Raga guitar version 2: Juniper

[JHumphrey]

This is the second version of the raga guitar, built for musicians interested in performing Hindustani music on standard six-string guitar.

The additional chikari (rhythmic drone) and sympathetic strings add a sitar-like "shimmer", almost like a natural reverb that is important for the emotive effect of raga music.

It is fun to play any type of modal music on this instrument- it will really sing and resonate and the sound keeps building as you go!

The Juniper soundboard adds a unique tone- very clear and punchy notes, even and balanced with lots of bass and treble but not very muddy. Tonal clarity is extremely important for this type of music.

Back and sides are apple from my former backyard in Eugene. A surprisingly effective tonewood, with characteristics somewhat similar to maple or mahogany.

[IMG]Raga guitar 2 by JBH woodworking, on Flickr[/IMG]

[JHumphrey]

The bridge has three planes of strings - the six melodic strings as in a standard 6-string acoustic, the chikaris slightly higher (on the brass post) and the sympathetics, which come out lowest, about 3mm above the soundboard.
[IMG]Raga guitar soundboard by JBH woodworking, on Flickr[/IMG]

[JHumphrey]

Here's the headstock: 9 machines and 8 rosewood pegs (for the sympathetics). You can see the channel under the nut where the sympathetics enter the tunnels (1/16" aluminum tubes inlaid into the back of the fingerboard):
[IMG]Raga guitar 2 headstock by JBH woodworking, on Flickr[/IMG]

[ewh2]

Amazing work.

I really liked the last Raga guitar you made. Another really tidy piece of design for the sympathetic strings.

[Halcyon/Tinker]

That's pretty cool!

[The Bard Rocks]

Can you tell me more about the juniper? I have a web site on tonewoods and have never heard of this being used. It is gorgeous.

[D. Shelton]

Originally Posted by JHumphrey

This is the second version of the raga guitar, built for musicians interested in performing Hindustani music on standard six-string guitar.

The additional chikari (rhythmic drone) and sympathetic strings add a sitar-like "shimmer", almost like a natural reverb that is important for the emotive effect of raga music.

It is fun to play any type of modal music on this instrument- it will really sing and resonate and the sound keeps building as you go!

The Juniper soundboard adds a unique tone- very clear and punchy notes, even and balanced with lots of bass and treble but not very muddy. Tonal clarity is extremely important for this type of music.

Back and sides are apple from my former backyard in Eugene. A surprisingly effective tonewood, with characteristics somewhat similar to maple or mahogany.

[IMG]Raga guitar 2 by JBH woodworking, on Flickr[/IMG]

My GAS has been in remission for ten years or so.... until now

[BBWW]

PM and email sent.

One question. Is there a way to do these things:

Mute Sympathetic Strings entirely?
Just use Sympathetic Strings sympathetically.
Use Sympathetic Strings with the Javari Bridge

On the same guitar?

I guess that's 3 questions.

[JHumphrey]

Here is a better shot of the sympathetic strings and the brass saddle posts for spacing:
Sympathetic strings by JBH woodworking, on Flickr

[JHumphrey]

@Jay:
Yes, you can remove the jawari bridge- they will function as sympathetic that way, without the buzz. It is held in place by friction, and is pretty easily removed.

I also have a felt mute that slips between the symp's and the soundboard, which simply mutes them all.

[BBWW]

Loved going through you gallery of instruments! So many ideas...so little time...my brain is a bit mushy with possibilities.

[JHumphrey]

Wow, always so fun to see all the amazing work happening on here!

Finally got around to recording this instrument. I am working on raag Yaman with my teacher:



Hope you enjoy

[Halcyon/Tinker]

Pretty cool!

[SJ VanSandt]

Beautiful sounds! Do you have any build process photos you would be willing to share? I would love to see how the neck was constructed. And the bracing must have been challenging too! It makes lovely guitar sounds along with the mystic eastern stuff - how does it do with the sympathetic strings muted?

[invguy921]

Good golly! I have a hard enough time managing SIX strings lol. Maybe it requires more than five fingers on the left hand to play it?

Sorry, just joking. Cool guitar!