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Sitar bridges

4/21/2015

5 Comments

 
Here are some pictures of sitar bridges of my make.
For the traditional 'stag' bridge I use antler mounted to the edge-grain of a split quarter-sawn Western Red-Cedar base. I use some stag but mostly prefer moose antler. I find moose is tighter and more resistant to wear. The pictures here are moose. I prefer western red cedar for the feet. I find when it is used as I do it, ie. on the edge-grain, it both transfers and "holds on" to the vibrations. My Tambura article talks about this a little.
For the all-wood bridge I make it from one piece of Lignum Vitae.

Lignum Vitae is the hardest, densest wood in the world with a specific gravity over 1.4.  Black Ebony has a specific gravity from 1.0-1.3, both will sink in water.  Ebony weighs about 70 pounds per cubic foot, and Lignum Vitae weighs over 85 pound per cubic foot.
You can see prices here
Click on the pictures below to make them bigger and see more info -
5 Comments
James Hamilton
6/23/2017 06:43:59 pm

Hi, I recently built my own ebony bridge from an African ornamental knife blade. The curve in the blade surface was used for jawari (with little modification). I like the tone it gives my instrument. Has anyone done a study of the durability of the wood bridges versus the antler ones? James

Reply
Scott link
6/25/2017 10:24:54 am

That's interesting James, sounds like you luck-out on the shape of the handle. There has been a lot of informal experiments and comparisons by players of the two materials, but formal "study" that I know of regarding durability. Most I have talked to are of the opinion the ebody is more durable, but that it gives the instrument a different sound...some like that, others don't. It seems to be trade-off. That being said, not all ebony is the same...some is harder and/or more aprasion-resistant than others. I have sttled on Lignum Vitae bacause it is the most dense and slightly 'waxy' so very abrasion-resistant.

Reply
franco capone corona
6/28/2019 07:23:35 pm

I want to know the price of jawari made in antler I am in Chili and I have a Hiren Roy a old one.

Reply
Daniel
12/18/2025 01:44:04 pm

Est-ce possible de se faire expédier un jawari déjà préoccupé avec 6 entailles. ?

Reply
Fallen Perfections link
3/8/2026 04:59:07 pm

I find the craftsmanship of these bridges to be impressive.

Reply



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