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Author
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Topic: Anyone know where to buy a good sitar?
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SecretGardenAgain
Knowflake Posts: 1254
From:
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted February 26, 2007 08:26 PM
 
Yeah so...I rarely pop in Free For All, most of the time im in GU. But our cleaning lady in the states just broke my sitar (ARGH) so Im on the lookout for a new one. I havent had lessons for months because I abhorred my last teacher, and also because he had scary green eyes (not pretty green but scary green). They reminded me of the pregnant cats I see in the streets of Cairo.Anyway Im looking for a good new sitar (not persian, indian type). I have a tanpura. I am just looking for a nice beautiful one thats good quality (Doesnt have to be superb quality becoz I am not a professional) but also dont want to spend an arm and a leg on it. I know sitars are unique and costly anyway but anyone know of a place where to find a reasonably priced one thats good quality? I live in California, USA but I am currently in Cairo, Egypt, may go to Spain, can go to Pakistan and India and might even order one from another store in another state in the US (or from a reliable online website) if anyone has good recs. Oh and Ill probably be in Boston MA in August-September.  Thanks.
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AcousticGod
Knowflake Posts: 11943
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted February 26, 2007 10:46 PM
I haven't checked to see if they have them, but you could check musiciansfriend.com. Otherwise, I'm sure your Geminian ways will find what you need.IP: Logged |
Scorpionic Web
Knowflake Posts: 513
From: Pennsylvania
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted February 26, 2007 11:08 PM
I would never recommend buying an instrument through Musicians Friend or anywhere on the internet. No two string-instruments are ever made alike, and being able to play a specific one before buying is the most important part of the buying process. (P.S.- I don't know if Musician's Friend carries sitars either. But regardless, Musician's Friend is over priced. They'll probably match deals if you bring a competitor's better price to their attention, but you'll never be able to haggle them even lower in price as you could if you dealt with someone face-to-face in an actual store.) SecretGarden- There are a number of prominent music schools based out of Boston, and I'm sure the town has some great music stores. I'd suggest looking up some instrument retailers in the city and to visit them in person. IP: Logged |
alchemiest
Knowflake Posts: 699
From: Somewhere over the rainbow
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted February 27, 2007 11:50 PM
If you have the opportunity to visit India or Pakistan, either of the two would probably be the best place to get one. Depending on what your time frame is, you can even have one made w/ particular specifications. I did, the last time I was there, and it plays like a dream. IP: Logged |
SecretGardenAgain
Knowflake Posts: 1254
From:
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted March 01, 2007 03:39 PM
Thank you all for your replies!! I would love to get one from Pak or India but Im afraid of it breaking by the time it gets here or something getting messed up because Id have to check it in as a separate fragile check in (and its a HECKA long journey about 20 hrs flying time) its too big to be considered a carry on. If I bought one from there and it broke I would be sooo upset. Seem to be some quite different opinions on Musicians friend...Im not entirely comfortable buying a sitar online because I feel like every sitar is different and unique its not exactly like guitars which are made in a more universal manner, so I would love to hold the instrument, see the quality of its wood, pluck its strings a bit and see where in India or Pak it originally comes from (gives clues to the craftsmanship) whereas with guitars for instance a name brand will give you instant information on that sort of stuff. Well thanks all a lot for that information, will try to get some friends in boston on the lookout for a good sitar. Maybe Ill ask the airlines if there is a way to transport a sitar from Pak or India if i come and how to make sure precautions will be taken with the instrument so that it arrives in pristine condition... IP: Logged |
alchemiest
Knowflake Posts: 699
From: Somewhere over the rainbow
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted March 01, 2007 03:52 PM
If you let them know you're buying it for international transport, they are generally very good about the packing in India (and in Pak as well,I'm sure). We've transported all our musical instruments that way with no problems at all (what can I say, we're a musical family =) Good luck!! IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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