Re: Sitar Sounds out of a Guitar

[lance glover <baumhaus@earthlink.net>]

Alex Stahl wrote:

> >In a message dated 12/9/99 11:20:40 AM, Kojaque@email.msn.com writes:
> >
> >>I was wondering if anyone out there knows a way to get a sitar-like 
>sound
> >>out of a regular electric guitar.  Is there a pedal or combinations of
> >>pedals that would do it?
>
> I use a compressor to really squash the signal for maximum sustain,
> followed by heavy tube distortion to get plenty of harmonics, then into a
> volume pedal so I can fade in each note a little, followed by a 
>parametric
> eq and finally the String Resonator patch in an Eventide H3000, to get 
>the
> sympathetic resonance effect. I change the resonator notes from a MIDI
> keyboard or sequencer. The right combination of resonators and playing
> makes decent timbre for Indian-influenced slow melodies, imho.
>
> Oh, I forgot to mention I don't play guitar ;-)... I use this on an 
>upright
> bass, but it would probably work better on guitar. Unfortunately, sitars
> are still quite a bit cheaper than H3000's, last time I checked...
>
> -Alex S.

cheaper still was the low-tech solution of my youth (albeit on a
nylon-stringed guitar):
aluminum exacto blade handle #14 (i think), the thicker one, not the #11 
which
is more common, taped to the string-side of the saddle. just enough 
clearance
(at least on my cheapo axe) to avoid damping strings while producing at the
same time a somewhat hindi buzz. cost: about $3.50 US., no wall warts
required.

lance g.