I have an MD Electric Sitar, but as someone quoted on the web, it has 13 resonance strings that run E to E and not 12 as suggested.

I found the guard that does not cover the resonance strings to be highly invasive to my technique as it was the same height as the strings and also very close, so I removed it and made one from a piece of solid coloured plastic and using the same holes that held the original on, fixed it directly to body. It is indeed a strange instrument and has limited applications unless you are happy with everything having an undercurrent of eastern vibery. I bought mine to add colour to my own material, but after a month or so, I struggled to pick it up as I was simply sick of the sound. I found exactly the same problem with my electric mandolin – a sitar is a sitar and does exactly what it says on the tin. On the plus side, it did encourage me to attempt a lot more in terms producing epics in the vein of Captain Pugwash meets Led Zep. I paid £300 cash for mine, but think carefully if acquiring one will aid your cause.