Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Full Front View.
Classic Kanai Lal ! The body is made of teak. Very heavy with a sound to match.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Bridges.
No doubt these bridges were made and fitted before the "Green Police" stepped in half cocked. These are massive slabs of solid deer horn. Usually you will find a line of marrow on the edges. Not the case here. Premium stuff !
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Tumba Carving.
Instantly recognised as the work from the Kanai Lal shop. Stunning ! The linework on the leaves is carved out after the varnish has dried showing bare wood lines in contrast with the rest of the leaves. Very effective.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Tumba Carving.
Here's another view of the back of this glorious instrument. Note here the shape of the back of the neck. It's flat ! Sitar necks are round as well as a lot of Sur-Bahars. I suspect this helps give Sur-Bahars from Kanai Lal a unique growl sound.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Money Shot.
This would have to be the centerpiece of any instrument collection.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Head Stock.
I reamed the pegs holes and tapered , sanded and chalked the peg shafts. Every one stays in tune and holds fine. Beautiful carving is everywhere.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Head Stock End Profile.
Gorgeous stuff here. The upper tumba is not original. It came from a Hiren Roy brand sitar. The threads on it fit the bracket on the Sur-Bahar so here it is.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Head Stock Side View.
The downward angle of the head stock allows the ommision of a second bone string bracket.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Head Stock Back Profile.
That upper tumba, although a different color works well visually as well as helping generate sound.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Neck Down View.
The frets are made like beams rather than round rod material bent to shape. This helps reduce the overall weight. You can also clearly see the depressed center section on the sound board where the lower bridge sits. Behind that bridge is a small sound hole where the bottom strings terminate.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Neck Up View.
With a neck as wide as this and the top strings positioned to the side, pulling range of one octave is not difficult to produce.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Badge.
This is a typical hand etched badge from this outstanding instrument maker. The later badges were machine stamped with red lettering and a red border.
Kanai Lal Vish Sur-Bahar Tabli ( Soundboard ).
Just look at that ! It's enormous ! You can see the off center shape on the edge that was necessary to conform to the gourd resonator shape behind it. Note also the wood leg to the right side used to help prop up this instrument while playing.