do need one that is well-made enough to stay in tune, respond consistently, and not frustrate your early learning.

Mid-Range (Great for Beginners to Intermediate)

High Quality Persian Santoor – Mousavi 2 Mohr Vizhe — CAD $672 — A solid choice for serious beginners; the “2 mohr” (double-stamp) indicates verified quality from the Mousavi workshop.
High-Quality Persian Santour – Arghannoun — CAD $706 — Another well-regarded mid-range option with good tonal balance.
High Quality Persian Santour – Peyman Taheri — CAD $739 (on sale from $874) — Currently discounted; Taheri is a respected maker name.

Professional Grade

High-Quality Persian Santour – Mousavi (3 Mohr) — CAD $896 (on sale from $1,008) — The “3 mohr” stamp signals higher craftsmanship; suitable for advanced students and performers.
High Quality Persian Santour – Mosavi — CAD $941 (on sale from $1,120) — Premium Mosavi build, excellent for intermediate-to-professional players.
High-Quality Persian Santoor – Hamid Mousavi, Rosewood — CAD $1,396 — Top-tier instrument with a rosewood body for a warmer, richer tone.
Haft Dastgah Persian Santour – Froghi (Behrad & Zolani) — CAD $1,680 — A specialized instrument designed for all seven Persian dastgahs; for advanced players.

Electronic / Specialty

eSantoor (Electronic Santoor) — CAD $2,800 — For performers who need amplified or studio-ready sound.

5 Things to Look for When Buying Your First Santoor

1. Wood Quality and Construction

The body of the santoor is its voice. Look for instruments made from walnut wood (gerdoo), which is the traditional and most acoustically suitable choice. Avoid instruments made from unnamed or low-grade composite wood, as these tend to produce a flat, thin tone and may warp over time.

Check that:

The joints are clean and tight, with no visible gaps
The surface finish is even (lacquered or oiled, not flaking)
The overall build feels solid, not hollow or light

2. Number of Strings and Courses

A standard Persian santoor has 72 strings arranged in 18 courses (4 strings per course). Some beginner instruments come with fewer courses — this is fine for learning basic scales, but you will outgrow them quickly.

If budget allows, opt for a full 18-course instrument from the start. It will serve you longer and allow you to learn the full range of Persian classical music.

3. Tuning Pins and Tuning Stability

One of the most common complaints from beginner santoor players is that their instrument constantly goes out of tune. This usually comes down to the quality of the tuning pins (also called gushis).

Look for:

Metal tuning pins with a firm, smooth turn
Pins that hold tension without slipping
An instrument that has been pre-tuned and set up before shipping

A good-quality beginner santoor should hold its tune for several days of normal playing before needing adjustment.

4. Bridges (Kharak)

The bridges are small pieces of wood or bone that sit under the strings and transfer vibration to the soundboard. On a quality santoor, the bridges should:

Be evenly spaced and properly seated
Not rattle or buzz when strings are struck
Be made of bone, hardwood, or quality synthetic material

Poorly fitted bridges are a leading cause of buzzing sounds and intonation problems on cheap instruments.

5. Mezrabs (Mallets) Included

Every santoor comes with a pair of mezrabs — lightweight curved mallets used to strike the strings. For beginners, look for mezrabs that are:

Light and well-balanced (around 8–12 grams each)
Made from walnut or another hardwood
Wrapped with felt at the striking end for a softer tone

Some sellers include low-quality or unbalanced mezrabs that make it harder to develop proper technique. If in doubt, purchase a quality pair separately.

How Much Should You Spend as a Beginner?

A reliable beginner santoor typically falls in the $250–$500 range. Here’s what to expect at each price point:

Under $200: Be cautious. At this price, construction quality and tuning stability are often poor. Fine for decoration, not ideal for learning.
$250–$400: The sweet spot for most beginners. You can find well-constructed instruments from reputable workshops that will support at least 2–3 years of serious learning.
$400–$600: Excellent beginner-to-intermediate range. Instruments here often come from semi-professional workshops and offer noticeably better tone and stability.
$600+: Unless you have confirmed you will continue playing, this is more than necessary at the start.

Handmade vs. Factory-Made: Does It Matter for Beginners?

Short answer: somewhat, but not as much as you might think.

Factory-made santoors — typically produced in workshops in Tehran or imported — can offer consistent quality at lower prices. Handmade instruments from a named maker (ustad) offer unique character, superior wood selection, and craftsmanship, but come at a premium.

For a beginner, a well-made factory or small-workshop instrument is perfectly appropriate. Focus on verified quality rather than chasing a handmade label.

What About Buying Online?

Purchasing a santoor online is increasingly common — and perfectly reasonable — as long as you:

Buy from a specialist Persian instrument retailer, not a general marketplace where quality is inconsistent
Look for sellers who offer tuning setup before shipping — this saves you significant headache
Check return policies — a reputable seller will offer returns if the instrument arrives damaged or misrepresented
Read customer reviews from actual players, not just casual buyers

Avoid listings with no description of wood type, number of courses, or country of origin.

Recommended Accessories to Buy With Your Santoor

Don’t forget the essentials:

Carrying bag or hard case — the santoor is fragile; protect it from humidity and impact
Electronic chromatic tuner — a clip-on tuner compatible with santoor frequencies makes tuning much easier
Santoor stand (payeh) — elevates the instrument for comfortable playing posture
Extra mezrabs — beginners break or lose them; always have a spare pair
Humidity control pack — wood instruments are sensitive to dry conditions, especially in heated rooms during winter

Final Checklist Before You Buy

Before clicking purchase, run through this list:

Walnut or quality hardwood body
Full 18 courses (72 strings)
Solid tuning pins with good tension
Well-seated bridges with no buzzing
Quality mezrabs included
Clear description of wood and construction
Seller offers pre-shipping setup or tuning
Return or exchange policy in place
Budget between $250–$500

Ready to Find Your First Santoor?

Choosing your first santoor doesn’t need to be stressful. Focus on solid construction, tuning stability, and buying from a trusted source — and you’ll have an instrument that supports your learning for years to come.

Browse our curated selection of beginner santoors, each hand-checked and tuned before dispatch, with full descriptions so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Have questions about a specific model? Get in touch — we’re happy to help you find the right fit.