From a customer who purchased our #2 harmonium from California.
Bharat,
I wanted to thank you for the harmonium, it
sounds amazing , and the banner is hanging up in my room. ...
thank you
Chris
From a customer who purchased a sitar accessories from New York.
Dear Bharat,
Thank you for all of your help today. I am
very pleased with the Sitar accessories I ordered and if I keep browsing
your website, - which I have enjoyed doing today - there will be more orders
to come:-))
Peace, Love and Harmony,
Bev
From a customer who purchased a sitar case from Canada.
Hi bharat,
just received the case, thanks for the quick turn around! That is really
a well packed box. ...
It fits perfectly in the case.
The tomba is snug. Y ou would think it was made for it!
Thanks,
Paul B.
From a customer who purchased a sitar case from California.
Hi Bharat- I was happy to
receive the sitar case today and am quite pleased with it.
Thanks again!
Evan H.
From a customer who purchased accessories from the Neatherlands.
Hi Bharat,
Thanks for your great service!! Next time I am definetly going to order again
by you....
The peg rosin works great!! and the 017 string is much better (louder, not
detuning so much)...
Thanks again,
Barend T.
From a customer who purchased accessories from Iowa.
Hello again,
Just yesterday I received my order from you of strings and fret thread; I
appreciate the safe and fast delivery. ... I look forward to doing
more business with you in the near future.
...
Thanks again so much for your help.
Sincerely,
Allison S.
From a customer who purchased Srishti Garland from France.
Hi Bharat,
I have receive the sitar today.
First I would like to say that I find it really beautiful, it’s a real good
work, all my congratulations to the craftsman !!!
...
Thank you very much
Nicolas H.
From a customer who purchased Pyramid strings and other accessories from
Saskatoon Cananda.
Thanks a bunch, I received my
order a few days ago and just wanted to say that I am very impresed with the
sound and feel of the strings. I only took up sitar recently and the
instrument I purchased came with La bella strings which I knew imediatly there
was something not quite right. I have played guitar for most of my life so I
know how important the quality of strings are. ...
Thanks again.
NAMASTE.
Evan J.
From a customer who purchased a new synthetic bridge manufactured by Sitars Etc.
and had his sitar worked on by our sitar tech. The customer is from Arizona.
Hi Bharat,
I like the synthetic bridge
very much. I tried it based on only some comments by others and the fact
that I knew it would hold the jawari longer, but I find that it is very "warm"
and the sitar seems to have even more of the woody tone I like. It seems a
little less bright, although the more closed jawari might contribute to that
as well. This MPS is a loud sitar and it works fine for it. I would have no
problem recommending it to others.
(from another email)
...
I performed with my new bridge to a good turnout on Sunday morning (yes, a
rare morning raga performance- nobody ever seems to perform those!) and I
really love the way the sitar feels and sounds.
Namaste,
Pete
From a customer who purchased an electronic DG 100 from Australia
Hi Bharat,
Just a quick note to let you know that the tabla machine arrived yesterday. I
was expecting it to take a bit longer, so I am very happy that it could make it
... in what was effectively 5 days!
Got your parcel of incense too - thanks for that, much appreciated. The tabla
machine is excellent, and already I am trying to practice all of the stuff I
have been taught to various thekas, and I just want to say that it has added a
new dimension to my playing.
Thanks again for all of your help, fantastic service and genuine efforts to keep
your customers satisfied. I didn't think such service existed in this day and
age of corporations and franchises!
Sincerely,
Adam S
From a customer who purchased an electronic Taaltarang from Texas
Bharat,
Got the Taaltarang today and am having fun learning to use it. There is a
lot it can do, and it will take me awhile to learn how to drive it.
Thanks for staying on top of it.
Best Wishes,
Sam C.
From a customer who purchased a Hiren Roy Sitar from Texas
Dear Bharat,
I am very pleased with my new Hiren Roy #1 sitar. The quality and sound of the
instrument are very good. ... Thanks for not being a high pressure sales person
and I appreciate your knowledge of the various types of sitars. Also, your
pricing on this particular instrument is excellent.
I have purchased instruments directly from India. It was nice to not have to
hassle with customs, wire transfers or having to worry if the instruments were
going to be damaged.
You have been very pleasant to work with. I will definitely think of you when I
am ready to make another purchase and can recommend you to friends and other
musicians. Many thanks.
Warm Regards,
Vivian W.
From a customer who purchased a Srishti Half-Decoration Standard from Norway.
Hi!
I received the sitar tuesday, last week.
I didn't had to pay anything, because "there are no taxes on cultural
equipment".
I am very pleased with the sitar,
Thank you very much for
everything!
Kristina K.
Dear Bharatji,
Thanks a lot for the wonderful
Tabla set. I am very much delighted to have the amazing piece of Baya as per
my specifications and melodious sounding C scale Daya. My sincere thanks to
you, Gourisankarji and of course Sushil Das and Master Bablu for their superb
workmanship.
I played it for about an hour
yesterday and just fell in love with it. My wife (she sings light classical)
and I really appreciated the set (and serene smell of agarbatti too). Needless
to say that I will be highly recommending Parampara Tablas to my
students/friends.
I will definitely trouble you more in future (with many emails asking
different questions) and I am sure I will receive the same great service from
you.
Thanks and Regards,
Girish
From a customer who purchased a Srishti Manipur Sitar from Louisiana.
Dear Bharat,
Just to let you know the Manipur arrived today about 1:30 PM. It is beautiful.
The attention to detail is truly remarkable. It's indeed more ornate than the
one on the site. Flawless execution. I love the little swan on the MA string.
The brown tone of the ink is very classy. The toomba is very pretty, though I'll
probably not use it a whole lot. I'm going to haul
it out again in a minute and play it some more. I love the sound, too.
It was very well packed, ... I had extracted the sitar from the lovely
drawstring bag, and found it ... right off.
...
I will get back with you, soon, with alot more, but I just wanted to let you
know it arrived, safe and sound, and that it was/is a pleasure doing business
with you. It's all too rare that I get to speak with someone as knowledgeable,
personable, and devoted to your work as yourself. The fact you took the time, at
that fairly late hour, to get it, and play it over the
phone, and tell me alot of the important details, is really what makes a
difference, and I appreciate it.
Namaste,
Patrick B in Louisiana
From a customer who purchased a artist quality Srishti Designer Sitar from North
Carolina.
Dear Bharat:
My new Srishti Designer model Sitar arrived yesterday at the close of the
day. I am positively thrilled with this fabulous instrument. The first thing
that I was drawn to was the high quality of the tun wood on the tabli. The
wonderful color indicates that the tun wood was well aged prior to the
construction of the instrument and the grain of the wood is "straight
grained" and gorgeous. The term "book matched" could be used to describe the
wonderful balance and symmetry of the tun grain. The carving on the tabli is
highly detailed and very skillfully done. The inlay and pen work on the
tabli, all along the neck and up on the headstock is stunning. The feel and
balance of the instrument is just wonderful. Finally, we come to the
sound......simply fantastic. The instrument is very responsive. The
sympathetic strings ring out clearly and with brilliance and there is an
overall sustain of notes from both the tabli and the upper tumba that is
thrilling. I bought my first Sitar in 1966. The craftsman who built my first
Sitar has a reputation for building some beautiful instruments prior to his
death about 1974. In fact, his pre-1970's Sitars are very much valued by
some players. There simply is no comparison between my 1960's instrument and
this one-----the Srishti Designer is in a category of true excellence all of
its own. You could play one hundred Sitars and find very few to equal the
visual and aural esthetic pleasure that comes from the Srishti Designer.
Finally, I would like anyone reading this to know how helpful, courteous,
knowledgeable and friendly Bharat from Sitars Etc is in a business
transaction. I have dealt with other dealers of Indian classical instruments
and have been treated with disinterest, or have wished for information from
persons who were not versed in the music and instruments of North India.
Bharat is a well studied scholar of the music and the instruments while also
being helpful, respectful and (simply) a truly "nice" human being. For
anyone seeking truly high quality concert grade instruments for the
performance of the music from North India I cannot recommend Sitars Etc and
Bharat any more highly.
From David B.
North Carolina
From a customer who purchased a Parampara Professional Dayan.
Bharat,
Today I received my tablas (ahead of schedule), and I am truly amazed!
I've played tablas by many remarkable makers from the Mumbai and Pune area (bombay
styled tablas), and this was my first time trying my hand at Calcutta styled
tablas...I'm speechless!
Not only did the tabla come in perfect condition, but the service I was provided
with from Bharat at Sitars Etc. was exceptional. He replied all of my
email extremely quickly and was always kind about helping me. He went out
of his way several times to help me, and despite my many questions, he always
was kind, and helped me as much as needed. This is a perfect example
of customer service and satisfaction!
The tabla....I ordered one Parampara Premium Professional dayan, and I really am
speechless. The build quality of the tabla, from the body structure of the
famous Calcutta style, short and stubby to the immaculate precision in the
closely knit gajara and then super fine, thin skin and carefully laid shihai.
As soon as I ripped the packaging off the tablas, and removed the cover (which
is amazing as well, lined with soft cushion for the skin and a hardtop for
safety of
the drum) and stroked the tabla, it was PERFECTLY tuned to D! As I turned
the tabla with hammer in hand, I had to barely tune a thing! That is evidence of
an exceptional tabla.
Bharat, thank you very much for the service you've provided me with, and the
quality of tabla that you have provided me with. I will not only return to
you time after time for tablas, but I will recommend many people who are looking
to buy amazing tablas. I am looking forward for the ghandarva tabla sets
coming soon!
PS. The tulsi agrabhati, shawl and container were an excellent touch to the
entire package, thank you for your help again. Please also send my thanks,
and humble regards and respects to Sri Gourisankar Karmakar for all his help in
hand picking a top quality dayan for me. I am extremely grateful!
Until next time...
Casey E.
From Canada
From a customer who purchased a Rikhi Ram Grand Professional Tun Sitar
Bharat,
I love the Rikhi Ram, it is an amazing
instrument. I couldn't be happier with the purchase. It is so well
built and designed. the parts and pegs all fit better than my other sitars.
It really emanates a lot of quality and it sounds terrific. I consider it
a privilege to even own this fine musical instrument.
Dave J.
Ohio
From a customer who purchased a Srishti half-decoration Standard.
Bharat:
I have to tell you how much I enjoy the sitar. My left index finger is killing
me, however, but in a good way. I have a long loooong way to go, given that
this is my first sitar and I have never played ICM before. But this is such a
beautiful instrument and is such an inspiration to hold that I look forward to
countless hours practicing.
Rich
From a Canadian customer who purchased a Srishti
Garland Teak.
Hi Bharat,
I just wanted to let you know that the Garland Teak sitar finally arrived. I
received it on Friday..., and I was truly blown away!
I have some pretty nice instruments in my collection: a Rickenbacker 4003 bass,
a Hamer Chaparrel 12 string bass, an old Fender Precision bass, a Takamine 12
string acoustic guitar, and more. But the Garland Teak I just bought from
you is by far the crown jewel in my collection! I was so impressed with it that
I even felt a little intimidated by it at first.
The first night I didn't even
bother tuning it, figuring I had all day Saturday to tweak it. It was pretty
hard going on me that first night
though; as any of my musician friends can attest to, I am a stickler for tuning.
The very idea that there is a finely crafted instrument within arms reach that
is in dire need of tuning, but would benefit from that later after acclimatizing
and me having more time for it, feels to me like being an ex-smoker who knows
there is a pack of cigarettes in the house. It was almost more than I could
bear!
On Saturday morning I was up with
the dawn, like a boy on Christmas. I had some breakfast, and then sat down to
tackle my work. The first thing I did was tune it up, but I noticed that the
pegs needed some rosin. The rosin powder that I bought from you is excellent,
the grip it provides is incredible. Then for the next hour or two I tuned it. It
holds its' tuning very well, and the tone is sweet. I can't wait for the years
to tick by and the teak wood to improve and deepen the tone even more.
After playing it until my fingers hurt, which was about 45 minutes, I
called my best friend Ali to tell him about my new treasure. He asked me if my
old sitar was like "the dogs' breakfast" compared to my new one. I could not
have put it better myself. It's hard to believe that I had no idea what kind of
piece of junk I had played for 7 years. Well, I guess it's like when you start
to learn violin, you don't go and buy yourself a Stradivarius! I can only hope
that I am worthy of this fine instrument, because it is certainly more than
worthy of me.
...
Thank you so much for all of your
help. I'm sure that I will be a repeat customer in the future; I already have
plans to buy the "pick ups" for the sitar and I have interest in buying a
tanpura as well. ...
Thank you again and peace to you
and your family,
Peter
From a customer who purchased a Rikhi Ram Tabla
set.
Dear Bharat,
I finely
received my Rikhi Ram tabla set safely. It was worth the wait, and it is worth
every penny! What a masterpiece! I
thought my first set was outstanding ( Benaras style Parampara set, which I love
and use everyday ), but this set is the best I've ever
seen anywhere. It has perfect pitch, workmanship, quality and looks. The deluxe
fiberglass case with " Rikhi Ram " insignia, wheels and
multi-adjustable handle, provides an unsurpassable shelter for these beauties.
You and all my other friends at Sitars Etc. have, once more,
satisfied my fine musical instrument needs.
Thank You Very
Much for, your hard work, kindness and superb service. Till next time,
Arthur
from California.
From a customer who purchased a
Raagini electronic Tanpura.
Hello Bharat,
The Raagini arrived, beautiful packaged, and I have been using it for a week now
and it is wonderful. No problems. Thank you for your kind attention and support.
I know you are a company I can recommend to others.
Best wishes,
Claire
From a customer who purchased
an artist quality Srishti Designer sitar.
Dear Bharat,
The Srishti Designer arrived today and I just want to say that this sitar is
truly magnificent!! It possesses everything you promised it would:
phenomenal quality of sound, even toned, balanced, feels great, unmatched
aesthetics....an exceptional sitar in every sense of the word!
I would also like to add that, while finding that rare gem of a sitar among the
many to choose from makes me feel quite blessed, all this would have been
utterly impossible without you! I want to thank you wholeheartedly for
your expertise, knowledge, and, perhaps above all that, your tireless caring and
patient manner. You go to any length to be certain that your customers are
not just satisfied, but absolutely delighted with their choice. This is
truly a labor of love for you and it shows at every turn. You are a
rarity. I can't find enough superlatives to accurately describe the experience
of purchasing a sitar from you and Sitars Etc.!! Simply put, you are the
best!
With endless gratitude,
Michael
From a customer who purchased a
Pre-Owned Teak sitar.
My regrets
for not writing you sooner to express my appreciation for the care you took to
help me in my purchase of a Sitar. As a result of our discussions over the
phone, I purchased the Sitar ..., and I am delighted with this beautiful
instrument. My teacher was very impressed and happy I was able to find an
instrument of this quality.
Garry K.
Canada
From a customer who purchased a
Parampara Tabla set.
Dear Bharat, I
have received the Varanasi (Benaras ) professional tabla set. They are
immaculate. You were right, these are very high quality instruments. First Class
!
I love
everything about them, their great sound, the high quality of the material used
and the fine craftsmanship that has been used in their construction. Let's not
forget all the beautiful and high quality accessories that came with them.
And the hard shell case. It's ruged,protective, nicely lined, and very
convenient to use with all the handles and the shoulder strap and wheels. I can
carry my tablas every which way I please. And last but not least the very high
quality promotional, padded gig bag that you sent me for free. I use it
everyday.
I had shopped
around for about a month everywhere for a set of high quality tablas prior to
placing my order with you. I'm glad I didn't give up in my search to find high
quality instruments that were fairly priced.
Let me thank
you for your kindness, patience, helpfulness and honesty. I don't think there is
anyone out there that can match the service, friendliness, care and the quality
of the instruments that you and all my other friends at Sitars etc. provide. I
can't wait till my second set of tablas (Rikhi Ram's) arrive.
Bharat, Thanks
a million. I'll be talking to you soon.
Arthur, from
California.
From a German customer
Dear Bharat,
thank you very
much for the great T-Shirt and the incense.. it reached me today...
It was nice to
buy at Sitaretc.com... I it will not be my last order...
Best wishes,
Max
Lieber Bharat,
vielen lieben
Dank für den schnellen Versand des T-Shirts... Es hat mich heute erreicht und es
gefällt mir wirklich sehr gut...
Ich danke dir
besonders für den netten Kontakt und bin mir sicher, dass ich noch weitere Male
bei sitaretc.com bestellen werde...
Bis dahin sende
ich dir alles Liebe und Gute,
dein Freund
Max... :-)
From a Canadian customer who
purchased a Srishti Standard
Hi Bharat,
I received the sitar. Thank you so much.
It's wonderful. It was a pleasure doing business with you
all the best.
Rishi
From an Italian customer who
purchased an Fancy Oud, a Parampara Premium Professional Tabla set, and an
Electric Oud. This is a compliation of several emails. (Translation
follows)
Caro Barhat,
le tablas sono arrivate oggi
improvvisamente, senza nessun preavviso.
Grazie!
è arrivato tutto ben imballato,
le tablas le ho già viste, mentre l'Oud è arrivato ieri a Milano ma io sono a
Roma da alcuni giorni e tornerò a Milano venerdì. Grazie molte.
ho
finalmente potuto aprire la cassa con l’Oud.
E’ molto
bello, soprattutto il back. ... Poi ho pensato che è
meglio tentare di imparare un Oud completamente
classico. ... Ti ringrazio moltissimo per l’indirizzo che mi hai mandato. Lo
cercherò subito.
l’Oud
electrico è arrivato! ...
mi pare bello ... La scatola è bellissima, grazie per l’incenso
la resina e gli altri oggetti...
Ancora molte grazie
e a presto
Il tuo
amico italiano
Alberto
(Translation:
Dear Bharat,
The tablas arrived today
surprisingly, without any warning. Thanks You!
Everything has arrived all very
well packed, the tablas I have already seen them, while the Oud arrived
yesterday In Milan but I am in Rome from some days and will return to Milan on
Friday.
Thank you very much
I have finally been able to open
the case with the Oud. It is very beautiful , above all the back. ...
I have thought that is better to try to learn a classical Oud from scratch...
Thank you again very much for the address of the Oud teacher that you have sent
to me. ...
The Eelectric Oud has arrived! ...
it seems to me that it is very beautiful... The box is the most beautiful,
Thanks for the incense, the resin
and the other objects...
Again thank you very much
your Italian friend
Alberto)
From a customer who purchased a
Srishti Gandhar Pancham sitar.
Dear Bharatji,
I played the Srishti for over 6 hours this weekend and I must say that I am very
impressed with the sound quality and workmanship. This is indeed a high quality
professional sitar. I also tried stroking the tarafi
strings with my left fingernail and the innovation does make it a lot easier.
High marks to Srishti for making such a nice sitar!
Even though my path to my ideal sitar was a bit circuitous, your patience and
customer service was always top notch. You will always be my first choice for
buying Indian instruments, and I know I will buy
many more on my musical journey.
Thanks again Bharatji for the Srishti GP sitar. Thanks also to Indrajit-ji for
talking to me and convincing me to get the Srishti.
... That was a very wise decision!
Feel free to use me as a reference for any future customers.
Best Wishes,
-Chetan S.
From a customer who purchased a
Parampara Dayan.
Dear Bharat
I received the Dayan this afternoon, i love it!!
Thank you for including the Tulasi incense sticks, that was a very nice
touch.
I will recommend you to any
musician that ask me for indian instruments.
Namaste
joaquin
From a customer who purchased a
pre-owned Garland Teak Sitar.
Bharat,
Thanks again
for pointing me in the right direction for the Garland Teak. I'm looking
forward to receiving the instrument. I had emailed Tony Karasek about this
Srishti and he gave me some positive feedback about it. Tony's
confirmation along with the information you provided sealed the decision for me.
I'm very happy
that there are conscientious people like you that provide support for high
quality ICM instruments. Keep up the good work!
...
Sincerely,
Dave
From an old friend of Lars, and
Sitars Etc. and hopefully now mine as well, and an excellent sitar walla who was
forced because of an injury to sell his Srishti Garland Teak sitar.
Namaste
Bharatiji,
I appreciate
all you have done to help me sell my shristi.... I am so happy that Lars
sold someone the site that has a good heart and sincerely wishes to help the new
players. Truly, if I had not injured my finger I would keep this great
instrument myself. ...
Uncle Ken
From a customer who purchased a
Srishti Standard sitar.
I am very pleased with the Srishti Standard
sitar that I purchased from you guys right before Christmas. The
sound is great and the sitar beautiful. Also I was very pleased with the
amount of customer service I received and plan to purchase again from you guys
in the future.
Ruben C. R.(San Antonio, Texas USA)
From a customer who purchased
Srishti Designer with colored penwork.
Hi
Bharat
I recieved the sitar as
you know saturday around 12:30pm. I checked everything out and inspected it
closely.
Everything on it
seems to be fine. The pegs are tight & the frets are sturdy & tight.I let it
sit for about an hour out of its case, and by the way is a very nice case.
I tuned it to c# after an hour & the strings did not break. The pegs are nice
& snug & they did not slip. A mark of a well built sitar. Very nice penwork
to.It also has a deeper gourd than my hiron roy which lends to its deep sound
no doubt.The symphathetic strings ring out loud ... I know it takes time for a
new sitar to break in though.
Bharat, i'm
greatfull for your time & patience with me, you went out of your way to try &
anwser every question I had. For anyone looking for a great sitar & service
that you can't beat anywhere else, check out Bharat @ sitars etc.
Many blessings to you Bharat & Sitars Etc. " Oh Yeah" I've still got my goal
on a Rhiki Ram sitar, hopefully in the fall sometime.
Take care & best wishes,
James.
From a customer who purchased a
Bird head Tanpura.
Bharat,
I received the tanpura last night at about 1:00 am, and I am already very very
glad that I waited. It is as much a work of art as it is instrument, and is of
the highest quality of both. I am very happy. Can't wait now till I have enough
money for a Srishti or maybe a Karasek sitar... someday. ...
Thanks again so very much.
Adam
From a customer in Italy who
placed an order for a nut "bridge."
Dear Bharat,
I received the Sitar's accessories, the "rest" is perfect and my Kharaj string
now is intonated.
Thank you very much. The incense is good, you are very kind.
Luca
From a customer who purchased a
Srishti Jaipur.
Hi Bharat
I just wanted to thank you for such a beautiful instrument and such wonderful
service! I absolutely love the jaipur! Had a tough time tuning it, and
accidentally broke one of the sympathetic strings, but it sounds great now!
already played it during a show and for some friends. A very captivating
experience!
thank you very much!.
take care,
chris
From a
customer who purchased a pre-owned MPS Surbahar,
just a quick note to let you
know the surbahar arrived in fine shape. I am a student at Oregon
Institute of Technology and this is finals week. Tomorrow is my last
final, and this is my last term. I would call the timing here cosmic.
What a great way to begin this new era in my life! I'll write again
when I'm not so overwhelmed with study ....
...My fingers
are so sore and I am so HAPPY! My last day at work was Friday, and since
then I've been adjusting and tuning. Today every string is in tune and
set. Mangla Prasad Sharma is a great surbahar maker. Your kindness
and generosity is something I have not encountered in the twenty-first
century, Bharat, and I commend you. I also thank you and am enjoying the
gifts you sent. The little box is already full of surbahar paraphanalia.
I decided to get more familiar with the instrument before puting on new
strings. I built some celtic harps and hammered dulcimers about twenty
years ago and learned a bit about string physics and designing string choirs,
so I thought I'd run an analysis on this instrument and see what I think about
making some changes. This instrument is unique and I will consider it as
such. The tuning information you sent was critically important to me and
gave me exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for taking the time and
trouble to do that for me....
Roger
From a customer who purchased a Persian
Settar, which he spells "Setaar." He is a devotee of Persian and middle
eastern music. He also mentions he wants to try an Indian Sitar.
Hi Bharat!
I received the
setaar and it is absolutely beautiful.
The tanpura box
arrived with it, and the transducer had arrived a day earlier. Upon tuning the
instrument, and overcoming initial "i hope i haven't bitten off more than i can
chew thoughts", I meditated a moment and then proceeded to begin discovery of
the setaar. the tone from the instrument is superb, and it is made for solos. I
found the harmonics, and thank goodness realized the instrument has 16 steps
rather than 12. these are the tones i have been attempting to imitate on the
banjo, except now they are genuine!
I cannot put
the instrument down, except to go to school to teach. I feel as if i have
discovered musical gold, except it has always been there and i just didnt know
where to find it. You and your website deliver as promised, what a relief in
today's world of shortcuts. such a subtle instrument, but the musical modes it
delivers are unsurpassed by traditional western instruments.
Anyway, i cant
thank you enough!
sam
From a customer who purchased a
Parampara Premium Professional Tabla who lives in Mexico City
(translation follows)
Bharat, amigo
Acabo de recibir
mi tabla, llegó puntual, sin ningún problema y en perfecto estado. Es el juego
de tabla más bello que he visto, la calidad es excelente y el sonido es aún
mejor de lo que esperaba. Estoy más que satisfecho. Quiero agradecerte en
especial la atención, el profesionalismo, la seriedad, la asesoría tan
personalizada, y sobre todo, la amistad que tan gentilmente me brindaste a
partir de una simple pregunta por internet a tu sitio "sitars etc". Gracias mil
por hacer de la India un lugar más cercano.
Juan G,
México City
(Translation:
Bharat, friend,
I just received my tabla, it arrived punctually, without a problem and in
perfect condition. This is the most beautiful set of tablas that I have
seen, the quality is excellant and the sound is even greater than what I exected..
I am more than satisfied. I want to express my appreciation especially
your attentions, professionalism, the seriousness, the very personalized
assistance, and above all, the friendship that you have offered in such a
gentlemanly manner just starting from a simple question I asked over the
internet of your website "sitars etc". Thanks a million for making India
seem a lot closer.)
From a customer who purchased a special
Concert teak Sitar made by Srishti:
Hi
Bharat,
Thank
you for speaking with me on the phone today. As you know, the sitar arrived in
wonderful condition. I love the light grain mahogany and the way that the color
of the gourd matches the wood so perfectly. I am very happy that you understood
what I was talking about in my desire for the color scheme!
Thank
you as well for the book: The Sitar by Manfrd Junius. I have other books on the
sitar, but this is the best one now in my library. On page 15 of that book, he
describes the Vina, the predecessor instrument of the sitar, as having a bridge
with a very gradual slope. This slope produces a somewhat nasal but very
colorful sound rich in overtones. It is this sound that I am looking for in a
sitar. I have an older sitar that was given to me that I spoke to you about.
This is the one that may need new frets and does need a total retying of all
frets. They are loose and make funny sounds, and of course, the notes will not
stay true, as the frets move while I play. This has been very frustrating. I am
planning to send you this instrument for re-tying and other adjustments. The
older instrument has a very rich overtone sound which I love. The bridge bone
has been shaped or worn into a postion that gives good overtone production in
all notes of the scale. Thank you also for your sincere wishes that I be pleased
with the instrument...
I have
already played the new sitar for hours today, and will probably be playing more
this evening. I am looking forward to spending lots of time with it this holiday
weekend. I will let you know next week how it is working out. When it comes to
instrument tone, I am a perfectionist, but I am also a bit nervous at this time,
and I know that I have great expectations that need to be tempered with reason.
Thanks again for your assurances to this inexperienced but very eager student.
Harry
L.
From a customer who purchased a Srishti
Standard for their son at Christmas
Bharat
OK we got it ! All OK.
... my wife and I frantically tore into the box, pulled everything out, gently
inspected the Sitar...it's amazing! ...
...Thanks, again, best regards,
Walt
From a customer who bought a
Srishti Calcutta Traditional in Valencia, Spain.
(translation follows)
Bharat,
Acabo de recibirla ahora mismo! Es increïble! muy buena compra y está en
perfecto estado. ... estuve tocando y parece que la sitara suena mejor por
momentos!
... te mandaré el
texto con la foto (para mi será un placer), así la sitara saldrá con todo su
esplendor. Estoy muy feliz con el sitar, de veras!
sergi
Sevilla, España
(Translation:
I have just received it, this instant!.
Its incredible! A very good
buy and its in perfect condition ...I was playing and it seems that the sitar
sounds better by the second.
...I'll send text and photos (it will be a pleasure), that way the sitar will
come out in its splendor. I'm very
happy with the sitar. Truely!)
From a customer who bought a Mangla Prasad
Sharma Concert Teak in London
Dear Bharat,
... thanks, it arrived and I have enjoyed playing it alot.!
It has very nice tone and I like the way I can play on it.
Hugh
Professor of Molecular Psychiatry,
University College London Medical School
One of our
Customers emailing a potential customer of a Gandhar Pancham:
(by the way, the customer is another customer from Valencia, Spain who
eventually did buy the Gandhar Pancham - there must be something in the water :)
Bharat at sitarsetc.com asked me to drop you a line regarding the Gandhar
Pancham sitar by Srishti that they carry. I bought the first of these sitars. It
is the actual one pictured on the website) about seven months ago, and I have
been very happy with it.
The instrument, as you can tell from the photos, has a minimum of adornment, but
is very elegant nonetheless. The wood is gorgeous, and the finish brings out its
beauty. Simple faux mother-of-pearl trimmings, nicely carved spiral pegs, and
well shaped bone fittings complete the look. Overall, the instrument seems light
but strong: well-made, well crafted, well-jointed.
I began playing just over a year ago, using a 25-year-old Hiran Roy which
was loaned to me by the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where
my teacher, Peter Row, was Provost. That instrument had not been played
much over the years and never really opened up in the months that I used it.
In contrast, the Gandhar Pancham seemed to sing right out of the box, and
has improved impressively since then. The jawari is closed right now, as
befits this style if sitar (although I am planning to make mine at least
semi-open). My teacher checked out the instrument carefully, and said that
he thought it was better than any of the other instruments students of his
had managed to purchase from North American sources.
Lars at sitarsetc.com was very friendly and helpful when I was considering
the instrument, and I had several telephone conversations with him while I
pondered; he even called me at one point and played the instrument to me
over the phone while giving me his "live" opinion!
So, I have been very happy with my investment, and I look forward to years
playing my Gandhar Pancham. I hope we'll both improve together!
I hope this helps. Feel free to get back to me if you have any questions.
All the best,
Andrew
Dear Lars,
Thanks for doing
such a good job with helping me get my new sitar. At every step of the purchase
you've kept me informed of the little details that make dealing with Sitars Etc.
a pleasure. I would recommend Sitars Etc. to anyone who is looking for a
reputable dealer of Eastern musical instruments.
In working for a
company that prides itself on quality products, customer service and support
I've come to expect the same from others, your business reminds me of the
company where I work. You sell high quality instruments and go out of your way
to help solve even the littlest requests. Keep up the good work!
Dave J.
District Sales Mgr.
C.F. Martin and Co. Nazareth, PA.
Lars,
The sarangi came on time. It is everything I expected, and more. I just have to
get a hang of it. The bow is very inpressive...... Thanks you all of your help,
and I am sure I will call upon it again soon.
Daniel M.
Lars,
The saz arrived. What a beautiful instrument and it sounds spectacular!! Gee,
I might have to get a longneck? Really a great piece of work! And the ney is
going to be a challenge....don't even know how to approach this one, though I'm
convinced the Persian variety is ultimately more difficult. But that saz...wow!
Thanks again for your help!
Michael L.
Lars. Just a quick update. I was thinking of three months for the Sitar to break
in, but the other night I notice as I'm playing between p and N, up high, that
this rainbow chorus seems to be eminating from the drones like I hadn't heard
before and as I play downwards, different notes are coming in to harmonize. It
makes me feel a thousand years old. Thanks, just for that, buddy. srt
Hey Lars,
I have been wanting to get back to you to tell you how much I've been enjoying
my new sitar. But I thought I'd better run it by my teacher first, in case he
thought differently. Well, not to worry: he loved it! He said it was very well
made, and will only
improve with age. Furthermore, he said he thought it is a much better instrument
for the money....... So, cheers to you for your efforts in making good
instruments available at an affordable price!
Once I had the new sitar tuned up, it felt responsive and comfortable in my
hands. Suddenly, I could hear the pitches I was previously fumbling for (well,
I'm still fumbling for them, but at least I know where they are now). It has
re-energized
my whole attitude towards playing.
Thank you so much!
Andy H. Boston, MA.
Just wanted to drop a note to let you know how happy I am with my tablas. They
sound great and I'm having a lot of fun getting to know the heart of the
instrument. Thank you so much for all your kind service and attention. I also
wanted to thank you specially for the way you carefully packed the tablas. Hope
you are enjoying a wonderful day.
Namaste,
Tazz Miami, Fl.
A very nice
recent review of a Srishti sitar....!
There have been several posts about the new Srishti sitars being
sold by Sitars, Etc., ranging from “how do they compare to _____?” to “how is
the quality?” to “who can I trust?” I’ve had my eye on a Srishti since the site
went up early this year and finally took the plunge a few weeks ago. Here, then,
is a review of my new Manipur tun.
First, let me say that I am far from a sitar expert. I’ve been playing for eight
months and have only two other sitars to use as reference points – the generic
“standard” model that I bought last December and an acquaintance’s Rikki Ram
that I was able to play for about a half an hour one day in March! (Sitars are
hard to find in Iowa.) Regardless, I hope that some of you find this information
helpful if you decide to buy a new instrument.
When Sitars, Etc. went online, I was immediately drawn to the Manipur. The
intricate and complex detail is characteristic of what I like best about Indian
art in general. After awhile, I was torn between it and the Jaipur, which was in
the lead for several months. Sometimes first impressions are best, so as my fund
hit the target amount I finally decided on the Manipur.
I sent Lars a brief email about my intended purchase and asked him to call me
the next day. He did, which provided a break from a mind-numbing conference
call. We chatted about the instrument and he suggested that I order online,
which I did when I got home. Later that night, the phone rang – it was Lars,
playing Yaman on the Manipur! (By the way, Lars is a very good player, though he
probably won’t admit it himself.) He asked if I minded the fact that this
particular instrument had an open jawari. For me, it’s all about the buzz and
the Ravi sound, so it was a perfect match. It’s always been clear to me that
this business is a labor of love for Lars – he cares about the instruments and
is committed to his customers, and will not sell something that he wouldn’t want
to own himself. The fact that he took an hour out of his day to make sure I was
getting what I wanted was very impressive.
The upper toomba and accessories were shipped separately from the sitar. I gave
Lars a hard time about this – the toomba box arrived on Monday in the mail,
while the sitar wasn’t scheduled to arrive until Friday via FedEx. Talk about
cruel and unusual punishment!
J The upper toomba arrived wrapped in a large printed
Indian scarf – very classy – and was gorgeous. Actually seeing the detail and
workmanship of the toomba let me know that I made the right choice. The
accessory kit contained a main and tarb peg, a small amount of fret thread, a
tarb hook, a pack of “generic” strings, and a pack of Pyramid strings. I already
have an oil box and both books that Lars sells, so he substituted a narka and a
package of incense. Instead of the nag champa oil advertised on the site, Lars
suggested a small bottle of Indian hair oil that Indrajit Banerjee uses, to
which I agreed. I forgot to tell Lars the size of mizrab that I like so those
are being sent separately.
Friday came and I was chomping the bit. The sitar had reached Chicago at 12:38
AM. I checked the FedEx site throughout the day and it wasn’t…going…anywhere. I
figured that the site was slow, but was a bit worried due to the summer heat. It
never showed up on Friday. Lars called me that night, which was reassuring.
Finally, it was loaded on a truck that night and delivered on Saturday morning.
FedEx had put a nice hole in the back of the box but everything seemed intact.
I opened the box. The sitar was extremely well-packed using foam peanuts and
larger pieces of foam at strategic support points. The case is a black
fiberglass “rocket ship” shape with three locks, two snap-straps and a strap for
carrying it on your shoulder. One lock is a combination lock, one has a key
lock, and the other is large enough to utilize a padlock. The inside of the case
is well-cushioned top and bottom and covered with a soft fluffy red material. My
one-year old daughter will be walking any day now so a sturdy case is a must!
Taped to the case were an envelope and a nag champa sachet bag. The enveloped
contained a two-page thank you letter with unpacking, set up and general care
instructions. Another nice personal touch – and the sachet is a great thing to
have in my case.
Opening the case, I found the Manipur encased in a silky yellow fabric cover,
with additional soft foam I carefully pulled out the instrument and was
completely amazed. I was expecting something nice, but this instrument is truly
beautiful and looks incredible in person. I won’t go into too much detail here
because you can see what this model looks like at Sitars, Etc., but believe me
when I say that the pictures don’t begin to do it justice.
I checked the finish for any bad spots due to the heat and I lucked out – it’s
perfect. The only problem – if it is a problem – was a broken tarb string. No
big deal, in my opinion. I let the instrument sit for about four hours before
fixing the tarb string. It was strung using a better-quality Indian set of
strings, but I did take the MA string off and replaced it with a Pyramid. The
pegs are very tight and well-seated in their holes, yet turn smoothly without
slippage. The frets were shiny and only required a few minor adjustments for
initial intonation. Also – and this isn’t mentioned on the website – the sitar
has string gags for the bass strings. Cool! After about 20 minutes of tuning, I
was ready to play.
I have to say here that I’m not a very good player – at eight months, who is?
However, I’m amazed at how much better I sound with the Manipur, and with a lot
less effort. The tone is pure and even up and down the neck and the bass strings
sound fantastic (they were non-functional on my “standard”). My wife is not a
musical person but immediately commented on how “substantial” this sitar sounds.
This was the first thing I noticed when I played my friend’s Rikki Ram – from
what I remember, the Manipur sounds at least as good and probably better. I can
also “dig in” as needed for volume. During my lessons my teacher has had me
attack the strings fairly hard – to get a good motion in my right hand – and the
standard sounded terrible, as if it were being overloaded, for lack of a better
term. Meends are easier – I have a greater range, of course, but it seems like
it requires less effort find and hit the right note. This sitar is quite simply
a joy to play and I am looking forward to many years of enjoyment.
Back to the posts – I’ve seen many that focus on well-known names, finding a
“perfect” professional instrument, etc. Let’s be honest here, folks. My guess is
that the overwhelming majority of people on this forum are amateurs (though very
enthusiastic amateurs). We have day jobs and careers and play for our own
personal enjoyment. We’ll never tour or perform in Carnegie Hall. But, many of
us are also accomplished musicians on other instruments and have high standards
of quality. Spending this kind of money on an instrument of any sort is scary,
particularly when you can’t play it first, so it comes down to excellent
customer service and a quality product. I believe that anyone here would be
delighted to own a Sristhi – I know I am!
Matt A.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Hi Lars -
Sorry for the delay in getting a note off to you that I did receive the Manipur
on Tuesday and it made the trip without any problems ( both packages ).
This is a whole new level in quality. The one I had from.... really looked and
sounded like a student model in comparison.
I'll have to get used to the
new pick level I can play on this. My earlier one tended to wash-out or the
notes became distorted too much if I picked too hard. On the Manipur, my medium
"pick", is very subtle and does not get the needed vibration thru the sitar to
get harmonics and sympathetic strings resonation. Now I can really pick quite
hard and generate some volume.
I really like this sitar - I can tell I'll need to play and play
until I can catch-up with it's capabilities - just what I wanted!!, nice
craftsmanship - pass on a note to your friend ( the owner of the shop ) that I
am very pleased and feel his shop makes a very good quality sitar. I would be
happy to recommend you and Srishti......
I have on my calendar to email
you in about 2 weeks about the Jaipur ( the addiction begins ).
Todd A. Sequim, WA.
Dear Lars,
I did receive the Paul and Co. harmonium on Wednesday, It is beautiful in craft
and sound. Thank you four your service and your passion for quality.
Todd W.
Colorado
Dear Lars,
I would like to offer you my sincere appreciation for everything you have done
for me! You were the only person in many that I have called who put a sincere
effort in fitting me with the right instrument (the srishti jaipur).
Making such a large purchase over the internet can sometimes be a little
frightening but you have really made it an enjoyable experience. The instrument
you sent me sounds and looks better than is describable by your
website. The craftsmanship is exquisite, the quality of sound oustanding and
customer service the best on the market today. It is one of life's great
pleasures to come home and enjoy playing a piece of art so unique as the one you
sent me.
Thanks again for everything and good luck in your new business. Good karma
begets good karma.
Thomas A., California
Thanks Lars for the great
Dayan. The Chat seats firmly on the Dayan's shell without any bumps or pits. The
drum was in nearly perfect pitch of C# with a slight wave. I tapped the gajara
once and was on my way! There is a true craftsmanship that I have received in
your Dayan that I have not been receiving from previous large named companies. I
will be a long term customer of yours Mr. Lars Jacobsen.
Kyle J
Nashville, Tennessee
Hi Lars,
Just letting you know that I received my order and wanted to say thank you. The
strings sound superb (they're my first set of Pyramids) and the Aparajitha
incense (thank you!) has quickly become one of my favourites!
The indian newsprint that the strings were wrapped in, was a nice touch and gave
a authentic eastern vibe! Many thanks again for perfect service and selection.
Sincerely,
Mark A.
hi Lars,
actually I was
planning to write to you today... yes, I have received the set and WOW it's
perfect! Not only beautiful but the sound is just great! I've already played on
it for hours since I opened it on saturday, and I'm going back to playing right
now... Thank you a lot, this is
quality......I hope I will be worth it. thank you again and a great week to you
too!
Julien J. (Switzerland)
Larsji,
I recently
purchased a set of "highest quality" class Tabla from you. I had
purchased a Tabla set from another respected dealer who again had billed his
product as a premier edition..... The set I received was obviously in
"pre-played" condition, with sweat stains and both smeared ink and pencil
writing on them, they were very nice and I thought the case was to have been
high quality as well. The case was black fiberglass and the instruments
were placed inside in a side by side configuration, however the lining was
merely plastic packing paper with no real "lining" whatsoever.
I might have
believed this was to be the "best" that the American marketplace had to offer
had I not purchased the set we received from you. The difference
was, to say the least, outstanding. The case was much more along the lines
of a very high end guitar case, with the instruments fitting snugly into a fully
lined crushed velvet interior. The exterior of the case was obviously well
thought out with a handle on the top rather than the side and a shoulder strap
already mounted. The shape was much more ergonomic for carrying whereas
the other case was just bulky and difficult.
The instruments
themselves were in tune "out of the box" in C#, right on with our Sony tuner,
our Tabla machine, and our Raagini. The heads were clear and clean, but
the most striking of all was the incredible sound, loud, clear and crisp.
All in all, if this is the type of quality I can expect from your service I will
be replacing my Sitar as well in the near future. Thanks so much for you
professional and speedy service.
Ken & Debbie O. North
Carolina, USA
Dear Mr. Jacobsen,
Thank you for .....the Srishti
Garland Teak. I do look forward very much to... starting my sitar studies! It is
a most beautiful instrument, I shall treasure and revere it always!
You have been very helpful in my
quest to choose the right sitar, and begin my quest with this wonderful,
spritual instrument, as well. It was not an easy choice, by any means, but
between the basic information you provided me with, and of course, plenty of
time to look and listen to each instrument, I am very happy with the choice I
have made! I am most grateful to you for your assistance, you are very
knowledgeable, your answers to all my questions have been so helpful to me in
deciding which one it was to be. I also would like to compliment you on your
great customer service/info, absolutely no pressure or hassle, and I would like
to thank you for your patience and prompt answers to all my various
questions! It is most obvious to me that your instruments are of the finest
quality, and I have purchased this instrument with the utmost confidence!
The care, forethought, and workmanship put into each and every instrument was
very obvious to me, and the very patient and helpful service Sitars Etc.
provided to me was most excellent! I really have appreciated the very high
degree of care your company takes to assure each and every customer of
such excellent quality of each and every instrument, this I think, is the
difference between your company and so many others.
Again, I would like to express my
gratitude!
I am very, very happy! It is very
beautiful to gaze upon, as well! The workmanship is exquisite!
Thank you for your graciousness and
help!
Many Divine Blessings to you and
yours, and of course, Sitars, Etc., as well!
\
Most sincerely,
Annette H.
Selah, WA
Lars,
The tanpura arrived safe and sound yesterday – it was packed very well, both
inside the shipping box and inside the case. What a beautiful instrument, both
visually and sonically! Your website mentions “quality used instruments” and it
certainly meets that standard. Thanks also for the mizrabs and incense – little
extras like that make all the difference in the world!
M. A.
Have a review? Please let us
know.....
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