Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
- Thread starter Chris of Arabia
- Start date
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
Some of those are amazing. I wouldn't mind having one....
Some of those are amazing. I wouldn't mind having one....
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
I visited the PT Samick factory in Bogor, Indonesia a few years ago. (Not too far from Bali). They told me that during the big slowdown of 2009, they had all these workers on the payroll, but no production demand. So they gave everybody a block of wood and some chisels and told them to design a guitar. Most were pretty amateurish, but it turned out that some of the guys had incredible carving abilities and created guitars like the ones in the article in the OP. After the slowdown ended, they set aside a room where these experienced carvers could spend their days doing amazing hand-carved guitars. I'm not sure if those guitars are for sale or if they'll ever be seen at a NAMM show or whatnot, but I can assure you they exist.
I visited the PT Samick factory in Bogor, Indonesia a few years ago. (Not too far from Bali). They told me that during the big slowdown of 2009, they had all these workers on the payroll, but no production demand. So they gave everybody a block of wood and some chisels and told them to design a guitar. Most were pretty amateurish, but it turned out that some of the guys had incredible carving abilities and created guitars like the ones in the article in the OP. After the slowdown ended, they set aside a room where these experienced carvers could spend their days doing amazing hand-carved guitars. I'm not sure if those guitars are for sale or if they'll ever be seen at a NAMM show or whatnot, but I can assure you they exist.
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
Certainly the skills are there to be taken advantage of. This is a piece I wrote on my rather stale blog after witnessing what was going on in the interior of Bali. The scale of it quite beggered belief and, in hindsight, I wish I'd tried to capture more of it on camera. This piece gives a little bit of a flavour for what I saw.
Felines for Food
You can also can also see my Bali set on Flickr too, which sets the scene further.
Certainly the skills are there to be taken advantage of. This is a piece I wrote on my rather stale blog after witnessing what was going on in the interior of Bali. The scale of it quite beggered belief and, in hindsight, I wish I'd tried to capture more of it on camera. This piece gives a little bit of a flavour for what I saw.
Felines for Food
You can also can also see my Bali set on Flickr too, which sets the scene further.
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
I have always said. There are Skilled workers in every country. Most of the South Asian Countries including my own get a bad name because of the cheaper - mid ranged Mass produced guitars, with poor hardware. Out here in Mumbai and the outskirts of the city we have at lest 4 very talented Luithers.
I have always said. There are Skilled workers in every country. Most of the South Asian Countries including my own get a bad name because of the cheaper - mid ranged Mass produced guitars, with poor hardware. Out here in Mumbai and the outskirts of the city we have at lest 4 very talented Luithers.
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
They look really nice as decoration, but I question them as actual playable instruments. I noticed one of the basses that was stripped down before carving started was a Squier. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing out these are about the art, not the instrument. I think some of the acoustics look really cool, not into the electrics as much.
They look really nice as decoration, but I question them as actual playable instruments. I noticed one of the basses that was stripped down before carving started was a Squier. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing out these are about the art, not the instrument. I think some of the acoustics look really cool, not into the electrics as much.
Diminished Triad
New member
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
I'm very close to South East Asia here, and so recommendations to go to a guitar store and try as many guitars as it takes until you find "the right one" really don't apply as much as maybe in the mainland USA where you have Guitar Centers and many guitar shops with hundreds of guitars. One reason good to ask questions even if a few on the angry side jump out at you - there are still lots willing to answer basic questions. I'll start assembling guitars soon and owe lots of thanks to those here who took a few moments to answer what were probably basic, boring and "not that again!" type questions. Thanks to those who shared their knowledge and experience. No matter how things turn out, I'll definitely share my guitar assembling experiences as they occur and also share my opinions regarding the various SD pickups ordered, including the Zephyrs! Thanks again...and hoping for the best when it comes to the builds. As I said when i first joined this site/forum, just no Guitar Centers around here where we can walk in and try out guitars until we find one that fits. Best alternative is to build it yourself.........we shall see!
I'm very close to South East Asia here, and so recommendations to go to a guitar store and try as many guitars as it takes until you find "the right one" really don't apply as much as maybe in the mainland USA where you have Guitar Centers and many guitar shops with hundreds of guitars. One reason good to ask questions even if a few on the angry side jump out at you - there are still lots willing to answer basic questions. I'll start assembling guitars soon and owe lots of thanks to those here who took a few moments to answer what were probably basic, boring and "not that again!" type questions. Thanks to those who shared their knowledge and experience. No matter how things turn out, I'll definitely share my guitar assembling experiences as they occur and also share my opinions regarding the various SD pickups ordered, including the Zephyrs! Thanks again...and hoping for the best when it comes to the builds. As I said when i first joined this site/forum, just no Guitar Centers around here where we can walk in and try out guitars until we find one that fits. Best alternative is to build it yourself.........we shall see!
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Perhaps it's time to go back to Bali again...
It is the same out here, with regards to Musical instrument shops. It is improving slowly, but still a long long way to go. i sort of envy those who are starting of these days they have tons of options compared to when I was starting. Best alternative back then was to get one build by a luither. I still feel that is the best option even today, considering that you cant go cherry picking so easily.
