Swar Sangam (Swarmandal - Surmandal)

This is a fun instrument with a tanpura on the bottom side and 15 lighter strings stretched across the top. I've tuned these in a basic pentatonic scale. They are a bit hellish to tune and you have to stay on top of the tuning, but the sound is ethereal and evocative of Celtic music (duh—if I tune it pentatonically, then I suppose I'll get that). I'm still experimenting with it, but I expect I'll use it as as colour for slower atmospehric pieces. My understanding of Indian music is minimal, so I see it more as an instrument I can use to integrate different sounds into my (western-oriented) music.

This tanpura creates beautiful overtones and the resonance you get is perfect. As a starter tanpura this is the ideal instrument. The only drawback is it doesn't have the look and design of a traditional tanpura. It makes up for this in simplicity of design and quality sound. As a bonus the instrument even comes with a second instrument:the swarmandal. Which is the Indian harp tuned to the scales you would improvise over. The sound that people would be familiar with is the Swarmandal from the Beatles song, Strawberry Fields Forever, around 1:10 and 2:10. Very cool sound and gives your tanpura player some other improvisational options. Overall I would give this instrument a 10/10 for cost and quality. It even comes with it's own gigbag. The professional service I received was awesome. A+ all around.

What a fantastic instrument this is, couldn`t be happier! Beautiful sounding swarmandal that`s VERY easy to tune, and a deep resonant Tanpura also easy to tune. So easy to play both instruments at the same time for a beautiful rich celestial sound. Thanks Mickey! Kala Kendar is the best!
Steve

Hello Mickey, I received my swarsangam this week, and I am very pleased. Very nice instrument and I appreciate your help in advising me.
Thanks again,