We acquired this instrument based only on the photos below. One part of the patri had come off, but was still with the sitar. The condition was otherwise difficult to evaluate from the photographs.
On delivery, it needed surprisingly little work other than reattachment of the patri panel, replacement of the missing langot post, jawari, a light french polish over the entire instrument, and a good fret polish.
A quick and easy job. This is a very large instrument with a big main gourd and average-to-thin tabli. It is extremely resonant. It has been strung kharaj pancham, its original configuration. It is pictured here with an upper tumba from an old surbahar.
This instrument is part of The Registry's permanent collection and is not for sale.