I want the sitar buzz

[Oneirogenic]

I know most of you hate the buzz sound but I want my bass to have the 'sitar buzz' sound. I have a warwick corvette fretless strung piccolo with CGCG tuning. I can sort of get close to the buzz sound with very low action and plucking hard but I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for things I can do with the bridge to sort of emulate the gotoh buzz bridge or an actual jiwari. I know this is an odd request but if anyone has any ideas I would much appreciate it.

[rahulsharma]

If I am not mistaken, there is a picking style called Curry Picking, where you pick near the bridge, and then you touch the string near the node.
Otherwise try putting a plastic plate next to the bridge, which does'nt exactly touch the string, but is like 1 mm below it.
Now if you play, you should get a sitar like buzz.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by rahulsharma

If I am not mistaken, there is a picking style called Curry Picking, where you pick near the bridge, and then you touch the string near the node.
Otherwise try putting a plastic plate next to the bridge, which does'nt exactly touch the string, but is like 1 mm below it.
Now if you play, you should get a sitar like buzz.

^This.

Dunlop makes a "buzz bridge" for guitar, and that's basically all it is, a plastic piece gently scooped for each string, situated below the strings at the point of vibration so the string barely touches the plastic as it vibrates.

Research buzz bridge and craft something similar. I shouldn't be hard. The challenge will be to get it mounted steadily at the exact point, which is pretty touchy.

[N.F.A.]

Maybe the Dunlop bridge on a baritone?

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Maybe the Dunlop bridge on a baritone?

Possibly, or a Bass VI. String spacing becomes an issue because the Dunlop version is designed for the typical 6-string electric spacing.

[N.F.A.]

Maybe give Jerry Jones a shout out. They make sitar guitars and regular basses. Maybe he can craft you something?

[N.F.A.]

Check out these guys or Italia guitars too, as they both make sitar guitars. Maybe they would take a custom job for you.
http://www.eyb-guitars.de/Eyb-English/Sitarbridge.html

[totallyfrozen]

I know there are a few pedals on the market that are supposed to give that effect. Are you not interested in using an effect pedal for it?

I know Danelectro makes one but I don't know if it's any good or not.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

I know there are a few pedals on the market that are supposed to give that effect. Are you not interested in using an effect pedal for it?

I know Danelectro makes one but I don't know if it's any good or not.

Good thought, but I own the Dano version and another one made by Burford Electronics called The Reefer. Both leave a lot to be desired, and fall way short of the buzz bridge. I was really hoping one of them might do the trick so I could turn any of my guitars into a sitar, but in the end neither earned a place on my pedalboard, and it's back to the Rogue electric sitar and the Danelectro U2 I modified with a buzz bridge.