Meet the Maker #5 – Sitar Makers Series – Chris Doddridge
Meet the Maker: Chris Doddridge, Sitar maker from East Anglia A good instrument often reflects the character of its maker. For the latest Meet the Maker, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Doddridge, a quiet and modest craftsman from the UK whose instruments reveal far more than…
Meet the Maker #4 – Sitar Makers Series – Alan Arthur Suits
Meet the Maker: Alan Arthur Suits, Sitar maker from Santa Fe If you want to explore the full conversation with Alan Arthur Suits, this interview offers a detailed look into his path as an instrument maker working across different musical traditions. He reflects on his early encounters with both…
Meet the Maker #4 – Alan Arthur Suits
Meet the Maker – Alan Arthur Suits: Sitar making in New Mexico Intro In the Meet the Maker series, I talk to sitar makers from all over the world. People who bring instruments to life with their hands, their ears and their hearts. Meet Alan Arthur Suits. This episode…
Meet the Maker #3 – Sitar Makers Series – Kees Verbeek
Meet the Maker: Kees Verbeek, Sitar maker from Eindhoven In our latest blog feature, we take a closer look at the work of Kees Verbeek, a Netherlands-based maker focusing on surbahar and rudra veena — two instruments that sit at the deeper, more introspective end of North Indian classical…
Meet the Maker #3 – Kees Verbeek
Meet the Maker – Kees Verbeek: Sitar making in the Netherlands Intro In the Meet the Maker series, I talk to sitar makers from all over the world. People who bring instruments to life with their hands, their ears and their hearts. Meet Kees Verbeek. Kees Verbeek is a…
Meet the Maker #2 – Sitar Makers Series – David Keustermans
Meet the Maker: David Keustermans, Sitar maker from Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors A new interview is live in the Meet the Maker series. In this conversation, I spoke with David Keustermans, whose work moves between European lute building and Indian classical instruments. What interested me from the start was not only what…
Meet the Maker #2 – David Keustermans
Meet the Maker – David Keustermans: Sitar making in France Intro In the Meet the Maker series, I talk to sitar makers from all over the world. People who bring instruments to life with their hands, their ears and their hearts. Meet David Keustermans. David Keustermans is an instrument…
How to Tie Frets
How to Tie Sitar Frets – A Practical Guide for Makers and Players Properly binding sitar frets (pardas) is an essential yet often underestimated aspect of the instrument. The position and fit of the pardas determine not only the playability but also the intonation and tone of the sitar.…
Parda Binding – how to tie sitar frets
How to Tie Sitar Frets (Pardas) Tying frets is one of the most characteristic aspects of the sitar. Unlike fixed frets, sitar frets are movable and are fixed to the neck with thread. This allows for extremely precise adjustment but also requires the right technique. In this instructional video,…
Meet the Maker #1 – Sitar Makers Series – Ivan Rügen
Meet the Maker: Ivan Rügen, Sitar maker from Saint Petersburg In a studio in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ivan Rügen works on instruments and art objects that blur the boundaries between craft, music and visual art. His work stems from a deep fascination with sound, form and material. Combining traditional…
Meet the Maker #1 – Ivan Rügen
Meet the Maker – Ivan Rügen: Sitar making in Russia Intro In the Meet the Maker series, I talk to sitar makers from all over the world. People who bring instruments to life with their hands, their ears and their hearts. Meet Ivan Rügen. In Saint Petersburg, Russia, instrument…
Meet the Maker – Interviews with Instrument Makers
Meet the Maker: Instrument Makers Around the World This page contains an overview of various instrument makers from around the world. Instrument making is a unique combination of craftsmanship, creativity and a deep understanding of sound. Behind every instrument is a maker: someone who uses wood, tools and experience…