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INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee

 

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Redfly52
Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 03, 2003 12:35 a.m.

Hey, I live in milwaukee and am looking for a sitar that will last me most of my life. I've looked at bukcingham and sitars etc. . but I just wish I could go somewhere and have a good amount to choose from. I'm willing to go to chicago or madison. I know there was a shop in madison that had them at one point in time. Any advice? I know someone was from central wisconsin on this forum.
Thanks.
Jan
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 03, 2003 04:55 a.m.

How much cash are you willing to drop for a lifetime companion?

What kind of instrument are you looking for exactly?

http://www.aacm.org/shop/page42.html
Here is some info of some makers.

good luck

Jan
Stephen
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 03, 2003 07:28 a.m.

There is someone in Chicago that is selling. I picked up a flyer from the Indian record shop on Devon, didn't go, appeared to be more into harmonium and monkey drums.
What you might want to do is contact Mr. Marks. I don't know this person, but is the only person listed in the Chicago area under the teachers section of this site. He might be able to steer you in the most auspicious direction.
Name: Patrick Marks
Field: Vocal / Sitar / Mandolin / Tabla / Keyboard
Address: Chicago
Telephone: 708 788 0072
Misc. Info: Former director of Cultural activities, St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad, India
Redfly52
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 04, 2003 10:39 a.m.

I am willing to spend about 1400. I was looking at the MPS at buckingham, but this forum opened me up to the possibility of a better sitar at a cheaper price. If I can get a lower priced sitar then I would also love to get a tabla soon after. But I will try and give Mr. Patrick Marks a call, I'm hoping that he would happily turn me in the direction, simply because I feel that people that enjoy indian music are on that kind of level, and want to spread it.
Amitava
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 04, 2003 02:26 p.m.

For $1400, you should be able to get an excellent instrument -customized to your specifications. This is assuming you can wait for a few months. There is always the usual risk of it not coming out exactly how you want it. But a good maker poked and proded by a good friend will create something good. A teak Hiren Roy in India costs $1000 or so. His instruments are still good and consistent in quality. Rikhi Ram (old) is overpriced and flaky, but with Lar's help Sanjay may be able to create a quality instrument for you. Would not recommend Buckingham these days.
K.K.
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 04, 2003 02:54 p.m.

Ditto here on Amitava's advise. The only exception is I would look at a new Hiren Roy very carefully. I saw one that Tony was trying to sell for a friend, and it was pretty bad. He called it a real �car chaser.� But, maybe the quality has changed in the last year. .
Lars
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 04, 2003 08:45 p.m.

I second Amitava's advise. . .Hiren Roy's quality is supposed to be better, will know for sure next month.
Get the best Sitar you can find, with what you want to spend, it's possible to get a very good instrument. Don't sacrifice and go cheap because you may get what you pay for and sometimes not even that. Take your time and best of luck in your search!
Amitava: believe me, Sanjay doesn't need any prodding. . .wait until you see what he's been up to. . .
Lars
Amitava
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 05, 2003 12:48 p.m.

Lars. .I meant prodding you. .:-)
Amitava
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 05, 2003 01:00 p.m.

I general I think all makers always have "bad" days - and instruments. The question is what percentage. Mature makers have a higher percentage of good/great instruments. As we have discovered before. .these terrible mutants are pawned off to unsuspecting 'foreigners' or less knowledgable locals. So yes one cannot always rely on a maker - no matter the reputation or price these days. However, for some reason if a person the maker has a connection/relationship orders an instrument, the chances of it being a 'good' one increases. Also it is acceptable for this person to refuse an instrumemnt - in which case a new one is made and an unsuspecting pawn is found! Just kidding. I think that these instruments are still quite good in general.

But the relationship issue is an important thing to note. I realize that everyone is not fortunate to have such a relationship with a mediator, but certain teachers/performers and a pseudo- sitar seller in Seattle are good resources.

A
Lars
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 05, 2003 08:42 p.m.

Hmmmm. . . .is that the same as "sitar consultant" Amitava? :-) I consider myself prodded then. . .
Lars
Redfly52
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 06, 2003 01:57 a.m.

Horray the man of the hour has taking concern to my situation. . hehe.
Which brings me to a couple questions pretty much for him (cough** Lars**).
-On your site I was thinking about getting the Standard and then getting a tabla too, with their net cost at about 1100 or so. How are the Standards compared to something that would be custom made? Knowing somewhat of your knowledge and help to people I wouldn't expect anything of your's to be "bad". And the pluses to this situation are having two beautiful instruments to grow with.
-How possible would it be for you to find an instrument of extrodinary stature for me?
I know I'm just a newbie, but I have already felt a good amount of love from the people on this forum, and as soon as I get this sitar thing going I can assure you all the that I will spread the love I have for indian music to my city and this forum.
Lars
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 06, 2003 02:30 a.m.

Well. . .
An instrument of extraordinary stature is certainly possible. What kind of instrument you should get depends on your goals really. If you are intending to immerse yourself in the sitar then try to get the best that you can. With the Standards I spend a lot of time on them to make sure they will be a good sitar. Not that there is anything wrong with them, it's just a few things are left for me to do, hence the lower cost. I've been very satisfied with the quality so far. .I have them especially for newcomers or those on a budget that want a good instrument to learn on and will last for a good while. . I think a lot of folks that go cheap (ebay/elsewhere) sometimes don't get a playable instrument and then give up which doesn't contribute to the growth of ICM so something needed to be done. . .There are lots of options with more coming. Drop me an email and I'll go over what I'm able to offer. . .
Lars
Matt
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 06, 2003 08:21 a.m.

Hey there RedFly,
Have you contacted Patrick Marks yet? My teacher knows of him and suggested him as another lesson source if I ever want another perspective (I live in eastern Iowa). I'm curious to know more about him.
Beenkarji
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 07, 2003 01:00 a.m.

Well if you are very serious, I am located in Stevens Point, WI, and can easily hook you up either here, or my friend in Chicago who has about 20 or so at the moment.
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
Ushav
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 07, 2003 09:50 a.m.

Ted,

What is your return policy if one was to purchase a sitar?

Ushav


Well if you are very serious, I am located in Stevens Point, WI, and can easily hook you up either here, or my friend in Chicago who has about 20 or so at the moment.[/quote]
Beenkarji
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 07, 2003 04:51 p.m.

Well for starters you can return the sitar at no finacial loss, however I require that someone actually looks at the sitar and plays it in person, otherwise I won't ship it. Of the 12 sitars I played in Chicago last weekend, there was only one that fit my particular needs as far as sound and feel is concerned. So that emphasizes the fact that a sitar is very individual and you just have to see and hear it in person to see if it is really what you want. But if you are interested let me know at my email. . . khandarbani_dhrupad@yahoo.co.in and I can give you my phone number, or put you in contact with my friend in Chicago.
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
Redfly52
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 07, 2003 07:08 p.m.

Yeah I really plan on immersing myself in the sitar. I've played the guitar for quite sometime,( I have real hard callouses from that), and am pretty porficient. Stringed instruments seem to by my forte, and I love indian music, so I'm hoping on getting pretty good, and that is why this decision is so important.
Jeff
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 08, 2003 09:26 a.m.

Redfly52 (Sep 07, 2003 07:08 p.m.):
I've played the guitar for quite sometime,( I have real hard callouses from that),

Your in for a suprise about that. The callouses from sitar are not on the tips like guitar.
Jeffrey R King
AJ
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 08, 2003 04:23 p.m.

Jeff's absolutely right on the callus thing!
And yer really gonna love training yer other fingers (everything besides your index & middle one) to just butt out! heheh
It's enough to train the index to stay in contact with the string even when reaching to top of the scale! haha
I don't know how anyone else here feels but do you think playing guitar has helped or hindered?
In my own case, I think it's been a major drawback, at least in the beginning, getting much more used to it now. . . . . . . .
Really curious about that. . . . . .!

AJ
Jeff
Re:Looking for a beautiful sitar in Milwaukee Sep 08, 2003 04:53 p.m.

Hi AJ and everybody else!
I find that after playing the sitar for a few days then switch back to guitar I have to warm up a little longer for guitar. It is a different style, I guess it has something to do with the muscle's or tendons or something. All I know is that after playing the sitar for awhile, I feel like a beginner on guitar for a few minutes. But oddly its not the other way around for me.
As far as "help or hinder" I know playing guitar gave me my rythemn<? and hand,hand coordination, But I would have aqquired these without guitar simply by playing sitar only,,,,.
Weeeeeeee! :-)
Jeffrey R King
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