Dieter Zarnitz Lute-Sitar #6 (1997)

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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.

SPECIFICATIONMEASUREMENT
Total length128 cm
Scale length88.5 cm
Bridge height2.3 cm
String height over last fret9.5 mm
Neck width9 cm
Tabli diameter39.5 cm
Toomba circumference108 cm
Weight2.7 kg
Meend range (at C# tuning)S → M tivra ; P → S (higher)
Dieters original first shot after completion. Setup with chromatic fretboard.
The current looks
A closed headstock made from rosewood
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
Thirteen ribs of mahogany
Drilled soundholes & mother of pearl inlay
String holders
The upper wooden string-guide with a guitar fret on top
Geometry of sound
Matyas Sitar