Musings by a Mandolin enthusiast

When I finally decided to pick up a new mandolin yesterday, (my old one is about to dump me, as I haven't paid her enough attention), I never thought I would actually blog about it.

Before I come to that part of my efforts to purchase one, it's worth mentioning here about the public perspective to this instrument. Eleven out of Ten people have asked me "what's is a mandolin?" and after I try to explain it in terms of size, that it is a string instrument like a guitar but different in numerous ways, has eight strings, "Mandolin" Srinivas...I still see a blank expression, till I throw the whopper "the instrument SRK plays in DDLJ". Instantaneously, a wave of recognition reflects. I guess I should say the "definition" instead of Mandolin, next time someone (PYTs in particular) asks me about my musical interests.

Anyways, back to my efforts to buy a mandolin here in Bengaluru, the experience was hilarious, yet showed me a very disappointing state-of-affairs.

My first stop was at Shiva Musicals, Malleswaram. The shop is just the right size to torture some one by solitary confinement, and their walls decorated with certificates and more certificates about their steadfast commitment to music (Indian Music in Particular). As a stark contrast, whatever space is left in that dump they call a shop, is filled with guitars, synthesizers and rhythm pads. (I understand mandolin is not an Indian Instrument, and I have nothing against western music.) When I enquired about the mandolin, he looked at me as if I were lice he had just pulled out of his hair, and said "Sir, this is a musical instruments shop...." Without bothering to retort, I walked out.

Next, I was at Sound Glitz, Residency Road. The punk over there was strumming a guitar, and strumming well. I patiently waited for him to finish. He then said " yes sir?". Feeling glad that some one is so engrossed in music, yet irritated that a customer was being ignored, I repeated my mandolin interest. He immediately went back to strumming, as if I was asking for "baksheesh" and said, "not available".

Still convinced I can pick up a mandolin, I went over to Reynolds Inc, just across Sound Glitz. The person over there was astonished that some one wants a mandolin. Just when I was about to complete my sigh of relief, he surprised me by asking his assistant " Hey, call up the other store of ours and ask if they have something called a mandolin....". My friends who had accompanied me, now began to doubt whether there was actually a musical instrument called mandolin, or was this some kind of a joke I was playing on them. As expected, it was not available, but he gave me a bit of confidence by saying "it is out of stock". That atleast convinced my friends I was not joking.

Now, I was not aware of any more shops. I then had a brainwave, to call JustDial, the phone directory service. Fantastic, as I searched my phone, I didn't have JustDial's number! Where can I call a directory who will give me the directorys number? So I called Pri, woke her up from her siesta, and made her give me some numbers she could find online. Poor thing, she obliged. Unfortunately, the phone went unanswered at Lewis and Sons, Koramangala and Aruna Musicals, Frazer Town said "they do not keep mandolins".

Then I decided to consider Premsons Musicals, Ulsoor, which was recommended by the Reynolds guy, he wasn't confident, but asked me to take a chance. My Good friend and a Violin Maestro, Dawn Jois, whom I had called to take an opinion, advised me strongly not to consider Premsons. Having no where else to go and nothing else to do, I visited Premsons. I was greeted by a closed shutter, and a big board which read "Sunday Holiday".

Just for a lark, I visited Yamaha Music Showroom, Indiranagar, I did not expect a mandolin there, but I was glad when the person there was aware of the instrument, and even said that they have mandolin tuners, but not a mandolin.

By now, I had considered it futile to buy a mandolin. My quest began at 1:15 PM, from my residence at HSR Layout, I travelled to Majestic, to meet my friends who promised to accompany me. From there to Malleswaram, and then to residency road, then Ulsoor, then Indiranagar... having covered an approximate distance of 45 km, I decided to call it quits at 4:45 PM.

While I was munching on the not-so-hot bajjis at Srihari Upahar, Indiranagar, I laughed it off to my friends, about the mandolin being a non entity, but deep within I felt, and am still feeling a pang of disgust, shame and helplessness. Helplessness and shame, because the world might not hear the melodious strains of the mandolin after a few years, and disgust, because, if people are ignorant about the mandolin, I, being a mandolin player, have treated my mandolin so shabbily, and have the audacity to talk about its extinction.