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INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Tabla Forum: Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome

 

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Kirtan Player
Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 07, 2002 06:43 p.m.

Hi,

a few weeks ago I was reading about the creditablity of Kala Kendar's Tabla, especially the "Qasim Khan " made ones. All I have to say is they are AWSOME. right out of the box, they were totally in tune to a C, clean and crisp and right on one strap/gut. I mean I did have doubts regarding the price and everything. .so I called in my order . .asked some tech questions regarding the range of the tablas, the materials used. .I took about 15 mins of the sales rep time, they are so patient, I spoke to Mickey, he's their most knowledgeable musican there. .and the fact of the matter is. . .what he said. .they lived up to . . .Im totally happy with my new tabla set. . .(FYI) I also found out that Kala Kendar was only selling to other stores/schools in the past, and that this is there first year in online sales, thats why they're offering such low prices. . .

Pe@cE!
Warren
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 08, 2002 02:07 a.m.

Don't buy the real cheap one's though one of my student's bought one and there almost like toys.

Also what I want to know is who is the girl on the tabla book there selling
yowsa yowsa

Kirtan Player (Dec 07, 2002 06:43 p.m.):
Hi,

a few weeks ago I was reading about the creditablity of Kala Kendar's Tabla, especially the "Qasim Khan " made ones. All I have to say is they are AWSOME. right out of the box, they were totally in tune to a C, clean and crisp and right on one strap/gut. I mean I did have doubts regarding the price and everything. .so I called in my order . .asked some tech questions regarding the range of the tablas, the materials used. .I took about 15 mins of the sales rep time, they are so patient, I spoke to Mickey, he's their most knowledgeable musican there. .and the fact of the matter is. . .what he said. .they lived up to . . .Im totally happy with my new tabla set. . .(FYI) I also found out that Kala Kendar was only selling to other stores/schools in the past, and that this is there first year in online sales, thats why they're offering such low prices. . .

Pe@cE!
Kirtan Player
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 08, 2002 05:47 p.m.

Hey warren

Typical response coming from the "posterboy" of buckingham. I bet your decision would be different if you weren't on the payroll. Why am I so angry with your comment, I 've noticed that, every time someone has a question, be it about tunning or parts required, you always have to give a Advertising Plug. .Get a life Warren, this is a Tabla Forum, where people can talk/ask questions about the art of indian percussion, not an advertising campaign. Just one question, aswell, since you know everything about buckingham products. . .If Kala Kendar's cheap tabla is almost like a toy, and thats made of a heavy nickled steel tabla, (Tabla 1) what would be Buckingham's aluminum tabla be (B Grade). .A soda can?. . . I speak from experience, I've been emailing buckingham for the past 5 days on a quote for a tabla set, and I still havn't gotten an email back. (so much for good customer service.)
Ram
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 09, 2002 05:49 a.m.

Kirtan, its unfair to comment like that to anyone. One would only recommend what one knows thru experience and service with the shop. Every shop sells various grades of tablas and I think Warren's point was to reiterate this and nothing more.

Warren has made a huge contribution to this forum, I like many others have personally benefitted from his input. Even if he is waving a certain flagship whats wrong with that? Aren't you doing the same in this thread! It really is up to you where you want to buy the goods from and does not require harsh words.

Anyway, with due respect, I hope you will enjoy the Tablas and it very nice to know that you got excellent service.
Warren
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 09, 2002 11:01 a.m.

By the way you may not be aware of it but Peter Cutchey , who was Buckingham Music died last year of a heart attack . His wife took over this very meager business that basically only profits from sitar sells. She hired a very nice guy named John McDowell that is a musician. Peter's dream was to try and sell quality instruments that were consistant . That is something very hard to do. His wife wanted to keep that dream alive to honor Peter's memory , he was a great friend to all of us in Austin .
I can assure you there is no money or payroll for me to be on as Peter's wife has to pay rent on a small building because she moved the business out of her house and works something out with John to keep the business running. The main value Buckinghammusic has created is a great relationship with the sitar dealer to deliver consistant high quality sitars. That lives on.
Buckingham's A grade and AA grade tablas come from Gopal Das. I would usually take a look at them when a shipment comes in and they
had improved and were getting consistantly better. There very good tablas. The problem is that everyone asks for $125 dollar tabla sets, so Peter was always trying to get some lower quality tablas to sell that weren't junk. I have talked to John and he wants to only sell mercedes quality tablas and I think that's a good goal. So I will help them when I can,(I don't get paid!) John has learned a lot about sitars and is also learning about tabla. But were talking about a small business that has only suceeded on single customer satisfaction sales alone not on bulk sales. My goal in Austin is to keep building Indian music and supporting the Indian Music community.There's no money in it, I work a day job. People like Mrs. Cutchey and David Courtney do what they do for the music and a different goal , they make enough money to get by . They don't do it for the money.
So Mr. Kirtan player you don't know what your talking about.
I was merely stating a fact go play one of the Kala kendar's $125 sets and tell me what you think. I don't recommend lower grade tablas from anyone Buckingham Music or otherwise.
But your comments and anger are way out of line. Your acting like Kala Kendar is the victim here to some big corporate company. You don't have a clue. And your probably the promoter coming in to this forum with a secret identity pushing Kalakendar (stomping on the head of a little old lady) and could probably give a crap about the music.
Thanks to others for supporting me, I'm not always perfectly in line and I appreciate the comments.

Kirtan Player (Dec 08, 2002 05:47 p.m.):
Hey warren

Typical response coming from the "posterboy" of buckingham. I bet your decision would be different if you weren't on the payroll. Why am I so angry with your comment, I 've noticed that, every time someone has a question, be it about tunning or parts required, you always have to give a Advertising Plug. .Get a life Warren, this is a Tabla Forum, where people can talk/ask questions about the art of indian percussion, not an advertising campaign. Just one question, aswell, since you know everything about buckingham products. . .If Kala Kendar's cheap tabla is almost like a toy, and thats made of a heavy nickled steel tabla, (Tabla 1) what would be Buckingham's aluminum tabla be (B Grade). .A soda can?. . . I speak from experience, I've been emailing buckingham for the past 5 days on a quote for a tabla set, and I still havn't gotten an email back. (so much for good customer service.)
Kirtan Player
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 09, 2002 12:04 p.m.

Im very sorry to hear about the loss of peter, I wasn't aware. Somtimes I'm I get worked up when im trying to make a point, and i say things without thinking.
I made that statement only because I have had good dealings with someone, and felt I was treated professionally, without being 'pushed' into buying somthing.
No, im not a 'undercover' sales rep for KK, I already have a job I hate.
Warren, you reminded me of one of my previous instructors, Always pushing to buy in his opionion THE BEST, which meant most of the time the most expensive, and quite honestly, not a lot of students interested in indian percussion could afford. I guess the icing on the cake was you were always pushing a certain store aswell.

My opionion is not to promote a certain brand/store or product. Im more interested in NOT knocking down someone because their new.

Im sorry for my earlier statement directed to Warren. Now can we all stop all this?. .and can someone tell me if i can get a D# on a 5.75 tabla?
Shawn
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 09, 2002 11:27 p.m.

D# on a 5.75"? No. . I wouldn't go higher than a C or maybe a C#.

5.25" would be the size for the D#.

Shawn
aanaddha
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 10, 2002 12:27 p.m.

I know that tablawalas have a name for the various sizes/pitches of tablas. However, I can't find them in any references? Anyone. .??. .
Kirtan Player
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 10, 2002 05:01 p.m.

Thanks for the info, I almost cost myself a new tabla.!

so do you recommend getting a particular size that would handled a good range of sound. or just buying another tabla along and add to my collection. .I guess what im asking. .what is the 'ideal' size of tabla to have.
omja
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 10, 2002 07:16 p.m.

And while on the subject. . . .is the measuement taken from the outside edge or the inside edge of the tabla?
omja
Kirtan Player
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 11, 2002 02:55 p.m.

It is the measurement, from wood to wood. (right at the edge)
Shawn
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 12, 2002 09:25 a.m.

Hi,

Yes, the measurement is from the outside edge of the wood. Do not measure the gajara (braid). .

About the "best size of tabla to have" . . well, it depends on who you play with. Sarod tends to be C, sitar C#, flute E, and vocalists can be at any pitch (of course, none of this is strict, there are always variations). I'd suggest just buying more tablas as your needs dictate. In general, I think most people would agree that a 5.5" tabla is about the standard size. You can play C/C# nicely with that, which is great for sarod and sitar accompaniment, and it's a comfortable size for most people's hands.

(Though, I have to tell you that right now, my 5.75" tabla is my favourite to practice on! I have it tuned to a B right now.)

I find that the tabla's pitch is more stable if it always stays around the same note, so I don't like to take one drum and tune it to C, and then D, etc. . I try to have one drum on C, one on C#, one on D, etc. .

Hope this helps.

Shawn
www.percussionist.net
doyle
Re:Kala Kendar's Tablas are awsome Dec 17, 2002 01:00 p.m.

All of this has gotten me worried. I am realtively new to the tabla and I recently ordered the $125 set from Kala Kendar. I hope to find a teacher and learn the basic techniques, strokes, what have you. . If all goes well I will obviously upgrade, but now I am worried that they will be a piece of junk. Should I be worried about the quality of these tablas? It seemed like a good deal at the time, or am I a-ok with their quality? Any input would be appreciated
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