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cgoodson
Sitar stand ?? Jul 08, 2002 12:05 p.m.

Is there anywhere you can get a stand for a sitar? I've been checking around and haven't seen anything.
Russ
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 08, 2002 01:18 p.m.

At one time, I looked into getting a guitar stand for mine. But the stand base is too small, and the brace doesn't go high enough to do any good. I'm currently thinking about looking for something like a stand made for a viola. That would be about right.
qehqeh
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 08, 2002 03:56 p.m.

Interesting. Anyone ever seen a sitar stand, either traditional or modern? Maybe the thought is that if it's on a stand, it can be knocked over. Hmm. .
Russ
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 08, 2002 06:22 p.m.

Hmm. .I think the idea was if you put it on a stand and then put the stand in a corner of the room, its out of the way, you won't run into it, and it can't roll away from the wall with that round base and fall over. That one happened to me long ago! These days, I just leave it on the floor of my practice room with a cloth cover over it. Probably good enough. No, I've never heard of using a stand before, so I wouldn't think it would be "traditional". Just another western gizmo.
Lars
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 08, 2002 08:07 p.m.

Hi all. . . .
The traditional way is to cover the sitar and lean it into a corner pegs first. I do this as taking it out of the case every day is hard on the tuning. But I keep it in a closet in the corner in case the 4 year old gets too close. . . . .
Stephen
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 09, 2002 06:56 a.m.

I just saw a place on the www that sells sitar stands somewhere in the UK. I think the price was about 18 pounds. But in my opinion, you would be setting yourself up for major heartbreak when it gets knocked over. I agree with the suggestions of "on the floor with a cloth cover". If you don't have a large upper tumba that will prevent rolling, you might try one of those cloth "snakes" that people lay at the base of doors to kill a draft and wrap it around the lower tumba to prevent the rolling.
Ken
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 09, 2002 03:46 p.m.

Hi all, long time no see,
Been away from the board for a while, economy etc.,etc., I actually used my folding Hamilton guitar stand for a while. Had to bend the neck flanges out to accomodate the wider neck. I stopped doing it due to the nagging fear of falling over and the painful images that conjurs. I had just been putting it back in the case but, as Lars mentioned, that just seems to invite tuning problems. However I've gone ahead and put it in the nice golden silk bag that Peter provides with the Manglas, and then in the case (all this is a big pain in the patootie), but the tuning holds great. Also I've been tuning up to C# these days with the accompaning increase in tone, volume and tarb action, great!
I've been wanting to make a stand as well but want to develop one that will take the pressure off the neck while in a raised position, this is what standing it up in the corner does. . . chalo aljo
cgoodson
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 09, 2002 04:44 p.m.

I guess if someone could design one that could be trusted it might be a good way to make a few bucks. I mainly just wanted a place to put it while I'm playing but want to take a break.
I think I'm gonna stick with using my case, the thought of leaving such a fragile instrument laying on the floor or leaned in a corner scares me. If my sitar got crushed that's how I would feel!
Russ
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 09, 2002 06:07 p.m.

Hey Ken, welcome back. I'm tuned up in D nowdays. You should hear the difference a half-step makes! My fingers can handle it now days. Golden bag huh? I think that was a nice present from ol' N.P. as not everybody got one. Well, I leave mine on the floor alright, but its on a thick carpet, and leaning slightly against a wall. So, its not going anywhere. A stand would be OK, but its not a priority.
Ken
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 10, 2002 10:29 a.m.

Hey Russ,
All the way to D? Wow that's cool. How does the sound improve in comparison with the improvement experienced from going up to C# from C? And that's on your Teak right, do the think the Tun could handle the extra tension? . . .ken
Russ
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 10, 2002 12:19 p.m.

Three tarbs were mute in C#; everything responds in D (providing your tarab tuning is precise). But playing in D is tough even on a teak. I can hear it gripe at me by the string retainer creaking loudly when I pull a 3 or 4-note meend. So, I detune the mains back down to C after I finish playing. On a tun? You know more about Mangla tuns than me, but I would say if your tarab response is satisfactory, I would stay at C# to be safe. Don't want to pull things apart!
Ken
Re:Sitar stand ?? Jul 11, 2002 06:35 a.m.

Russ,
I can say that all my tarbs are very active, especially when performing meend anywhere. The Tun has always been quite responsive but now in C# is very dramatic. I would experiment in D only because in my other love, Irish Traditional Music (ITD) in have a tremendous repertoire in D. Don't think I'll try it though, like you say if the tarbs are going well why change?
Neal
Re:Sitar stand ?? Dec 20, 2002 10:50 a.m.

Two things Ken(or anyone)-my teacher has me tuning up to D. As in your below posts. .how does tuning up to C# or D increase tone, volume or tarb response??

For a stand do a search on google for "Rock Stands by Warwick", perfect for 1 or 2 Sitars.

Hi all, long time no see,
Been away from the board for a while, economy etc.,etc., I actually used my folding Hamilton guitar stand for a while. Had to bend the neck flanges out to accomodate the wider neck. I stopped doing it due to the nagging fear of falling over and the painful images that conjurs. I had just been putting it back in the case but, as Lars mentioned, that just seems to invite tuning problems. However I've gone ahead and put it in the nice golden silk bag that Peter provides with the Manglas, and then in the case (all this is a big pain in the patootie), but the tuning holds great. Also I've been tuning up to C# these days with the accompaning increase in tone, volume and tarb action, great!
I've been wanting to make a stand as well but want to develop one that will take the pressure off the neck while in a raised position, this is what standing it up in the corner does. . . chalo aljo[/quote]
Russ
Re:Sitar stand ?? Dec 20, 2002 11:26 a.m.

Hi Neal;
Waaaaah! I didn't get the nice golden silk bag with my Mangla. But that's OK; I got the nice velvet lined fiberglass case with it. So I guess I'll make it. . . . . .

I think we're pretty much agreed either C or C# works best for the tuns, and either C# or D is good for the teak (dand and tabli is stronger). Change from going from C to C# is about the same as going from C# to D. I don't know if you would get any improvement in going higher than a D, but I don't think I would want to try it. Volume tends to stay about the same in going up (depends on the string gauge, tumba size, and your own playing technique). Tone is shifted towards increased harmonics, as expected. This is all for the teak; some one else can comment on the tun. . . .

I don't pursue looking for a stand anymore. I'm OK laying it on heavy carpet in the corner out of the way with a cloth covering it. Stays in tune for the most part too. .

So enjoy the holidays all.
Kirtan Player
Re:Sitar stand ?? Dec 23, 2002 05:07 p.m.

Hi

Actually I got a Sitar dust cover with mines, more like a tote bag where you can tie it . What I did was rest my sitar on tabla rings, its the best because you don't end up scratching the surface of the sitar and theres no fear of it being knocked over. My best best advice is to keep any sitar lying flat down, its to expensive to replace a broken sitar. . .
Dan
Re:Sitar stand ?? Dec 24, 2002 04:26 a.m.

Hi everyone,
I've made myself a good sitar stand a long time ago. . but it can't be moved around. . Sitting on a cushion in it's dedicated corner, the sitar prevents from falling by a hook being screwed in the wall in which a thick cotton rope loops the top of the sitar neck, right between the Ma and lower Sa pegs . A white cotton cloth sits over to prevent cumulative dost.

Now where I live I have no free corner, so I use my case which I've modified to force the neck to be very straight . Glad I did before the 15 years I didn't play. . (I've let it there all tuned up in C# !) the neck did not bent over and besides 2-3 sympathetic strings pegs that lost their grips , it was quite in tune.

Dan
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