Chennai specialists, a musical instrument store ?

all-one-heart

Hi, you all, I'm finally arriving in July. Actually I'll be visiting Auroville all month.
My musician buddies here at home (south of France) need new skins for tablas and mridangs. We are hoping you can advise me? I am a harmonium player, so am not very competent to judge the QUALITY of skins a store keeper might propose. And I don't speek Tamul.
I'll coming up to Chennai for a day or two, mainly to purchase these.
Is there a reliable instrument store you could suggest?
Or even a musician who could accompany me? (I don't bite, am sweet, at ease having traveled here in India much years ago,)

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all-one-heart

Danie

Musee Musical, 73 Anna Salai (it's not visible from the road though). +91 44 285 22 780
email: museemusical@eth.net

This music store is the oldest in Chennai, some 160 years old. They have an impressive inventory and knowledgeable staff.

Hope that helps,

Danie

Nick-H

These items are made to order, and made to fit the drums --- I doubt that you will be able to buy them from stock.

Musicians will go to the craftsmen for replacement heads, not to any shop, but if you call this shop well in advance, they may well be able to order a selection for you. Out of a selection, some might fit!


There are several other instrument shops. Two are in Royapettah High Road, just north of Luz Corner.

Danie, can you give landmarks for that shop? I've heard of it, I think I might have been there once, but have no idea where to find it now.

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capt_mahajan

Musee Musical is on Mount road, somewhere not too far from the US Consulate, on the other side of the road, and inside an oldish looking building, ground floor.

Well stocked shop with knowledgeable folk. Have bought a few things there. (but a couple of years ago, so do call and confirm- it looked like the shop was always there and always going to be there, though )

73,
,Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600002

+91 44 28516474‎
+91 44 28522780‎
+91 44 28585447‎ - Fax

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capt_mahajan

A map, the address here seems to be slightly different (67 instead of 73) but one phone number is the same

http://www.tolmolbol.com/listing/Che...hz9p9tdw1.html

all-one-heart

You guys are really on...beat!

I thought that if I brought the mesurments of the outer edge diameters I could get skins that would fit. Gosh, if I had to bring the two mridangs and the tablas along, I'd be so loaded down I'd never be able to even get there!!!Do youknow if it will really not be a correct fit if I just order them?????

Thanks already for all the infos!

I'll just have to try to call them from here (south of France) and see what can be done...but I'll wait for your answers first, as I'm not feeling too reassured.

Nick-H

The map on that link shows an area much further 'up' Mounts Road than the US consulate!

Hmmm... specifying the exact diameters would be a good start, yes.

This is still not an exact science though. My mridangam teacher in London has decades of experience, not only playing, but hanging around the workshops, as a youngster, finding out exactly how they do what they do. When playing in Chennai and ordering his own instruments, he used to choose and specify the wood and the skins used. He gets a boxful of heads from his makers regularly, to maintain his instruments in London (In Chennai they would simply scrape off the black and re-apply it).

However, even with those years of experience, he cannot be sure that, after the hours of work fixing a new mridangam head, it will sound good. There is a high wastage rate. Also the heads are very fragile when not fixed to a drum.

Still, yes, it is a better option that taking the instruments for repair. Buying new ones here would be a better idea!

capt_mahajan

=crossposted with Nick, IIRC they were between the US consulate and Spencers Plaza, on the opposite side, but I may be slightly wrong. "I had a company car, and I just told him to "take me to your leader " =

all-one-heart, maybe you can email them and ask them.

Btw, it is not always that they are good- even though they are the biggest in Chennai (as far as I know). Most of the stuff I bought from them, including an electric guitar and a few Indian instruments, were ok. The violin was not.

all-one-heart

So, in fact you can't really reassure me, I understand. Not really up to buying new instruments, so I'll just get the measurements and do my best, looking for skins not too dry, black spots sweet and whole. Maybe next time for the new, depending...
And Nick H. thanks for warning me about the fragility of them when I'll be packing them in my suitcase to go home. I'll be much more carefull, thanks to you.

Dearest Saraswati, bless us all.

Another question, Chennai experts. I'd like to sing some nama sankirtanas (kirtans) while in Chennai. Is there any temple or other place where this is done more or less regularly? And would there be an ok hotel near by?

In general, THANKS. It really is reassuring to be able to communicate with you people on this site. Like having wise and protective friends just at the other end of the keyboard.

Thanks again.

all-one-heart

I tried ten days ago the musee musical store email Danie sent, but no reply yet.
Any ideas?

capt_mahajan

Emails in India do not always get answered, unfortunately.

Call?

Radjesh

A small correction Captain, from my experience I can say that this is the case not only with India but in many places

Phone always works best

cyhiraeth

while we're on the topic, does anyone know where I might find any decent shops in Chennai that sell violins?

An acquaintance mentioned to me he bought his quite cheap while he was visiting, and I'd love to be able to practice while I'm there.

capt_mahajan

Same one.

The one I bought wasn't too good though. I think it was because I didn't know anything about violins.

Nick-H

I'd go to the Royapettah High Road shops: two, almost accross the street from each other, and relatively easy to find, just North of Luz corner.