Sympitar
A sympitar is a modern acoustic guitar which the functions of a guitar and a sitar combines. A graphite channel is built into the neck, in which a bundle of twelve strings runs from the bridge to the head . These twelve strings run in the area of the guitar body, swinging freely under the ceiling below the six main strings . They are attached under the footbridge with a so-called 'Jiwari' bridge. Stimulated by the vibrations of the main strings, the passively resonating, "sympathetic" strings in conjunction with the 'Jiwari' bridge create the long-lasting typical sitar sound that is normally associated with Indian music.
The inventor of the Sympitar is the American guitar maker Fred Carlson .
So far the Sympitar has only been built in a few copies. All existing copies are custom-made. The American guitarist Alex de Grassi , for example, owns a sympitar that was specially built according to his wishes. In addition to the sympitar, Carlson also builds a guitar harp as a sympitar. The first example of this sympitar harp was commissioned by the guitarist Jeffrey Titus and dedicated to the American guitarist Michael Hedges under the name 'Oracle' . Various decorations on this instrument take up symbols that Hedges designed and often used.