Custom-Made Sitars
Traditional sitars, from Ravi Shankar to Vilayat Khan styles, handcrafted in Miraj with seasoned Tun and Teakwood for the ultimate tone.
A full-geared sitar made from beautiful teakwood. The machine heads make tuning easier and more stable, a modern touch many musicians appreciate.
This is a Pandit Ravi Shankar style sitar, known for its rich and deep tonal quality. Notice the detailed penwork and the double tumba (gourd) structure, which gives it a full-bodied resonance.
Here is a sitar made in the Ustad Vilayat Khan style, tuned to D sharp. This style is known for its pure, vocal-like sound, and this instrument is being played by sitarist Nand Kumar in a recording studio.
Musician Rajeev Janardan testing one of our studio sitars in the workshop. These models are slightly more compact, making them comfortable for long practice sessions and recording.
We can make a sitar for any musician. This is a custom-built left-handed sitar in the Ustad Vilayat Khan style, finished in a deep red color and fitted with an electronic pickup.
A closer look at our special peacock design sitar. The entire body is hand-painted and decorated to look like a peacock, including a carved headstock. It is a true piece of playable art.
A medium professional student sitar being played during a class at Kalaa. It is very important to me that students have good quality instruments to learn on.
This sitar is made from seasoned Tun wood in the Ustad Shahid Parvez style. The sound is sharp and clear, perfect for the fast and intricate playing style associated with the maestro.
An artist playing one of our sitars, demonstrating the deep and resonant tone we always aim for. Every instrument is built to produce the best possible sound.
This is a flat-back studio sitar, which does not have the traditional pumpkin gourd. It is made entirely of wood, which gives it a unique tone and makes it very durable for travel.
About Custom-Made Sitars
When choosing your instrument, the key is the Jawari—how I file the bridge makes all the difference in that vocal-like resonance you are looking for. Tell me if you prefer a closed, sharp sound for fast playing or an open, deep sound for alap, and I will tailor the bridge filing specifically for your touch.
My family has been making string instruments in Miraj since 1850, and this craft is in our blood. When you order a custom sitar, you aren't just getting an instrument; you are getting a piece of that history. I work with seasoned Tunwood and Teakwood, sourcing gourds from the banks of Pandharpur to ensure the wood has the right age and density for the best sound.
Whether you need a full-sized professional instrument in the Pandit Ravi Shankar style (with the upper gourd) or the Ustad Vilayat Khan style (cleaner, focused sound), I build it to your exact specifications. Every detail is customizable—from the fret shape and bridge filing to the aesthetic work like traditional celluloid inlay or intricate floral pen-work. For those who travel often, I also create compact studio sitars and flat-back wooden models that retain the authentic tone while being easier to carry.
I treat every student, beginner, and performing artist like family. If you need a left-handed instrument or specific machine heads for stable tuning, just let me know. Every sitar goes through my personal testing process for 'ultimate tone' before it leaves my workshop, so you know exactly what you are getting when you play your first notes.
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