updates

NEWS AND UPDATES

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07/25/10: How about a Shahid Parvez sitar from Bashir? An an 8 main string ebony single gourd sitar from RA sitarmaker. We've had this for a few months and completely forgot to list it! 3 more Bashirs to be listed in a few days, they are in stock just no time to program the site at the moment. 4 new videos in August, waiting on the masters to arrive.

07/22/10: Srishti Jodhpur now online! Our first Surokar harmonium is now available, this is the scale changer model, a standard fixed scale Surokar is on the way and should be up in 2 to 3 weeks. These are the best harmoniums I have ever played. Gopal Das harmoniums also due then, one features an aluminum soundboard design for Bhajan and Kirtan oriented performance and extreme environments and we hear nothing but good things about them. Hiren Roy instrumental tanpura just added. Pictures of our Manoj Kumar Sardar male flatback tanpura now posted as well as the latest Srishti Dilruba. All fiberglass sitar cases except Srishti standards and student sitars now include a case cover. 2 Srishti student models on the way, one RA sitarmaker student model coming in a month or two. 4 other Bashir sitars are here, just waiting to take some pictures. Also have an 8 string ebony trimmed RA sitar (Nikhil Banerjee style without upper bridge) thats here, I'd actually forgotten I had it.....oops. Oh, Sruti boxes here. They're great!

06/25/10: Bashir sitars now up, one of them sold almost as soon as it got here but 4 more on the way in about 2 weeks. I've been really excited but guarded given my experience with other Miraj makers but 100% happy so far with 3 of them having arrived in the past few months. Still more updates to do, the first Surokar harmonium is here (shhhh...). The most expensive harmoniums you'll ever see but really almost flawless. We'll be expanding our harmonium section as we have full tuning, etc. capabilities and experience. Look for decent offerings from DMS soon along with Surokars as we can get them (probably only 2 or 3 a year) and also a somewhat unknown maker outside of India coming shortly with a scale changer featuring a newly invented aluminum reedpan!

06/20/10: Fighting and endless battle to keep the site updated, sorry. We now have Pyramid strings for most instruments in stock and will keep them available. There are no other online sites that carry the full line in stock and we've worked hard to ensure a constant supply every month from them. The Pyramid Gold Sitar set now in stock as we had many requests to carry them. In Kharaj Pancham or Gandhar Pancham too! Pyramid Sarod, Surbahar, Tanpura, and various singles in also. Pics of the Swarsangam & 5 string tanpura up as well as new oil boxes & other accessories.

Videos ~ 5 new titles coming around early August. They've been filmed and going into editing in early July. These will feature the conclusion of Raga Yaman instruction in a 2 DVD set, Sitar Techniques 1 & 2 which will show you how exactly everyone does these fantastic things you hear/see in different styles. Introduction to Raga Bhimpalasi coming and possilbly Introduction to Raga Desh. In contrast to our first video attempt which was a little "hurried" these have been filmed in a studio by a well known filmmaker in Kolkata. Very exciting to see these series continuing and we're nowhere close to being done, God willing.

The redesigned Srishti Jodhpur is in, hopefully up soon. Another new model coming in July and we'll call it good for awhile. Look for Bashir sitars in various models to be up soon, we have 2 here but one just sold. 3 other models coming and they've been very impressive. Hope to have Scott Hackleman tanpuras in stock soon also.

05/23/10: Not sure where to start, we've been real busy and thanks for all your support everyone. Working on pictures and updates. Have 2 wonderful sitars from Bashir in, up on the site soon. An 8 main string RA without top gourd in an ebony design. Swarsangam is in. Coming very soon are Hiren Roy instrumental tanpuras with a few more sitars from him and in July 2 new designs from Srishti Musical. The studio is booked in a week for more videos so stay tuned......

04/03/10: Hiren Roy teak sitar with colored penwork is here! Sarod string sets & Tanpura string sets in from Karuna. Also offering individual string lengths as it has been requested by a number of customers and isn't generally available anywhere else so, OK! Srishtii Jodhpur coming in April along with a new Manipura teak and Srishti Standards. Working on the high level Bashir sitars also, lets see what happens?

02/28/10: Lots of new instruments in stock! Have more wooden boxes also (not up yet). Having kind of a disconnect with our supplier for Miraj sitars so when the elusive Bashir sitars will arrive, if ever....I don't know. It seems like the level of apathy in India has increased again, really sad to see but lets hope for the best. New calendars are here, free with your sitar purchase. We're now out of the instructional DVD's for a few weeks, still hoping to film some more this year.

01/31/10: More Srishti standards here in 2 weeks along with one or 2 from Bashir of Miraj whose fitting and jawari I'm quite impressed with.

01/23/10: Pictures of the in stock RA Sitarmaker Kharaj Pancham sitar are up. When we got it I loved the deep tone but the action was too low, Scott Hackleman revoiced the jawari, fantastic! Nikhil Banerjee style of course, what can I say...I'm completely biased as far as my jawari preference. Great sitar for the price...

01/17/10: Srishti Sindh sitar pictures and order page now up. Found some cool padded mats for practice. A new CD from Indrajit Banerjee . And that's about it for this time around. Getting ready for the next large incoming shipments and trying to update Sitarsetc.com as well.

01/11/10: Just got back from Scott Hacklemans, had to take a custom pickup install up so I thought I'd fill up the car with sitars for Scott to play with. One of them is the RA Sitarmaker Kharaj Pancham which he did in full Nikhil Banerjee style. Had him do the same with the Srishti Sindh and we'll have pictures up of both in a week or so. Working on more accessories and deciding what to keep from Sitars Etc. My main focus is on instruments obviously but don't mind adding a few cool things if and when we find them. Thanks to everyone for your continued support, I'm optimistic for the future and hoping my energy holds up! Many more instruments coming within a month including the best Mysore (Saraswati) Veena you can get in India. He's been working on it for over 2 years.

01/02/10: On a roll with updating this weekend. Hemen Sen has passed away sadly today and our sole Hemen sitar will be the last as without him to oversee it is pointless....so rest in peace Hemen Babu and thanks for a life well spent! Just put up a new Srishti Fancy VK style sitar, really sounds great! New pictures of the latest arrivals from Hiren Roy, and one of the 2 new Kanai Lal sitars is up, both are exactly the same. Also pics of the box tanpura now showing, more accessories added, boxes, fret sets, etc......and a little update to the Sitar information page.....does anyone actually read these updates?

01/01/10: Happy New Year! Working hard on getting the latest arrivals up. Here's the Kashi sitar from Srishti. New pics of the Kanai Lal #1 sitars up soon, nicest wood fully carved top tumbas I've ever seen. More instruments, CD's, etc. coming.

11/29/09: Happy Holidays to everyone! Big shipment just in, the new Srishti Kashi & Sindh model, an ornate Vilayat Khan sitar and lots of accessories are here. Will take some time to get it. Also I purchased my own original site of Sitarsetc.com back from Bharat's family who had run it for a number of years. More details later!

12/05/09: Box tanpuras have arrived in 4 and 5 string models. From Delhi and the same maker that makes them for name brand Sitar makers only half the price! Great sound too....we have our first of what is hopefully many sitars from Bashir of Miraj....he has been under the radar due to the popularity of RA Sitarmaker but has made instruments for Shahid Parvez and others. I was completely impressed with this first instrument and have ordered more. Look for pictures and details soon! The 7 string (no sympathetics) Karuna strings are on sale at $7 per set since I have a ton of them, great price for those looking to try them out?

11/29/09: The Pyramid sitar set has gone up in price by quite a bit. This has been coming for about a year due to the lower value of the dollar. We now have 5 packs of MA and SA wire from Pyramid. I thought about carrying their golden, etc. sets but found out the alloys and gauges aren't so great so why bother? Still awaiting a bunch of shipments.....

11/22/09: Just got in a very nice pre-owned Hiren Roy Vilayat Khan style sitar which is as new. Just did a cleanup and restringing and I almost converted to the 'dark side' 8^) Detailed pics are now up of the Radel tabla and tanpura machines. We have 1 Kharaj Pancham sitar in stock from Ayub of RA sitarmaker, very low action @ about 7mm and beautiful. We'll probably raise the action on it unless there's that person out there that wants a purely lateral sitar with a light touch. New sitar padded cases are in also for those who like that sort of thing. The Srishti standards are due to arrive shortly along with our first offering from Bashir of Miraj. Also a huge shipment coming in a few weeks so check back for new Srishti models!

11/15/09: We are honored to be carrying Gourisankars latest tabla solo CD. He has been a friend of ours for many years and is one of the best tabla Maestros there is. Should have some more instruction DVD's in 3 to 4 months, that's the plan anyway. Lots of sitars coming in about 3 to 4 weeks. The Srishti standards are even back ordered! Hiren Roy's by the end of December is the latest news. Thanks to all our loyal customers for your support, been a busy month. Look for some exciting news shortly!

11/01/09: The Radel electronic machines are now up and available. Cheaper here than even direct from the manufacturer so it's a good thing. Their sound quality has improved and while the Raaginis seem to be more popular it's due to aliasing of the samples which makes it a little 'dirty'. The Radel machines are gaining in popularity now though, and very reliable. I like them, especially the new Digi 100 tabla machine with built in fills and tihais!

10/18/09: The new Srishti Calcutta Special has arrived, absolutely beautiful. Also a Kanai Lal & Sons Kharaj Pancham sitar is in. Also check out our fancy oil boxes with 3 different designs! Made to last forever (or at least as long as you last). A full line of Radel tanpura and tabla machines are in stock, details and pictures to be up in a week or two. If you need one in the meantime just email or call. I'm really impressed with their quality. Look for most sitars to be offered with padded gig bags (currently being made) as a cheaper alternative in the future. While we prefer you order with a case, a number of requests have been made so we're adapting. Shipping charges will increase by $10 (US only) for sitars shipped in padded bags due to extra boxes needed. Overseas orders will still require cases, sorry!

09/20/09: New pictures of 2 RA Sitarmaker gandhar pancham sitar just in. Very nice tone on them, click here for the Necklace model and here for the special GP ebony. Also have some Narkas at 1/2 off as they're a little blemished on the finish but work fine otherwise. New oil boxes made for us in Kolkata coming soon along with a wide variety of Radel electonics including their latest tabla machine which is very impressive. Also we now have a 90 day warranty (replacement or exchange only) on our electronics.

09/17/09: As requested we have an accessories box and the "Sitar Music in Calcutta" book available now. I've decided to use a Facebook page instead of a mailing list and working on it currently. I'll post the link when it's ready, should be much easier for everyone including me instead of the possibility of getting the emails in junk folders, etc. Stay tuned..... lots of instruments coming too!!

09/09/09: A few new RA's are here and one has had a price drop of $100 even! Lots more coming over the next 3 months......

08/28/09: A few more customer reviews online, tabla prices revised as they're custom order only now direct to your doorstep, some sets a lot lower in price now. Just got a great RA studio VK style sitar in with built in pickups, a great instrument for the price. A few more RA's in a week and Srishti's in 3 weeks along with a whole line of the latest electronics from Radel. Even more Srishti's in November and some surprises from Miraj coming also along with a range of harmoniums by December. Surokar harmonium on order!

08/16/09: Some new models are being made by Srishti and due around November along with a dozen or so sitars. Look for them! One will be the "Kashi" model, a Benares style Kharaj Pancham sitar with inlays rather than penwork and also a fancier Gandhar Pancham sitar coming.

08/09/09: Summer is not the greatest time to be getting shipments in from India and what few instruments have arrived are going right out the door before I can even take pictures. Gearing up for a few large shipments this fall, a new model coming from Srishti with a unique design. This will be replacing the Garland sitar. Also we're calling the Srishti "Miraj" the "Designer" now as it was in the beginning. We're still going along fine and our heartfelt thanks to many of you who have become regular customers and friends.

07/15/09: A few RA sitars have arrived (pics soon) along with the first harmonium from DMS which was quite nice but sold already..... We'll be closed from 7/22 to 7/27 so any orders placed then will ship by 7/29 or 7/30.

07/02/09: We have one RA sitarmaker Kharaj Pancham sitar arriving soon along with a studio sitar from him. The video project has run into delays, we may film the rest in India as I'm simply too busy to add to my workload at the present time. Stock is a little lower than normal since it's quite hot in India and we're gearing up for more instruments this fall. We're no longer taking new visitors here as there's no showroom and I've had too many no-shows unfortunately along with early morning calls from people who are at the mailing address wondering where the shop is! Quite entertaining really but this is mainly an internet only business which takes up a portion of our house, past friends and customers are welcome still as are new serious students but PLEASE set up a time (and show up too would be nice...). We're continuing to do well in an iffy economy and thanks to all our regular customers for your support. Google position still isn't as great as I got it to go with Sitarsetc.com but busy enough and I'm really enjoying dealing with those who have found their way here....

Enjoy your summer!

06/10/09: Not much going on this summer, shipping from India is at a minimum as Monsoon season approaches. Bad news in that we may no longer carry RA sitarmaker sitars but nothing definite yet. Have 2 repaired gourd Srishti standards under way, should be ready in about 2 weeks and good as new with a slightly different finish (better) than you see from India, more practical. Email me if interested......things are still rolling along nicely with a number of decent instruments still in stock! A few things on sale, see if you can find them?

05/14/09: More Sitar parts and accessories are now up! Video project starting soon, should have around 6 more titles of Sitar instruction by early Fall, possibly more! New Dilruba pics up, slightly cheaper price too.

04/30/09: Added a Kanai Lal & Sons VK style sitar. Really nice instrument at a great price. A few more accessories coming soon and pics of the new Dilruba also. Restocking of RA Sitarmaker instruments hopefully by the end of May. We're slowly working to carry his entire line.

04/19/09: Some more accessories have arrived, it will be a little slow on updates over the summer as our main computer gave up the ghost resulting in converting to Mac. Look for a redesign of the site next winter. Also we're still out of RA sitars, most new arrivals from RA and Srishti are going out as soon as they arrive.

03/18/09: We have the latest Srishti Calcutta Special sitar in stock with photos. This one is Nikhil Banerjee style and each one is unique, no two are alike. 1 1/2 inch longer neck resulting in better intonation on the lower strings. Won't have another one until late in the year. Awaiting the arrival of a few more RA sitarmaker sitars and Mukta Das dayans. Look for an updated tabla page shortly, more Parampara dayans arrived yesterday.

03/16/09: Hiren Roy Surbahar, Hemen #1 sitar, new pictures of in stock Srishti Garland, Hiren Roy #1 sitar and the Hiren Roy Vilayat Khan style sitar are up!

03/15/09: We now offer bulk string coils in 4 or 6 coil sets to suit either main tuning style, mix and match as you like. Also a few different tuning swans on the sitar accessories page along with a few added photos of other accessories. Pictures of the new instruments are done (what's left of them, it has been busy!) and will be up within the next few days.

03/01/09: Still trying to get pictures of the new instruments and a few more accessories coming. We'll be filming more instruction videos this summer so send your requests. The first video in the Sitar Performance series has been fairly popular so look for hopefully 15 more titles by end of summer. Kirwani, Desh, Rageshree, & more. Harmoniums from Inni Singh in 6 to 8 weeks, really nice instruments! Still waiting on the Surokar harmonium thing to happen.

02/15/09: Lots of new instruments in, hopefully pics, etc. up next week. Only one Hemen sitar, I had an option to get a teak sitar and surbahar but wasn't thrilled about them so they've gone elsewhere. We have 6 to 10 videos planned for summer release. The first has been very popular, we're going to use a slightly different format this time, stay tuned......

01/31/09: Karuna strings now available for sitar. It's a 7 main string set for Ravi Shankar setup, I'll substitute an additional MA string for the Kharaj for VK tuning if needed. The used teak Hiren Roy price has been cut by $500!! It's a consignment and the owner really wants to sell it, really a fantastic sitar and the largest HR I've ever come across. The original Hiren Roy colored penwork sitar is for sale, it was a demo model and still has fresh jawari and lowered price. The good news for this year is that prices won't go up due to a more favorable exchange rate. Look for new mizrabs soon, got in some 'natural' material sympathetic bridges with jawari already done, a wider selection of pegs coming and tanpura string sets for instrumental sized tanpura with a wound lower string. We hope to expand our selection this year with a new maker from Benares and also with Mohan Lal Sharma sitars.

01/26/09: Back from India, lots of pics of makers, etc. coming soon. Thanks to all who have waited for their orders, they're being handled currently. Spent a lot of time with Ayub (RA Sitarmaker), along with a visit to the source of Srishti instruments, Hemen (1 coming in 2 weeks) and of course Barun at Hiren Roy. Have some great mizrabs as well. A sitar is coming from Mohan Lal Sharma and hopefully in a few months we'll have the first offerings from an unknown maker in Varanasi. Went to his house and I was really impressed with his work and we're working out the export details, all of his sitars and most of the Mohan Lal sitars are without top tumbas which seems to be the prevalent style in Varanasi now. Keep checking over the next month, 10 more instruments on the way!

01/04/09: Off to India!! We cannot ship any orders from 1/7 to 1/25 during our visit to India and I appreciate your patience.... For instruments we'll be focusing on Kolkata with many coming from the Hiren Roy shop and Hemen also along with a trip to Benares and Delhi. I will try to do a blog with photos if possible.

12/28/08: Sheffield alloy replica wire now available in .012 MA (5 strings per pack) and .010 sympathetic (13 pcs per pack). I have limited quantities but enough for a little while. On the Sitar strings page or click here.

12/19/08: Well the new maker sitar was a BIG DUD and so will be refitted here and sold as a student instrument, kind of a shame but that's why I'm here is to filter out what's good and what's not. A new Jaipur sitar has arrived, one of the best I"ve seen in overall fit & finish. Click here to see the new pictures....Also our first Dilruba by Srishti, fantastic all around!! I once got a Dilruba from Sanjay Sharma made by an old man who specialized in them and this one is every bit as equal, real pleased with them. We have a half decoration Hiren Roy in stock, equal to the #3 as seen on the Ali Akbar college site, same price as there but you get an instrument that's been air shipped and a free top of the line MMC fiberglass case. Great tone and playability. A new Srishti standard to be available hopefully in a few weeks and then another in February. Lots of inventory coming!

And last but not least is a new Sanjay Rikhi Ram gandhar pancham necklace sitar. As you all know we don't carry his instruments anymore for a variety of reasons but this one was purchased by a friend of Rain City Music to be used in the development of a geared sympathetic peg. These pegs are fanatastic and I hope to carry them for installation in sitars in the future but right now it's not looking like the project is viable. You can tune up your symps in 30 seconds and they stay in tune and never need to be replaced. I knew I should have sent them my Hiren Roy, oh well....grab it while it's here!

12/07/08: Sitar strings have their own page now to make room for new additions soon. We now have fingerpicks that work great for those who don't have long little fingernails and want an easy way to strum their sympathetic strings. New shipment arriving with a sitar from a new maker. Also by the end of January we will have the largest selection of Hiren Roy and Hemen sitars outside of India! Keep checking.....

11/23/08: The NEW STOCK photo gallery is up. This is where photographs of new arrivals of each particular model that we regularly stock will appear so that you see the exact instrument that's available. When sold I'll make up a museum of sorts with all of the instruments and would like to do a photo gallery of customers too if anyone is actually reading this? Send me your pics! Lots of instruments arriving between now and the end of January, stay tuned! Sitar tuning charts added today for newbies....

11/16/08: Due to the current exchange rate being in favor of the dollar, prices on Srishti sitars have been lowered. Won't last forever (does anything?). But definitely a good time to buy ;^) We'll be in India most of January and a lot of new instruments will be arriving afterwards.

11/02/08: The RA sitarmaker studio sitar is now up as well as the RA Necklace sitar, both fantastic sounding and playing instruments! Shipping rates have been raised slightly to reflect an increase in costs although not by too much.

11/01/08: Added a few fret tying videos and a short clip of Barun Roy doing jawari on the Sitar information page, the first of much more to come. Still waiting on good weather here in Seattle (that's why it's called Rain City Music!) for the pictures of the new RA sitars just in.

10/22/08: Teak Hiren Roy sitar now up with video/sound clip. This is about 8 years old and has gone back to India for the customary reworking and jawari from Barun. If you're looking for a rare teak Hiren Roy that's broken in with a mature sound, here you go. Great action and sound and quite a large custom sitar that was owned by a friend of ours who decided to switch to a smaller mahogany instrument. Also the Sitar information article and FAQ was updated.

10/18/08: Srishti Vilayat Khan style sitar now up, the best made Gandhar Pancham sitar I've ever seen from anyone, not kidding! Also you'll notice the little icon on the URL bar, thanks to Gary Pro for that! Teak Hiren Roy, a special 'one off' student Srishti Gandhar Pancham sitar, new Jaipur pics (same as the one already up basically) coming in a few days. Also a studio sitar and Rikhi Ram necklace style sitar due in from RA sitarmaker in 2 days. Much more coming over the next 6 months for the site in the way of pictures, etc. of past instruments and trips to India. Stay tuned!

9/24/08: Added a few more gauges for our string coils, should cover most Indian instruments now. 2 more RA sitarmaker sitars arriving in about 2 weeks, a studio model and Vilayat Khan style necklace design. Pics are done for most others, pages to follow shortly.

9/14/08: Format of video clips changed to .wmv format for easier downloading after numerous complaints from folks unable to view. Hope this solves the problem! Look for a Hiren Roy teak and the latest Srishti arrival pictures in a week or two....

9/07/08: Video clips added for the Srishti Miraj, the RA Sitarmaker Kharaj Pancham and Special Gandhar Pancham sitars. The video quality isn't the greatest as it was dark but the sound comes across quite well and we'll try to get more as time allows for the other instruments.

9/06/08: RA Sitarmaker sitars are now up!!! Click here to see them. A really great instrument at a good price, prices only guaranteed for this bunch as it all depends on the shipping rates we can get. Videos of each up shortly. Still reeling from the fantastic quality of the new Srishti Vilayat Khan style that just came in, have never seen a better one from anywhere, maybe I'll change playing style? Most sitar offerings have been modified, they now come with either a fiberboard ~ rexine type case for around $200 less or a fiberglass case. Hiren Roy sitars are the exception and ship with fiberglass cases only still.

9/05/08: 3 Srishti's arrived today! One Gandhar pancham, extremely well built with a neck capable of any meend you can manage. Also one Jaipur and one Standard. New pics of each within a week or 2. Also have the first of hopefully many sitars from RA Sitarmaker of Miraj, I'm completely impressed with the quality. The necks are a little lower profile with a flatter fret setting (maybe they were reading the forum?). Great sound, phenomenal finish and a good value for the price. Quite a bit better action and tone than ones a few years ago that you may have seen sold under different labels and we have video to prove it....Pics are done, new page up this weekend. New Raagini and Riyaz machines are in under a different company label, the hum in the power supply is gone now on the Riyaz Master (now called Riyaz Guru) with a single plug universal power supply!

8/17/08: 3 new CD's have been added to our Music CD's page. They feature Rabindra Goswami from Benares. Goswami-ji plays with what I feel is a unique style, simple and sublime. Similar to Amit Roy, it took a few months of hunting to get these CD's and many thanks to his students and well-wishers for making it happen.

8/17/08: Finally the Hansa Veena is up! We've had it for awhile but no time for the web design. I was sitting here one night when I got a phone call from Kolkatta...."Barun-da" just got a new veena, do you want his old one?" What...are you kidding? Turns out that MKS makes him new ones every so often. We have a teak Esraj shipping soon, a local custom order from Dulal.....look for it soon!

8/17/08: It has been uncertain whether Srishti sitars would continue to be made. My partner is not in India currently and so the logistics have been difficult but looks like we've found a solution. We have 3 Srishti sitars on the way within a week or two. 4 or 5 more to be ready when I take my yearly trip to Kolkata. Also I'm expanding the sitar line (who would have guessed?) to include instruments from RA sitarmaker of Miraj, India. A very decent instrument from a well known shop and should be reasonably priced. Hiren Roy sitars have continued to be popular, we have a custom surbahar to be ready in January with a rolled headstock (no animal carving) as well as 2 Kharaj Pancham sitars, one of which is sold already. We'll try to have a few more Hiren Roy sitars by Spring of 2009 before the hot season arrives in India. Also in early 2009 keep your eyes open for the first offering from a 'new' maker. He actually has been making sitars for 30 years and worked with a famous maker for 27 years. Who is it? Stay tuned......

August 2008: It's the 8th month of Rain City Music and I'm both shocked and happy at the level of popularity. Incredibly we're almost out of sitars despite low ranking in Google, etc. Word of mouth continues to be our best advertisement and I'd like to thank all of our customers (from my Sitarsetc.com days and new people) for your patronage and support.