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Haridas Vhatkar Tabla Order PERCUSSIVE INSTRUMENTS
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42 posts Pujadaddy 42 posts
Pujadaddy
Quote:
Tabla is the best entertain instrument in the India.In the many movies in the bollywood tabla is used. In the Mumbai a man Haridas Vhatkar is one of the great man is take order and provide tabla in the India. I am thinking about ordering a couple of tablas from Haridas in Mumbai.
Okay, that post was weird so I can see where that conclusion could be drawn, but just to be clear for my part, I was honestly relating my recent experience buying from Mr. Vhatkar, and I am genuinely pleased with my purchases. Having spent some time with Haridas, and considering his reputation, his quality and his clientele, I'm personally confused at the idea that they would even need to engage in such "sock puppetry". Either way, I can only speak to my experience, which was good.
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krithikp 4 posts
krithikp
Hello,

I am thinking about ordering a couple of tablas from Haridas in Mumbai, and i heard the prices are around 200 USD. If someone could please confirm that, i would really appreciate that. Also, living in the United States (California), how much would the shipping be to order 2 or 3 tablas?

Thank You,
Krithik
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annamalayaar 296 posts
annamalayaar
hi..i post the email of haridas when i asked him his best offer :

Namaste sir,
I received your e-mail. we makes just professional quility tabla.
it will black shisham tabla & copper bhayan of 3kg.with fiber case ,ring cover & heavy hammer it cost is Rs 17000/-
shipping charge is Rs 400/- per kg.it will be with insurance.one pair will almost 22 kg.
custom charge is Rs 1800/-

pair Rs 17000/-
courier Rs 8800/-
custom Rs 1800/-
-------------------
total Rs 27600/-

If your order is conform please inform me.


THANK YOU,
KISHOR VHATKAR( HARIDAS R VHATKAR" S SON)

hope to be helpful

bye
No amount of learning can teach one to give up the ego.The best course is to catch hold of what is real, without any support.He who is fully conscious is really God. He is the real nature of one's own true state.The experience is silence,it cannot speak.
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krithikp 4 posts
krithikp
Hello Uncle,

I am looking for just the tablas, no bayans....what would cost for the BEST tabla possible, perhaps the ones that are made for Zakhirji or Swapanji? I am looking for concert level tablas...

thank you
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rajpuranik 116 posts
rajpuranik
You think a dayan alone should cost $200 plus shipping? Looking at the price quoted here, I'm pretty sure you would do better by having a knowledgeable friend select a tabla locally for you. Second option would be to purchase from one of the established independent exporters like Upendra or Prafulla Athalye. For one thing, they will personally select a tabla on your behalf, test it, etc.

Second, they are purchasing at local prices, and they buy in quantity, so even with their profit built in, it will probably be less than a direct quote from the tabla maker.

A concert quality tabla set in India is probably around Rs 5,000-7,000 "local price." That's a far cry from Rs 17,000. My top-quality Swami tabla purchased locally in Mumbai in 1994 was Rs 1,900.

I'm guessing shipping will be $100 for one dayan, or $70 each for 3 dayans. Just a guess.

Regards,
Raj Puranik
http://worldmusicguru.com
Learn music online
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sohummusicals 601 posts
sohummusicals
rajpuranik wrote:

A concert quality tabla set in India is probably around Rs 5,000-7,000 "local price." That's a far cry from Rs 17,000. My top-quality Swami tabla purchased locally in Mumbai in 1994 was Rs 1,900.

I'm guessing shipping will be $100 for one dayan, or $70 each for 3 dayans. Just a guess.

Regards,
Raj,
I got my first Tabla set made of 2 KG copper Bayan and Normal Dayan for just Rs 750/- that was in 1987... Just changed the Dayan to Shesham after 10 years of usage and i'm still using the same one.
The Prices you are talking about were 3-4 years ago . The minimum cost of a Standard Tabla set made from 2 KG Brass Bayan shell and Amroha Wood now Cost around Rs. 4500/- in Mumbai. a Pro A Heavy Shesham Dayan and A 4.5 KG Heavy Bayan of Copper costs anything between 9000Rs to 10000 Rs. Those are the local market price in Mumbai and I'm selling it for for the same price to US or Europe, with Shipment cost extra.
Haridas Vhatkar, sells a Pro Tabla set for 15,000 to 20,000 here in Mumbai. 3 Kg is his standard weight for Copper Bayan. Doesnt go above 3.5 KG.
Shipment to USA/Europe can cost anything between 45$ to 90$ depending on the carrier and weight of the dayan.

-U
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povster Senior Member 2,537 posts
povster
krithikp wrote:
Hello,

I am thinking about ordering a couple of tablas from Haridas in Mumbai, and i heard the prices are around 200 USD. If someone could please confirm that, i would really appreciate that. Also, living in the United States (California), how much would the shipping be to order 2 or 3 tablas?

Thank You,
Krithik
Call the Ali Akbar College Store in San Rafael, CA. (You mentioned Swapanda and he is the resident tabla master at the college). Talk to them about what you are looking for, the tonal quality, dimensions, etc. They are at http://www.aacm.org/shop
...Michael
Dasani - the official bottled water of ICM
Panini - the official sandwich of ICM
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tablafreak 548 posts
tablafreak
I just went to AACM store and they had some good Somnath Tablas in stock. You may want to check with them. But they will run you about $250-$275 for a dayan.
youtube.com/tablasolo
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yztabla 11 posts
yztabla
AACM store is a complete ripp off ill be honest what they do is that they hide their best quality tablas for example they have some nice somnath tablas right but they are gonna sell you the not so good ones because they save the best ones for their students and friends and they charge way too much. To pay 275$ for a somnath dayan is ridiculous its not rosewood nor black sheesham wood for $275 you should be able to get a dayan that is something like Ustad Zakir ji would play . i have seen their somnath tablas and they are nice the baya is not that heavy the dayans are good but not $275 good.
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Pujadaddy 42 posts
Pujadaddy
Its funny that this was the current post, as I JUST returned from spending a week with Mr Vhatkar in Bombay, learning from him how to properly re-head and balance his pudi's. From my experience, yes their tabla IS a bit more expensive, but there is a reason that Anindo, Zakir, Yogesh, Talvin Singh and countless other professional tabla players buy from him... It just sounds THAT good. I've purchased from almost everyone in North America (and a few in India) who sell tabla, and I have not found ANY of them that quite measured up. Not to say they don't exist, just haven't found them.
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kalyan 261 posts
kalyan
Yes the Somnath drums @ aacm are expensive but we do not try to push anything a person does not want to buy. We do not hide our best drums we just keep a small amount pulled up and on the shelves when a customer wants to see our best drums we find out what size and pitch they would like then pull some to show them that way our best stock does not sit on the shelves getting beat up and dirty. I personally love both Haridas and Somnath drums and think they are worth the added expense but that is up to the buyer. Here is a quick video of a somnath head I just put on a tabla less than 1 hour ago,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QblYO_ALDWw
it is still settling in I will have to pull and re-balance it again tomorrow and it will open up a lot over the first few weeks of playing. The fully made Somnath tablas where the head is made on the shell sound at least this good I will video some when I get back to the store tuesday. By the way Zakir can be seen in many pictures with his Somnath drum
Kalyan

goddenmusic.com. musicianmallusa.com facebook.com/goddenmusic
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annamalayaar 296 posts
annamalayaar
tablafreak wrote:
I just went to AACM store and they had some good Somnath Tablas in stock. You may want to check with them. But they will run you about $250-$275 for a dayan.

really too much for a dayan... :wink:
No amount of learning can teach one to give up the ego.The best course is to catch hold of what is real, without any support.He who is fully conscious is really God. He is the real nature of one's own true state.The experience is silence,it cannot speak.
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yamatabla 3 posts
yamatabla
i have purchased tablas and have purchased heads and had them repaired at aacm many times Kalyan does an amazing job. I admit their good tablas are pricey but where else can you get good tablas from, honestly for me the best deal at aacm is Kalyan reheads your tablas for $50 thats awesome, because he does an amazing job. i have played the somnath tablas at aacm they are pretty nice i believe they were 550$ for the set i think $500 including tax would be a great deal. but as far as them being a ripp off or anything i think thats going overboard. hey Kalyan if you read this its Yama i just found the website lol i can see why you mixed me up with someone else.
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yamatabla 3 posts
yamatabla
kalyan wrote:
Yes the Somnath drums @ aacm are expensive but we do not try to push anything a person does not want to buy. We do not hide our best drums we just keep a small amount pulled up and on the shelves when a customer wants to see our best drums we find out what size and pitch they would like then pull some to show them that way our best stock does not sit on the shelves getting beat up and dirty. I personally love both Haridas and Somnath drums and think they are worth the added expense but that is up to the buyer. Here is a quick video of a somnath head I just put on a tabla less than 1 hour ago,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QblYO_ALDWw
it is still settling in I will have to pull and re-balance it again tomorrow and it will open up a lot over the first few weeks of playing. The fully made Somnath tablas where the head is made on the shell sound at least this good I will video some when I get back to the store tuesday. By the way Zakir can be seen in many pictures with his Somnath drum
sounds really nice dude how much for these dayans with the somnath heads?
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shivannn 4 posts
shivannn
hello I am from trinidad and am looking for a good tabla set with dayan tuned to E. my total with shipping is 375 usd. please assist as i will be using that as accompaniment..
thanks
the best success is that of legacy
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tablafreak 548 posts
tablafreak
One thing people dont realize is that AACM gives you the opportunity to check their stock, Play the drum, talk to the sales folks and make an informed decision. Ive made many pruchases online that ended being a headache (powder post beetles, tabla not balanced right, cracks in shells) etc. Of course you will save some cash by ordering online, but there is also a risk that no one really talks about.

Anyways, this is just my experience I have no affiliation with the college.
youtube.com/tablasolo
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