marti- hey thanks! and don't worry about it, i think the burden rests on the op in most cases, but i seem to have gotten my way by whining, ivansc - i wonder if you mean syntar? i am also a fan. i've never compared them side by side id say they carve different niches. syntar is more bread and butter, mines more for scratching a specific sitar itch (should you have one) and the added thrill of possible feedback explosion