Jerry Jones Electric Sitar

You know what these are if you are checking this out. I've gotten this for a Yes style recording project I am starting.

Makes the Rouge P.O.S. I get a few years ago seem very cheap, badly built and toy like.

Excellent, the intonation is even pretty good on this one. I had an original Coral one back in the 80's and this seems to play better so far.

I know these aren't built like tanks, and God knows that's not how you should treat something like this anyway. I've got a Gracie stand that I've bent and manipulated the holder to fit as tight as possible. Hopeing for no mishaps, I'm sure a hard knock will make it need adjustments and probably do some damage.

Don't know, and hope I don't ever need to.

Best thing you can get for the money.

Red gator hollow body, one of the instantly recognizable bodies in guitar history, buzz bridge and drone strings. If you've read this far you'll know.

Not only close to the edge, this is spot-on. DI or a minimum setting on my digital recorder works the best, giving the sound that has fascinated me for years. No point in fiddling with the controls, turn everything up and you're there.

On receiving it I thought Oh well, better stay below the seventh fret as anything above was horribly off. Raising the bridge, though, solved the problem, but it made me think that an instrument this expensive should have been set-up better. I can feel the fret ends, but I can bear with that.

Looks good. I'm not Pete Townshend, so I think it will stand up to my use.

No experience.

I have twenty-odd guitars, and a Coral has been on my list for some time. In fact it was the first instrument I searched for on the Internet, turning me into Danos. Some years later I discovered the JJ's, trying one in 2002, but being out of funds. Now things looked different, and the VISA card was close by...

Jerry Jones supreme sitar with real drone strings

To my ears there`s not much difference in sound from the old Coral sitar.

I`ve owned 4 original Coral sitars over the years and I have to say I like the original Coral neck better, it`s wide and flat with wide flat frets. The JJ has more of a narrow Fender neck with skinny tall frets. I also disagree that the old Danos and Corals are not pro instruments, ever notice that Steve Howe still plays his Coral sitar? It`s not so much a matter of quality as it is a matter of scope and design, Danos and Corals were "simple" instruments made from "cheap" materials. If they were crappy guitars do you really think players like Jimmy Page and Steve Howe would have played them? Also there`s a little known jazz guitarist by the name of Pat Metheny that plays a Coral sitar......

Excellent gator finish. Would have preferred a gloss finish on the back of the neck.

No problems so I don`t know....

You know the features....six strings, two lipstick tube pickups, 'harp' strings and one lipstick tube for those, volume and tone knob for each of the three pickups

A really beautiful instrument. Plays great just as an electric guitar, but then you get that great classic old Coral sitar-guitar sound without all the hassles of finding and maintaining one of those. Far superior to the Coral in workmanship in every way. I've wanted one of these ever since I heard Steve Howe play one on Close To The Edge

Superb, nothing more I can say. A pro instrument all the way

Very dependable

Jerry is great to deal with.

I have been playing for 37 years and play professionally. What can I say, I'm hanging onto this one until I keel over

Red Gator finish, alligator case, you know the rest.

It sounds exactly like the original Dano's, and has a VERY limited practical use in my humble and addled opinion. It does sound great, but it is a very expensive axe to use on one, two songs TOPS!

Finish is like naugahyde, be careful not to snag it on anything sharp, or it will be toast. This is an extremely well built instrument, and this is definitely where this thing departs from the Dano's that it copies. This is a legitimate musical instrument, not a novelty. If only it were more versatile.......Came set up great, but of course it was used, although owner said it had never been played (right!).

I don't know, I bought it for studio work, I can't see dragging it along for gigs given it's limited use.

Don't know, they do have a decent website.

I would rate this a 10 if it were not for the EXTREMELY limited use. Let's face it, it is a one trick pony. If you do a lot of studio work it can be fun, but it only does what it does. When i was a kid they had a Coral Sitar at the music shop where I took lessons, and every time I walked by it I could not resist strumming the sypathetic strings. I suppose I bought it out of a sense of nostalgia instead of an outright need. An expensive well built toy.

I purchased a Coral Sitar direct from Jerry Jones about 2 years ago.
The price was around $1000 incl. a Fender style HSC. I'd be curious to know why the new Master Sitar is cheaper. The construction is far superior to the Danelectro. Jerry Jones is using poplar for the frame as opposed to Dano's original pine or the new ones which are plywood framed. I like the satin finish on the neck for this guitar although for maple neck Fenders I go for the high gloss finish. A buzz bridge would be good for the drone strings. I don't have a real opinion on the pickups-the lipsticks seem to be fine. One thing I had Jerry install was a stereo output jack (with mini toggle switch to go from stereo to mono) so that the 6 string neck signal could be separated from the sympathetic set. This might help those who find the drone set to lack presence. One can run the drone set into a different amp with more volume.

This guitar is more versatile than I expected. My style goes from straight ahead modern jazz to country and latin. The Eastern flavor goes without saying on this axe. Country and Eastern. I've had people who've heard it from outside without seeing it, think that it's an electric banjo. The buzziness can be enhanced or minimized by how it's picked and the fretboard touch. Also using open strings adjacent to fretted ones increases the sitar quality. My main amp is a Polytone 100W with one 15. I've also used a Reissue Fender Tweed in the studio. It sounds and records great.

It was set up great from the factory. The gator finish is beautiful but delicate. I like the satin finish on the neck even though I usually go for a gloss on a maple neck Fender

Sure it will withstand live playing if you don't throw it around. It's not as durable as a Strat. I'd treat it like an archtop. The gator finish is fragile though. It's as dependable as any ggod guitar. Most band musicians would want another guitar onstage for versatility if for no other reason.

I talked to Jerry Jones 2 or 3 times on the phone. He's very helpful.
I haven't needed any repairs but I believe it has a factory warrenty similar to most manufacturers

I've been playing for over 40 years. I also own a '93 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, an 80's maple neck strat with the P.U.'s wired in series, an early 60's Gibson L.G. 1 acoustic, an 1984 Fender '62 R.I.
P Bass, a new Danelectro Baritone, a Enos Hernandez Classical and a few odds and ends. My main amp is a Polytone Mini Brute. I don't use effects much. Sometimes in the studio I use a Sans Amp or a little delay. I use Ernie Ball volume pedals. Sometimes 2 of them when I split the signal on the sitar (one for each set of strings). If I lost this guitar I'd definately replace it. I like everything about it. It's impossible to compare it to other guitars except maybe the Baby Sitar which I've never seen.

I bought one of these for myself at Christmas about five years ago from About Music in Broad Ripple, Indiana. I payed $1,100.00 for it. It has six strings like most guitars and eleven (If I remember correctly) sympathetic strings. The six strings are drawn over an eliptically shapped bridge to produce the buzzing effect. Unfortunately, there is no such effect on the sympathetic strings. The most interesting sitar sounds come from the sympathetic strings. I have owned two real sitars so I know this for a fact. A real sitar is not hardly worth owning because they are almost impossible to keep in tune for more than a few minutes at a time. This guitar could be made to replace any reason to own a real sitar with a few upgrades. First of all, it should come as a seven string. Duhhhh! A real sitar has seven strings on top. You could tune it up like a real sitar. The next obvious problem is to make a bridge that buzzes the sympathetic strings. Duhhhhh! Besides this guitar, I have used a twelve string guitar and strung it up and tuned it like a guitar. This was excellent for practicing, but just didn't buzz. I just read the reviews of the Danelectro Swami pedal and apparently it sucks. Now I know someone out there knows a way to get a real sitar sound with out a sitar. I have also tried a Roland guitar synthesizer and it wasn't much help. The Yardbirds rounded out the bottoms of the slots in the nuts to get the sitar sound on "Heart full of Soul". But what in the world did Don Henley's band use on "My Thanksgiving" In the live concert video, the lead guitar player is playing a Stratocaster and it has an excellent sitar voice. Does anybody know how this was achieved. If you do, email me at luedeman@indiana.edu. It beats everything else.

It is excellent for what it does, but needs improvements. Oh, I forgot to mention. I should have a piezzoelectric pickup. Duhhhhhhh!

It is fine except the crackle finish is way to soft,. You cant play it without damaging it.

It is pretty fragile.

I sent an email to Jerry Jones and got no response.

I own twenty five guitars and have been playing forty years. I would replace this one.

This is the 2001 Jerry Jones model of the Coral Electric Sitar reissue. Mine is finished in red gator as was the original. This newest model(Now refered to as the Master Sitar) has one very noticeable change from the previous Jerry Jones reissues. The headstock has been completely redesigned. It is appearent that the new design allows for straight string pull all along the length of the guitar whereas the old style/original style headstock pulled the strings at an angle from the nut to the tuning keys. I have to believe that this is a much better design and less stress on the nut grooves. The tuners are GOTOH and they are excellent. The maple neck is smooth as silk and frets/playing action are great. One thing I notice is that the neck outweighs the body which kind of makes it a little out of balance when playing with a strap and this off balance nature makes the strap want to pull off of the top strap button so I advise a strap lock of some type so you don't end up bouncing this beauty off of the floor. I noticed the balance problem immediately. Sitar also came with an alligator skin case, some may like it some may not. It is a quality case. Did not come with strap or cord but includes instructions, harp key for the sympathetic strings and key for the locking case. Three lipstick pickups, two for main strings and one for the sympathetics. This baby has lots of features.

I have wanted this Sitar(or the original Coral) ever since I heard the B J Thomas "Hooked on a Feeling" in the later 1960's. I can play the sitar parts note for note and this new sitar nails the sound/tone dead on ! And I mean dead on ! The G and B strings seem to have the best "Sitar " tonal quality but that just may be due to the buzz bridge adjustments which I haven't fooled with yet. Over all it sounds great so I'm not changing anything at this point. There are complaints with the original Coral Sitar having intonation difficulties, I have been playing guitar since 1961 and I can assure you that this Jerry Jones Sitar has none of these problems. I play through a Fender Twin Reverb 1965 Reissue and it makes the Sitar sound great. I have the reverb set at 3 and it is just enough to really add to the tone, anymore is too much. If you want the sound of the late 60's Sitar songs you came to the right place. You obviously wouldn't buy this as your only axe but rather for the unique sound it can bring to your playing. Other than the balance of the neck verses body weight I have found nothing I dislike about the instrument.

The sitar was set up perfectly and fit and finish were great ! In this price range you should expect nothing less. Action is great. I owned a mint Danelectro Amp in case guitar made for Sears and since these are cousins don't think for one minute that this sitar has anything even closely resembling the poor neck/action of the old Danelectros, nothing could be further from the truth. I have a Vintage 57 USA Stratocaster and the Sitar neck belongs to this quality of fit/feel finish and playing action ! It is great.

The Sitar is a beautiful overall instrument but I strongly believe it needs to be treated with great care to preserve the gator finish and it is a hollow body instrument so drop it once and it would sustain quite a bit of damage. Moral of the story: Treat it with respect and care.

I have only owned it a week but I emailed Jerry Jones and they have been great in providing info and tuning and string tips. Seem to be a company that likes to put out a great product.

I have been playing the guitar for 40 years. I also own a Fender Vintage 57 Reissue Stratocaster, a 1976 Les Paul Custom , a Fender Twin Reverb and an original 1966 Fender Vibro Champ Amp that is great for practice. I have lusted after this electric sitar for many years and now that I own it there are no dissapointments. Lots of fun !

6-string guitar plus 13 sympathetic strings. A specially-designed bridge makes the string buzz w/o killing sustain. Two lipstick pickups for the main strings, one for the sympathetics, volume and tone for each. You can get a variety of sitarish tones from this simple setup. What more do you want? It gets a nine cause a way to put the pickups out of phase would be nice.

My style doesn't exist yet, at least, not enough to give it a name. I like to play it in the mornings- use the bottom two strings as drones and improvise. It's good for that-the tone puts me in a contemplative mood. That's what you buy this thing for, the sitar tone. It either does it for you or it doesn't. Sounds best through a clean tube amp- youu lose some of the uniqueness distorted. BTW you don't really hear the sympathetics by themselves. Their effect is subliminal (or should I say subtle). This may be because the pickup for these doesn't get loud enough unless you set the others quite low. I hesitate to do that 'cause it's three single coils and the hum is rather high. I like lipstick pickups though so I use a BOSS NS-2 noise supressor with it. Works nicely. Again, an out-of phase setting for the main pickups would probably help.

Set up near perfect out of the box. For 750.00 it ought to be. The case is faux gatorskin and beautiful.

The quality is high and I would use it w/o a backup- I doubt the electronics would crap out (jerry jones has a very good rep). That said, I would still treat it carefully. For god's sake people, it's a musical instrument, not a baseball bat.

I've been playing about 10 years. I've been lusting after the sitar sound for a couple of years now and finally found a local dealer who stocks the damm things so I could try it out. I was not dissapointed.
I wish it had moveable frets like a real sitar, and I wish the sympathetic strings were more noticeable, but oh well. This thing is unique and it brings out a side of my musical personality that regular guitar doesn't.

This is a new guitar. I assume it was made in 2000. It is a reissue of the Coral sitar from the 60's only with a better neck. Like the Coral, the body is made out of masonite. Also like the Coral, it has the standard 6 strings of a regular guitar, plus 13 sympathetic strings. The pickups are single coil lipstick types. The key to the guitar however is the tailpiece which is designed to give that characteristic sitar buzz.

It came with a beautiful heavy duty case, and a tuning wrench for the sympathetic strings.

This is not an all purpose guitar. It is a sitar. It is designed to do one specific thing, and it does it extremely well. Obviously it is innappropriate to use for many different styles, but where that sitar sound is needed, it's perfect.

The guitar was set up perfectly, right out of the case. It needed no adjustment whatsoever, other than tuning the synpathetic strings. The company absolutely nailed it.

The guitar is very light and probobly somewhat fragile. It seems like it will hold up OK if handled carefully, but would not hold up if abused.

I used it on a gig for one song the week after I got it, and it sounded great on that one song, but the rest of the time I used another guitar,

Again, this is a highly specialized instrument- a one trick pony. As far as I'm concerned, it is a highly effective tool for the recording studio.

N/A

I've been playing guitar since 1959. Again, this is not an all purpose instrument, and it I could only have one guitar, this would not be it. (My favorite guitar is a '68 Tele.) But as part of a collection, and as a studio instrument for those occasions when I want that sitar sound, there is nothing else like this instrument. I'm glad I own it, and would replace it if it were lost or stolen.

The only electric sitar I compared it to was the original Coral. This one has a much better neck. They sound about the same.

1998, handmade in Nashville, USA. Standard six strings -- 11-46 with a set of 13 sympathetic strings on the body. Nut width is 1 11/16", 25" scale length and a 21 fret neck. Indian rosewood fingerboard w/14.5" radius, trussrod adjustment accessible at the heel. Gotoh? tuning keys, 21 jumbo frets, intonated sitar "Buzz-bridge". Authentic gator finish (mine's red and black) masonite over a hollow shell, like the Danelectros but with quality construction. Heavy duty hard shell case. This is a superbly done one-trick pony, thus it only gets an 8 for features, but keep reading...

If you're a flower child from the 60's who thought that you'd love to cop the Norwegian Wood sitar lead without finding (or learning how to play) a real sitar. A covers-band guitarist who want to give the Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby" "sitar" lead a try. or, a blues guitarist who is tired of "Sweet Home Chicago" and willing to shake things up with Rory Gallagher's "Philby". That's the sound of the Electric Sitar, and Jerry Jones has built it into his product. That's the only sound, but if you want it, come and get it.

I also won a Jerry Jone Baritone guitar. Both were shipped to me ready to play. The neck, the action, the fretwork, the faux-alligator body finish -- all were superb. Nothing loose, nothing noisy, nothing less than perfect. I would compare it to the quality of any American-made Fender or Gibson guitar in the $700 - $1000 range. It's not Paul Reed Smith quality, but the price isn't either.

Unlike the Danelectro reproductions, this guitar proves that a masonite guitar can be well constructed. The wood, the hardware, the strap buttons...they are all first-rate. I've used it time and time again without fear. The only negative from a usage point of view is keeping the 13 sympathetic strings in tune.

I wanted more informaiton on tuning the sympathetic strings, and I called the company. Jerry Jones answered the phone, told me more about tuning and faxed me a suggested sympathetic string tuning to go along with an open D tuning. He was very helpful and patient. I suggested he put up a web site (I also am very happy with his Baritone guitar), and I just saw that it is finally up -- www.jerryjonesguitars.com. Hopefully, more people will learn about his fine guitars.

I've been playing guitar 38 years. I've owned every fine electirc guitar made, and find that -- in the past decade -- PRS is the guitar of choice as a mainstay guitar. I own niche guitars because of their uniqueness, but I demand a quality instrument. I love the electric sitar sound, and fortunately, found someone -- in Jerry Jones -- who takes quality seriously, along with sound. I'd buy another if lost. No it's not versatile...I wish it also made tabla sounds, but the Jerr Jones Electric Sitar is the best at what it does!