One day, a good old friend brought along an old and damaged billiard ball. It happened to be a real ivory specimen.
Why not to try to make a ghodi out of it ?
First step is to cut out a nice slice of ivory…
…and glue it upon a piece of mahogany.
Make a design for the legs and create a curved surface on the ivory part.
Make some rough cuttings with a saw. Then you will be able to remove the most of mahogany between the two legs with a chisel.
Remove the leftovers with a coarse file.
Finish with second cut files and sandpaper.
Ghoraj & ghodi is now ready for jawari.
But how could ivory jawaris/bridge be carried in flight ? Wouldn’t they be seized by customs
Yes, it is forbidden to trade ivory anymore. Obviously, you can’t just take it on a plane anymore either…
Have you ever carried your sitar with the ivory jawari in a flight ? Internationally ? Did you face any hassle at customs ? Any experience ?
No, I never did. I think it is common knowledge that you are not allowed to bring ivory across national borders… ?
Generally what is the weight and dimension of the bridge used for full sized male tanpura.
To discourage the use of ivory could polyester be used. I currently am trying to replace a black jawari with a white one and know the works of polyester, moulds and pigmentation.
Hello,
After looking at the Ghori with Ivory Jawari I fond an old Billiard ball which is real Ivory. Can I still have some Ivory left to use it on other parts of the sitar like making a Mongara or for other ornamental purposes.
Hello Parwaiz,
You need only half a billiard ball to make such a jawari. There will be sufficient leftover from this half ball to make cikari or tarav mogara, but not enough to make a langoot… But still there is the other half. 🙂
I’ve cut the billiard ball with an iron saw. It cuts very easy. Further shaping can be done with files…
what did you use to cut the billiard ball?
I had a crazy idea. How about a jawari made of metal?
I used this old ivory specimen because it was damaged and became useless as a real billiard ball and because it crossed my way by means of my friend Chico. I have no experience with other billiard balls but I guess that it could be worth trying out. Other synthetic materials (fiber) give very good results in resistance to wear and are easily processed. The sound varies a little bit but is at least very promising. It is only a question of habit and standards. Play first, then listen… And, if we can spare the life of an elephant or a barasingha by using these modern materials then I’m happy 🙂
Hi
I was impressed with your abilities and imagination. I have a question: do you think that newr, synthetic billyard balls will do the work or do you think that they are not as solid, cannot be smoothed properly or that they will not sound well?
Yoram