Sitars and Tamburas

The Sitar is a northern Indian stringed instrument of the lute family. It is the dominant instrument in Hindustani music. It developed under Medieval Muslim influence from the tanbur, a Middle Eastern long-necked lute and from the vina, or bin, a narrow, elaborate Indian Zither.

The Sitar normally has five melody strings and five or six drone strings which are used to accenuate the rhythm or pulse. Beneath the convex frets in the hollow neck are 9 to 13 sympathetic strings. There is often a gourd under the pegbox end of the neck as in these models.

STRS Sitar, standard decorations, double toomba, with case.
Price: $560

Quantity:

STRD Sitar, deluxe decorations, double toomba, with case.
Price: $640
(Discontinued)

SURB Sur Bahar, (bass sitar)
Price: $1350
Shipping: By truck approx. $75 and up depending on distance

Quantity:

Tamburas

Classified as chordophones, Tamburas are in the lute family. Tambura is the southern Indian pronunciation while Tanpura is the name commonly used in northern India. Tamburas are the classical drone lute of Indian music. While they look somewhat like a single toomba sitar, they differ in significant ways. Compared to the sitar, tamburas have fewer strings, no sympathetic strings, no frets, and a moveable bridge used to adjust the pitch. These instruments look as exotic as they sound. Each comes with a hard-sided case.