In 1967, the short-lived Coral company introduced a curious instrument, designed by top American session guitarist Vinnie Bell in conjunction with former Danelectro boss Nathan Daniel.

This was the “electric sitar”, which owed it’s popularity to the craze for all things Indian that characterized the “flower power” movement.

Bell’s hybrid electric model featured 13 sympathetic “drone” strings alongside it’s six fretted ones. Bell made an album Pop Goes The Electric Sitar to showcase the instrument.

It remained a rare collectors’ item for decades, but has recently been revived by Nathan Daniel devotee Jerry Jones. His Nashville-based company makes three versions of the sitar.