Dieter Zarnitz Lute-Sitar #6 (1997)

This is the last lute-style sitar made by Dieter in 1997. Neck & body made from mahogany, pegs and headstock from rosewood and decorations/bindings from maple. Dieter was inspired to make this sitar after german sitar expert and author of the book „Sitar & Surbahar manufacturing, the tradition of Kanai Lal & Brother, Kolkata“ Prof. Dr. Lars-Christian Koch, upon inspecting Dieters instruments suggested to make one from mahogany (the preferred choice of traditional sitars in India).

It is set up as kharaj-pancham sitar and has thirteen taraf strings. The original fret setup is chromatic. Bridges are Dieters homemade snakewood bridges.

SPECIFICATION	MEASUREMENT
Total length	128 cm
Scale length	88.5 cm
Bridge height	2.3 cm
String height over last fret	9.5 mm
Neck width	9 cm
Tabli diameter	39.5 cm
Toomba circumference	108 cm
Weight	2.7 kg
Meend range (at C# tuning)	S → M tivra ; P → S (higher)

*Dieters original first shot after completion*. *Setup with chromatic fretboard.*

*Instead of a rosette this one has drilled soundholes*

*The upper string-guide is from rosewood topped by a guitar fret*

*The backside of the closed rosewood headstock*

*The bass string-hooks on the last fret in focus*

*These drilled soundholes on the upper part of the neck were added later by Dieter.*

*The mahogany-maple-rosewood clash looks & sounds splendid*

*Drilled soundholes & mother of pearl inlay*

*The upper wooden string-guide with a guitar fret on top*

The current owner of this sitar -wonderful musician Wilhelm Van Langendock from Belgium- has made this beautiful film honouring Dieter´s final sitar: