INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: Buying direct from India

My new sitar experience. .

How much did the sitar cost? I am having Tony Karasek build me a VK style at his shop in Pune and his prices are great! With the high costs of sitars it makes you concerned that the sitar must be 'cheap' if it isn't $800+

Who is your teacher and what school do you study at??

Jaym/QehQeh:
Both sitars I ordered were supposed to be the same model VK, though the other for some reason had 13 tarabs and a much darker finish, which really says it all about the uniqueness in construction of these things. .
Honestly I don't know what was said and all by my teacher but in the end my sitar added up to about $500 with all the costs factored in, and he told me it would probably be worth at least $12-1500. btw my teacher is Ustad Nishat Khan and I am fortunate enough to have been learning from him 4 days a week for the last 4 months at UCLA. He is an amazing teacher, very patient and surprisingly humble, not to mention a remarkable innovator who "meends" the rules (haha) to their furthest extent while still holding strictly to his traditional principles (as you can imagine).
-ss

Is there a professional quality or it is a student model? Also does the price include shipping and a fiber glass case?

-
Sangeeta

he has a very nice page, hopefully we can get some testimonials on his instruments very soon.

http://www.karaseksound.com

It's quite fascinating to see more westerners taking on the craft (the only other I've heard of is JS Hackleman from Los Angeles), hopefully this will lead to more consistent quality and better prices if shops open in the US.

Pb

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swansong (Mar 07, 2004 04:47 p.m.):
It's quite fascinating to see more westerners taking on the craft (the only other I've heard of is JS Hackleman from Los Angeles), hopefully this will lead to more consistent quality and better prices if shops open in the US.

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Through my conversations with him and some comments found on the web about him, I have put my trust in him and look forward to having my sitar built by him!!

If you visit him, tell him Jay said hello :-)

However someone has miss-lead you on the customs classification of the instrument. The proper classification number is 9202.90. . Which is defined as 'String acoustical instrument other. .' It hardly makes a difference if you only imported once, but if you miss declare something, the penalties could be severe. US Customs also has the option of reviewing importers in which they suspect are miss declaring items coming into the States. The correct duty rate without a GSP into the US is correct at 5%. It's not worth the headache of having to pay penalties or worse confiscation for something as small as 5%.

By the way, �wooden handicraft� that could also be something like a piece of wood with a carving on it?

Gurdip

I have ordered also my instrument to India but I'm very afraid because this is a real nightmare. The supplier said me 10 days and today is 36 days from de order and 22 from the money arrived to India. The problem is that I need a left-handed instrument, then the music store has ordered for constructing "fresh" to RKS. In a first momet I have considered very few time 7 days for finish a instrument but since they finish the sitars with frech polish (I think) that let a quick dry time, they are a great workshop with great production and in this workshops usually have the diferent parts ready to ensemble I trusted in the dealer.
Now I have serious doubts about all the process. I doubt about the date of delivery, I ask myself because the supplier not answer my e-mails till one week after when a answer is given, I can't understand because the money took 14 days for arrive by wire trasfer, and I can't understand because the bank of India has not confirmed to my bank the receipt of the payment till 10 days after was requested, I can't understand nothing but that I don't have my instrument. .

Sincerely,
Juan Carlos

P.D. Excuse my English

Yes, will be perhaps a question of waiting and waiting. I have other estimates from sitar makers and seems that three of four weeks is sufficient for complete a instrument, but I think that all depends if the salesman has a good contact in the workdhop, etc. .
Please, let me a question, what mean "hang it there"?

Regards,
Juan Carlos

Please, let me a question, what mean "hang it there"?

It means "be patient while waiting" or "espera sin desespera"

pax

Good advice, I will try to put in practice but is a bit difficult

Regards.
Juan Carlos

Thanks,
jingle

I wonder if there is in this forum somebody from New Delhi that can help me speaking by telephone with this salesman because he don't reply my e-mail and I don't speak English (I only can write and read a bit) and when I have called him he was not in the store.

Any help would be welcomed. Perhaps is a question of waiting or perhaps is other thing but I think that don't costs too much reply a e-mail informing about the state of the instrument.

Thank you
Juan Carlos

Juan Carlos

Why dont you ask for some pictures as well?

Jan

I was very interested when I read this as I was charged over �300 duty on my MPS Teak being imported into the UK from Buckingham Music.
I wrote to HM Customs quoting what Bad Ustad had said in the hope that I could claim a refund on duty.
This is what they replied:

"Dear Jerry,

Thank you for your e-mail received 24 March regarding duty on hand made
goods.

Only some article of hand made goods are eligible for duty free import.
However, musical instruments are excluded from that category.

If you have any further concerns relating to the above, please respond,
quoting our reference number to the National Advice Service e-mail address
at enquiries.lon@hmce.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively contact our National
Advice Service helpline on 0845 0109000 for queries concerning other
matters."

Obviously this only applies to the UK, but it's disappointing nonetheless. I was pretty shocked to be charged over �300 duty on my sitar.

Jerry

I had the customs agent call me to inquire whether a sitar is "plucked" or "bowed". Aparently we have different categories/rates for these!

(of course I said, which one has the least duty, but they have no sense of humour)

Pb

[
quote]Jerry (Mar 25, 2004 12:31 p.m.):

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Bad Ustad (Mar 02, 2004 09:34 a.m.):
Did you know that should be no duty on sitars at all? Properly classified, they come under the heading of "wooden handicrafts".

I was very interested when I read this as I was charged over £300 duty on my MPS Teak being imported into the UK from Buckingham Music.
I wrote to HM Customs quoting what Bad Ustad had said in the hope that I could claim a refund on duty.
This is what they replied:

"Dear Jerry,

Thank you for your e-mail received 24 March regarding duty on hand made
goods.

Only some article of hand made goods are eligible for duty free import.
However, musical instruments are excluded from that category.

If you have any further concerns relating to the above, please respond,
quoting our reference number to the National Advice Service e-mail address
at enquiries.lon@hmce.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively contact our National
Advice Service helpline on 0845 0109000 for queries concerning other
matters."

Obviously this only applies to the UK, but it's disappointing nonetheless. I was pretty shocked to be charged over �300 duty on my sitar.

Jerry

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Well anyways we all have the option, thats clear. Its possible to go for the weekend if its a matter of time more than cash.

thats my 2 �re

Jan

For those who are importing into the US, you can click on the link http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/0400C92.pdf

The correct code for Sitar is 9202.90.60 the duty rate is 4.6%

The same code is used for importing into Canada. at a duty rate of 5% with a GSP. and YES you will be charged Gst. on ALL imports into Canada.

As for the other countries, im sure there plenty of information available online.

If anyone has any questions, please email me directly, we've been importing/exporting for the past 32 years, im sure I can help.

Fortunately, I didn't have to pay pst when it arrived. They probably used the wrong classification on mine (9207.90.90.90 duty 6%). Sitars don't need amplification as far as I know. .

Pb