---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-new-or-an-old-sarangi'
title: 'Should I buy a new or an old sarangi?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/user/0f961cccc99524ed'
date: '2026-10-19T15:22:46+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'Most players use sarangis 50 to 100 years old; a new one needs about two years to settle, and export-made instruments are often poor.'
tags:
  - 'Instruments & artforms'
image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
published: true
og:
  site_name: KalaSudha
  'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:type': image/svg+xml
  'image:alt': KalaSudha
---
  [  Help ](/en-int/help)     Should I buy a new or an old sarangi?  

1. [  Home ](/en-int)
2. 
3. [ Help ](/en-int/help)
4. 
5. Instruments &amp; artforms
6. 
7. Should I buy a new or an old sarangi?
 
 

 

  FAQ · Instruments &amp; artforms

# Should I buy a new or an old sarangi?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 Most players use **[sarangi](/instrument/sarangi)s** 50 to 100 years old, often inherited, and a new instrument needs about two years to settle. Joep Bor warned that new sarangis made for export or tourists were usually of very poor quality, and that good old instruments and skilled repairers were scarce. Either way, tone depends on set-up: bridge, skin fitting, string height and peg fit.



 

 Was this answer helpful? [  ](/en-int/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-1007&destination=/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-new-or-an-old-sarangi)

 [  ](/en-int/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-1007&destination=/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-new-or-an-old-sarangi)

 

 Thanks for your feedback!

 

 ## Related pages

 1 page mentions this question

 

 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Sarangi The sarangi is a short-necked bowed instrument of North India, close to the human voice. It has three gut strings and up to 37 sympathetic strings that ring…     ](/en-int/instrument/sarangi)
 
  

 

 

   [     Previous question Should I buy a copper or a brass bayan?  ](/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-copper-or-a-brass-bayan) [  Next question Should I buy a rope-laced or a steel-hoop tavil?     ](/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-rope-laced-or-a-steel-hoop-tavil)