Hi,
what kind of quality is a Naskar sitar? I've seen some old ones around on the net and I wonder whether anyone has experience with them. On that note, what about older Riki Rams and Hemens? I would love an old Hiren Roy, but there are not that many around.
I played on as Naskar last Monday. It was about 20+ years old. Jawari had been redone by Hiren Roy recenty. Sounded very nice. Good feel - but a little tight tuned at C.
Hi Amitava,
I guess naskar made (or still makes?) a decent sitar, especially if the jawari is restored.
When you say
"Good feel - but a little tight tuned at C", does that mean that the sitar was a bit taller than most?
What is the gourd quality of older sitars? Thicker, larger or the opposite?
I am not sure Naskar's reputation is high these day - that is even if they make instrumnets. Perhaps Lars can elaborate. The instrument I handled was quite old - and its make indicated some pride and quality.
To be frank I only had the opportunity to play it for about 10-15 min, before I was interrupted.
Actually the instrument seemed a little shorter than normal, but I really did not measure or compare it to my instrument. The strig gauge could have been thicker. It has a deeper tone.
The gourd size was small - but note that there are/were no standards in the sitar. There is a standard range. I do not know who the instrument was ordered by. It was owned from the start by the current owner, and he is a around 5ft-6in. tall.
As for gourd/tabli thickness I did not test. Let us just say that if the instrument was for sale, I would have bought it then and there. .for a reasonable price ofcourse.
Some old sitars are good, had a guy come out from Idaho that had an older generic one even but it had nice wood and a good tone although needed a lot of work to make it perfect.
The first sitar I ever heard was a Naskar and I haven't seen or even heard of one available since then except for the one at Brian's site. I know they still make tanpuras and hearsay says they're not bad. . .I'll find out if they're making sitars still. . . .
Lars
Hi, I last weekend bought the Naskar sitar from the warehouse I work at, and I have to say this particular sitar could easily defeat a Hiren Roy of the 60s-70s hands down. The craftmanship is remarkable, and the sound is beyond words, so yes a Naskar sitar is good, but where can you find one, the one from Brian is gone, my employer bought that one about a month ago. .
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
About current Naskar instruments. . .well to be honest, I consider the shop closed as the current owners of it have nothing to do with the previous craftsmen who worked there in the 70s and even 80s. So you may be able to try, but if they were any good they would be available.
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
Yes, but dont count on me selling it, possibly ever. . It needs finish work, resurfaced jawari, and the frets retied, and believe me, as/is, the instrument it just miraculous, it just needed some tlc, and thats exactly what it will get.
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
