There's nothing more dissuasive to the beginning tablaist than first getting their hands on a "student" set that's got a roving syahi on the bāyāñ and a dayan with a limp puri.

The Student Tablas from Synergy House are imported from India and feature a higher grade construction than most "student" sets. Though they're comparable to much more expensive sets, Synergy House recommends a retail price of $299.