Delhi storage

razorpig

Hi all, anyone know of a place in Delhi where I can store my hand made flight case for my guitar. It's not a full size guitar, only those backpacker ones but the case is still a fair size and will probably weight around 10kg when finished. Also, what can expect to pay for storage for 11 months? Many thanks, mark.

machadinha

Phew, 11 months, long time, eh. Are you gonna desperately need it after all that time? Otherwise, I'd look into sending it home by the cheapest mail available (probably air & surface these days).

Many of the Delhi budget hotels at least offer luggage storage, to non-guests as well, Paharganj (Main Bazaar), by the New Delhi Railway Station, would be a good area to ask around for this. Check if that storage facility is obviously being used, i.e., clients walking in and out of there to deliver and collect their packs, not some dusty hole in the wall that no one uses.

Whether they'll do it for as long I can't say, then again, it's probably no beef to them. Don't know about current prices, but probably a few Rupees a piece a day, nothing that will break your back for sure. Make a very very clear agreement on when you'll be picking it up.

To other readers, for storing regular luggage, a common demand is that your packs are locked. A backpack can be wrapped up in a light chain through its various flaps and ends, then lock that with a padlock. Both can easily be bought on the spot. It's probably mostly to stop you from whining later anything was taken from it. On that note, keep your valuables on you at all times, of course, never stow these away.

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razorpig

Thanks Machadinha, I'll check that area out. Storing the case of course is based on the assumption that the guitar will survive for 11 months! It puzzled and frustrated me for ages that lots of guitar manufacturers make these "Travel" guitars and then don't provide a decent hard case for it Turns out they are designed to fit in to airline overhead storage compartments, but I guess since 9/11, that's idea's all gone to hell so they have to be checked in. The only safe way I can get it there is by building a custom flight case for it, which I've done. Needless to say, I don't want to lug this thing around with me for 11 months, so if I don't store it, I'm gonna be facing the same problem when I return, or just say goodbye to my guitar. I guess in 11 months I should be able to find someone to make another case for me so I can bring it home safely, so that's another option. Honestly, it's such a hassle, I don't know why airlines can't provide some kind of solution for this issue as I'm certainly not the only one struggling with it. You may have read only recently an American guy had his £3,500 guitar ruined by united airlines. After 9 months trying to get compensation for it, he gave up and wrote a song called "United breaks guitars" (it's on YouTube). It became his best selling record to date and slashed their share prices by 10% costing them £180,000,000!! Have it Off the back of this, they bought him a new one (or repaired his damaged one, I don't recall) and now use his music video to train their baggage handlers. The power of music But still no solution for us musicians.

machadinha

But... traveling around and in India of all places, wouldn't you rather have it in a case while you do? It would seem hard to me to keep it in one piece if you don't, really.

Well, good luck with it in any case

gurupaulj

What a great story razorpig!

razorpig

You may well be right Machadinha and perhaps I'll learn the hard way. This is why I'm taking my backpacker guitar worth £150 (cost me £75) rather than my Tanglewood which cost £400. I have however read several accounts of people travelling with full size guitars in soft cases without and major problems. My solution (after MUCH thought) will be to carry my tiny guitar in a slightly bigger 1/2 size classical guitar case which I will waterproof with tent spray. The advantage of the slightly bigger soft case is that I can pad it out with t-shirts etc which will help protect the guitar and have the added advantage that I can carry a smaller rucksack. That's the theory anyway! Hope it works out but if not I'm only £75 out of pocket. Not too drastic. PS : Like the pun ;-)

Glad you like the story gurupaulj. It certainly put a huge smile on my face. One man and his guitar against the system, and he won !!!