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INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: ridiculous price for raagini on ebay

 

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pb
ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 20, 2003 12:34 p.m.

What is this guy/clown thinking, $350US + $85 shipping etc from India? Especially when you can buy one in the US for a lot less? You can import them from tabla-player.com for half the price. Perhaps he thinks that north americans have more money than brains? Strange that nobody has bid on it yet :-)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2564907868&category=36354
Jeff
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 20, 2003 07:03 p.m.

Yeah I saw that the other day, got a good giggle. I just saw some show about kid napping in India and they mentioned that a lot of people there will charge you ten times the amount for something if your an American, they must think we're all rich. They also said a lot of Indians will treat "Americanized" Indians badly when they return to India after years abroad. I hope to go to India some day for a visit. But that show really portrayed India in a bad way. Then again the show was mostly about their corrupt legal system and not about the country and culture as a whole. So I dont really know. I have a friend who lived there for a year about 25 years ago and he liked it. I know two other people who lived and worked there for awhile and they didnt like it. Then again those two dont like the music and stuff like that. They were there just to work.
Jeffrey R King
Prabhu
Ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 09:56 a.m.

"Perhaps he thinks that north americans have more money than brains? "
Unfortunately, that's exactly the case. That said India is a wonderful place. It's not for everybody. One has often to dig through a lot of manure to get to the roses. On another thread, someone made more or less the same observation and was accused of being a racist. It's not about "race'. It's a factual observation about the culture. If you are passionate about the music and the positive aspects of the culture, you learn to overlook the terrible pollution, the ineffectual police, the crooked taxi-wallahs, the bad water, the poor sanitary habits of resturant workers, etc. etc. . Some people manage by seeing everything with rose colored glasses and never have an authentic experience of India, while others do nothing but bitch about how badly India compares with their homplace. Those who find the middle path become totally addicted to India. Those who are prone to drama and rage, are well advised to avoid trying to do business there. Nothing will raise your blood-pressure quicker than transacting business in India.
pb
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 10:32 a.m.

Prabhu,
you are right that if you try to compare everything to your homeplace, you will never be happy. I know the feeling from when I lived in Rome, quite the culture change. As soon as I learned to appreciate Rome's culture it stuck with me for life. I'm sure the same would be true for India. One day I will go.

Pb
pb
Re:Christmas songs? Dec 03, 2003 06:22 p.m.

Hey,
I'm not sure why you are so pissed, maybe I missed something. I think you got a number of replies to your post, better than being ignored and definitely better than a kick in the stones! A bunch of us are keen on ICM and post a lot, eventually things taper off. I personally like to hang around here and see what people are saying, even if I'm not interested. If you are worried about people counting your posts, take away your profile. Don't let it get to you, listen to some NB or RS and enjoy yourself.

Pb


No Name (Dec 03, 2003 02:18 p.m.):

Only from some of the threads. In my 163 days since registrating here, I posted 287 messages, or a little over 1.75 messages a day. Not much on average for someone who apparantly likes to see his name everywhere.

I'm really pissed, and no doubt will remain so. But I'm tired of removing posts, so I'm just going to do what I say, and go away. Childish? Yes. But with a heart attack, two hospitalizations, a bad hand injury, and my usual problems from disease, all during that 163 days, I can afford to be childish. I'll look as foolish as I want!
Ken
Re:kalakendar sitar on ebay ?! Dec 03, 2003 08:19 p.m.

Welcome Gurdip,
Thank you very much for clearing this up for myself and the other Sitariya's here. It seem's there is much in the way of chicanery in the Indian musical instrument trade and it is quite refreshing to have a merchant make clear that outright copying goes on in this industry and therefore it pays to work with an ethical forthright merchant.
I've been to your site many times and found it to be well layed out, easy to navigate and I really enjoy looking at the instruments. .drool.
Say. . maybe you can clear something else up for us, sort of along the same lines: Garland Tun at Sitars Etc., vs Sitar 4 w/PRO case at Kalakendar? Both made in Calcutta but same maker/model? They look identical in the design but can't really see the details at your site to compare.
Thanks again . . uncle ken
Neal
Re:Christmas songs? Dec 03, 2003 07:21 p.m.

As in the Drew Barrymore movie, Never Been Kissed . ."WE ALL 'BOUT THE LOVE HERE" (most of us at least). Don't let a few immaturites throw you Billy. Stay on, and don't take any of these posts too personally. As for bettering your life and health, I believe you are in Texas, Email me at <alphabiotics@earthlink.net> and I'll suggest something life enhancing for you in Texas.

Neal

Only from some of the threads. In my 163 days since registrating here, I posted 287 messages, or a little over 1.75 messages a day. Not much on average for someone who apparantly likes to see his name everywhere.

I'm really pissed, and no doubt will remain so. But I'm tired of removing posts, so I'm just going to do what I say, and go away. Childish? Yes. But with a heart attack, two hospitalizations, a bad hand injury, and my usual problems from disease, all during that 163 days, I can afford to be childish. I'll look as foolish as I want!
[/quote]
Jaym
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 11:47 a.m.

PB-By the way, the e-bay auction was for 2 Raagini tanpuras
Beenkarji
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 11:09 a.m.

Is it just me, or does the new Raagini model stink. I stuck with the old professional model, after trying out a Digital model of my friends. The only advantage to the digital model is the battery compartment, and thats about it. The professional model drifts in pitch very slightly for the first 5 minutes, but after that its good to go. So if any of you have access to the old model, get it before they are gone for good.
Beenkar Ted Ceplina
Jaym
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 11:20 a.m.

India is the most amazing, beautiful and alive place on the planet. I cannot wait to visit it again. To me, the crowds, chaos and pollution as as much a part of it's beauty as it's music, culture, architecture. . .and of course actresses!
pb
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 11:24 a.m.

Hey Ted,
I'll let you know when I get mine. I've heard the old one often enough, so I will be able to make a fair comparison (when my friend comes back). I like the new look. I thought it had more options for tuning etc. maybe not, just window dressing.

Pb
Jeff
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 12:23 p.m.

Jaym (Oct 21, 2003 11:47 a.m.):
PB-By the way, the e-bay auction was for 2 Raagini tanpuras

I could have swore the auction was for two tabla machines! I'll have to look again. Anyway my buddy said India will be a total culture shock if I ever do make it there. I will only make one major trip in my life time if I'm lucky. India is top on my list but I would also like to see Australia, New Zeland and Egypt so it'll be a tough call.
I've never looked into it but for those here that have went to India, how much was the flight and what is a good amount of $$$$ to bring for maybe a month long trip? And what is the best area for a visit?

Jeffrey R King
Matt
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 12:28 p.m.

[quote]Beenkarji (Oct 21, 2003 11:09 a.m.):
Is it just me, or does the new Raagini model stink.

Gotta disagree with you there, Ted. I think mine is great, and my teacher really liked it as well. Kushal Das was using one when I saw him a few weeks ago.
pb
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 02:09 p.m.

Hey,
yes, you are right! 2 tanpuras. I guess the guy wasn't such a clown after all. I'm the clown for not reading the description. I guess they are the same price as tabla-player.com then. But I think tabla-player.com includes the shipping. Ok, thats scalping you can live with.

Matt,
glad the new ones are good. I think I'll bring the tanpura machine to work and plug my headphones into it :-)

Pb
K.K.
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 21, 2003 02:54 p.m.

Matt (Oct 21, 2003 12:28 p.m.):
[quote]Beenkarji (Oct 21, 2003 11:09 a.m.):
Is it just me, or does the new Raagini model stink.

Gotta disagree with you there, Ted. I think mine is great, and my teacher really liked it as well. Kushal Das was using one when I saw him a few weeks ago.

You gotta love Ted. . .

Gotta agree with you, Matt.
A friend of mine at work went to Bombay last month to visit his folks and brought me back the new model ($100 :-) ) It's fine.
At a very low volume, it's a little noisey, but as my friend said, "It's made in India, what do you expect."
The new interface is nice and the internal battery compartment is a real plus that out-weighs the slightly larger size of the unit.
The real advantage though is the stability. The pros like it because they don't have to let the unit sit on stage (with the stage lighting on) for a half hour before the concert.
I like it because I don't have to wait for the machine to warm up when I don't have a lot of practice time to begin with.
Keshav Das
New Raaginis - Crappy? - Big Time! Oct 25, 2003 10:43 a.m.

[quote]Beenkarji (Oct 21, 2003 11:09 a.m.):
"Is it just me, or does the new Raagini model stink."
As a not disinterested party - I want to weigh in on this. When the first Raagini Digital models came out, folks were complaining that there was a slight hum. I could not hear it unless my ear was right next to the speaker. Some of my customers like Steve Gorn, with really sensitive hearing said they noticed it. Everyone agreed that the intervals were truer on the new ones and that they didn't drift like the original. I still like the original one best because of the ease-of-use with the controls and because it tunes down to a very low C which the new generation ones don't. That sadly is not the end of it all. Yesterday I received 10 new units for my shop. The maker has done yet another "upgrade." These new third-generation Raaginis are largely the same as the first "Raagini Digitals" but the controls are re-designed and they have tacky graphics in fruity colors. The only apparent change of value is that you can set the tempo to a very slow pace, which I like. That's the good news. The bad news is that the hiss and hum has gotten noticeably worse (Apparently the problem is only noticeable when the new Raaginis are used in the 110 volt mode) and I have given notice to the manufacturer that I will stop buying them until they fix the problem. I may be financially cutting my own throat - but if folks encourage their dealers to do the same - the folks in Bombay will have to get on the ball and fix this problem. I just shipped the last of the original style ones to a long-time customer. I suspect the original Raaginis will become collector items - despite their flaws.
pb
Re:ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 25, 2003 11:27 a.m.

Keshav Das,
if you put batteries in the new raagini is the hum still there? Do you think it is a break in issue?

Pb
Keshav Das
Ridiculous price for raagini on ebay Oct 25, 2003 01:23 p.m.

Good question! Sadly, the problem remains when the unit is powered by battery. Before I opened the business, I was AV tech in the film business for 22 years working with Altec, Dolby etc. I can tell you - it's not a break-in problem. Defects of this nature will, if anything, get worse over time.
I am going to speak to a local tech-wallah who repairs guitar foot-pedals. reverb units etc. and see if he can come up with a cheap fix. If so I will post info here. I really hope so. Indian companies are notoriously slow to fix problems like this.
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