Just sort of an informative thread.
The electric sitar is an instrument modeled to mimic the sound of a traditional Indian sitar, shown below:
[media]http://www.worldofstrings.nl/nederlands/images/sitar.jpg[/media]
Doesn't that look cumbersome and difficult? Yes, that's why it was created in the form of an electric guitar. Most of the same sound capabilities, but the visual, and ergonomic appeals of an electric guitar:
[media]http://www.marksmart.net/gearhack/sitar/SitarBody.jpg[/media]
[B]
The electric sitar differs from a guitar in two key places:
A) Rather than having ridge saddles for the strings on the bridge, a sitar uses a flat saddle, or an entirely flat bridge. This causes the strings to buzz on the flat surface when plucked, causing that warm, starey sound.
B) Unlike western stringed instruments, a traditional sitar, along with the basic strings for playing, has a set of "sympathetic strings" That pick up the ambient vibrations and sound waves of the larger strings, and hum to create their own tones. Some electric models have a separate pickup and a set of electric sympathetic strings[/B]
[B]But an electric sitar does use basic electric guitar strings, and tunings.[/B]
The two better known models of electric sitars are the "Rogue" model:
[img]http://www.musicalinstrumentsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/guitar5.JPG[/img]
and the Danelectro Model.
[img]http://www.12fret.com/retail/jjonesBabySitarGrn.jpg[/img]
Here's a video of a guy playing on his Rogue model.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx4N_bZ7nRo[/media]
I hope you found this informative.
I would call that more of a guitar+sympathetic strings, really.
Still pretty badass, though.
It's just not the same without all of those little knobs going up the neck.
[QUOTE=Triumph Forks;18572148]I would call that more of a guitar+sympathetic strings, really.
Still pretty badass, though.[/QUOTE]
Actually, the bridge is really the main difference. When it comes down to it, all stringed instruments are very similar anyways.
There are some electric sitars with the adjustable frets. it looks like this one may have been built from a rickebacker bass, and a traditional sitar neck.
[img]http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/e-sitar1.jpg[/img]
That is really bad ass. I would love having one of these.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;18572966]
[img]http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/e-sitar1.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Now that's how I like it. Cool.
I need to get one.
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