--- title: "Handcrafted Tanpuras and Tanpuris from Miraj" description: "Looking for the perfect drone for your vocal practice? I craft professional male and female tanpuras and travel-friendly tanpuris in Miraj using seasoned wood and expert jawari work. Get your custom instrument today." canonical: https://mytribe.in/naeemsitarmaker/custom-made-indian-string-instruments/tanpuras-and-tanpuris last_updated: 2025-10-02 --- # Handcrafted Tanpuras and Tanpuris from Miraj Tribe Verified · 6th generation instrument maker from Miraj By [Naeem Sitarmaker](https://mytribe.in/naeemsitarmaker) · Ships across India; Visit workshop in Miraj · ₹18K per instrument (estimate) Part of [Custom-Made Indian String Instruments](https://mytribe.in/naeemsitarmaker/custom-made-indian-string-instruments). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/naeemsitarmaker/custom-made-indian-string-instruments/gallery) I am Naeem, the 6th generation of my family crafting these instruments in Miraj. Whether you need a concert-grade gourd tanpura or a travel-friendly wooden tanpuri, I build each one to give you that perfect, steady drone. ## Photos and videos - [Video: This is a beautiful teakwood tanpura I crafted. You can see the detailed floral inlay on the front and my name written on the neck. It is built for a deep and steady drone.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e4519c7e-263e-4725-a6de-759e38d8d8f6) - [Video: Namaste, this is a C-sharp male tanpura in the Hemraj design pattern, made here in Miraj. It has a deep, resonant sound that provides a perfect base for classical vocalists.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/af21ee8b-9ce0-447d-819d-3d2e14f824db) - [Video: This is a C-sharp male tanpura with full floral decoration. The sound is rich and meditative, providing a perfect drone for a male vocalist's practice and performance.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4bd77b82-fd91-488c-955c-c87263053919) - [Video: A male tanpura made from high-quality teakwood. The natural grain of the wood is visible, and the simple floral inlay adds a touch of elegance.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8166eb89-1599-4553-972c-05858c0b16fc) - [Video: This is a flat wooden female tanpuri. Because it is made of wood instead of a gourd, it is very sturdy and has a bright, clear tone that is excellent for accompanying female vocalists.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2fe8bae9-78a3-4763-9511-ddc6bc4f1dec) - [Video: A C-sharp tanpuri with beautiful, colorful bird and flower designs. We can create any custom design you want, making the instrument truly personal to you.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bff07f2f-56c0-4d76-814e-39109fc22c98) - [Video: This is a flat wooden female tanpura in the Manu Shrivastava style, with very fine and detailed penwork decoration. It is as much a piece of art as it is a musical instrument.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/721b261f-03f8-4934-a4c5-4971bf93ea67) - [Video: A simple and elegant Miraj tanpuri. These smaller instruments are perfect for accompanying instrumentalists or for vocalists who prefer a more compact drone instrument.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7454c3a0-47f9-47b3-ac92-d874cb7e6ca9) - [Video: This video shows a Miraj tanpura and a travel tanpura that comes in a case. The travel version is very convenient for musicians who are always on the move.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a77eb06f-c29a-441e-8b7e-e67286e01e08) - [Video: An antique design tanpura made for a special client. The dark wood and heart-shaped inlay give it a very old-world, classic look.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3ae7db72-b382-48bf-800d-1854af3210fc) - [Video: This teakwood tanpura features a unique pen work design with elephant motifs. We love to bring a client's creative ideas to life on their instruments.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6bcd25ed-9f0a-4bed-8e17-cb9099b74183) - ![The Sri Saraswati Tanpura, also known as a box tanpura or handy tanpura. It is very compact and comes in its own case, making it the perfect travel companion for any musician.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/94e6cb3f-5dee-4f43-a50c-514f3632170d) - [Video: This is a male tanpura made from solid teakwood. The flat-back design gives it a powerful, direct sound and makes it very robust.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/70ec6465-6898-4aa7-a23f-f570e32128ae) - [Video: Another look at the Sri Saraswati Tanpura. You can hear its clear, steady drone. It is a very practical instrument for practice and travel.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3d31164d-7c06-4f96-8c78-b31ce955c156) - [Video: A teakwood tanpura with full decoration, including bird motifs. In the background, you can see our workshop filled with many other instruments in various stages of completion.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dc01517a-df0b-4e9e-8218-e52793c1d6fe) - [Video: A close-up of the beautiful inlay work on a tanpura. This level of detail is a hallmark of the Miraj tradition of instrument making.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f586b9fe-b60d-4eec-a531-c94c1c72b3ac) - [Video: This is a male tanpura, tunable from C to D, with delicate pink and white floral inlay. We can customize the tuning range and design for every singer.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/79804668-fe76-44a5-b5e0-7a56e563bb0b) - ![I am holding a flat wooden tanpuri. This design is very popular with vocalists for its clear tone and durability.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2785f1cd-bf21-4b8d-811d-07091736f1b7) - ![A close-up of the flat wooden tanpuri, showing the fine inlay work and the bird motifs that we often use in our designs.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/021fa3f8-82a2-48d9-9b9d-221a1a3d58fb) - ![This photo shows the full length of the flat wooden tanpuri. It is a beautiful and functional instrument, perfect for any vocalist.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5ae08a3e-0883-486f-9a94-cf83b2283d4b) - ![An angled view of the flat wooden tanpuri, highlighting the bridge and the strings. Every part is carefully crafted for the best sound.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/34da2599-a592-4876-80f5-f8cee67d5788) - ![The headstock of the flat wooden tanpuri, with its carved rosewood pegs. These details ensure the instrument is easy to tune and holds its pitch well.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b89c5169-9d26-4153-a302-afe0cda67639) - ![Playing the flat wooden tanpuri. The sound it produces is the foundation for a singer's performance.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a055c58d-c690-463c-83bf-0bae60e9e564) - [Video: This video showcases two styles of flat wooden tanpuras inspired by the designs of Manu Shrivastava, known for their intricate and beautiful artwork.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a7536112-bedb-489c-bdf3-0fd22fa3d019) - ![The back of a flat wooden male tanpura in the Manu Shrivastava style. The clean lines and dark polish show the quality of the wood.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3dde4029-fdad-49d7-b121-7132b1bdc8c2) - ![The neck of the Manu Shrivastava style tanpura, showing the delicate inlay pattern.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/212354f3-7b47-4394-8555-7c6bfbae410f) - ![The front of the Manu Shrivastava style tanpura. The design is elegant and understated, putting the focus on the instrument's tone.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8e823e49-f329-4392-88ad-e3e4c0673a3f) - ![The base of the Manu Shrivastava style tanpura, showing the beautiful carving where the neck joins the body.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3c7b5825-b399-4b71-a534-5e624203e36c) - ![A collage showing our floral tanpura from multiple angles. You can see the detailed carving, the fine inlay work, and the beautiful finish.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3a76af13-7533-455b-a9cb-414cf4225c6a) - ![A close-up of the headstock of the floral tanpura. The dark, carved pegs contrast beautifully with the light-colored wood and intricate inlay.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9b81fac5-e9ec-4515-add2-cd964d8e1990) - ![The back of the floral tanpura, featuring carved lotus petals. Even the parts of the instrument you don't always see are crafted with care.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8e7d7495-5398-4796-b661-0e4b478669a7) - ![The back of the floral tanpura's body, showing the detailed inlay work that continues all around the instrument.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/887752b1-9311-4ecd-b380-7cd844768633) - ![An angled view of the floral tanpura's neck and body, highlighting the seamless craftsmanship.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5e23c824-e321-4d60-81a7-eb1b473e7a33) - ![Another view of the floral tanpura, showing the decorative elements on the neck.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/67417c24-5198-4f88-9001-a44cbe7764bb) - [Video: A pair of our tanpuras after being safely delivered to a client in Germany. We take great care in packing our instruments so they can travel anywhere in the world.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3ba53b23-974d-43ab-9b63-e78637444b1c) - [Video: A client inspecting a new teakwood tanpura in our workshop. We have many finished and semi-finished instruments for musicians to see and try.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/75b910fe-5b51-4069-9ee7-b15d64b66587) ## About Tanpuras and Tanpuris Choosing between a traditional gourd tanpura and a flat-back wooden tanpuri comes down to your needs. If you are a traveling musician or need a compact instrument for daily practice, my wooden Sri Saraswati tanpuris offer a clear, steady sound in a sturdy frame. If you want the deep, meditative resonance of a traditional concert instrument, I select seasoned Pandharpur gourd for each of my male and female tanpuras to ensure the richest overtones. ### Finding Your Perfect Drone A tanpura is not just an instrument; it is the foundation of your music. When you approach me for an instrument, we start with your vocal range. I hand-file the bone bridge to create the precise jawari (buzz) you need, whether you prefer an open, ringing sound or a more closed, soft tone. ### Construction and Materials I primarily use seasoned Teakwood and Tunwood because they offer the structural stability required for the tension of the strings. My traditional gourd models are made from pumpkins sourced from the banks of the Krishna river in Pandharpur, which I believe gives them a natural, warm resonance that machine-made instruments cannot replicate. For those who need reliability on the road, my flat-back wooden models provide a robust alternative that holds its tuning exceptionally well, even after long flights or train journeys. ### Customization Every musician has a specific requirement for their drone. Whether you need a C-sharp male tanpura for a deep vocal base or a higher-pitched female tanpuri for detailed practice, I can customize the configuration. We can discuss the aesthetics as well—from simple natural wood finishes that highlight the grain, to intricate floral pen-work or inlay designs. My goal is to build an instrument that you feel connected to every time you sit down to practice. ### Care and Setup Each instrument I ship comes packed securely in a flight-safe fiber case. I include spare German Roslau strings and wire Mizrabs so you are ready to play the moment your package arrives. If you ever face issues with the jawari or need a crack repair, I am here to help restore your instrument to its original state. ## About Naeem Sitarmaker I am Naeem, carrying forward a family tradition that started in 1850 in the heart of Miraj. For me, making a tanpura is a form of prayer, and my only goal is to achieve the ultimate tone that supports your riyaaz. 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