Blueberries, Guitar Carved Typical Balinese Go International

Starting from a sculptor, I Wayan Tuges has been transformed into a guitar maker with Balinese carving a high flavor. Production guitars costing tens of millions of dollars that had largely been sold in various parts of the world such as Canada, Japan, Europe and the United States.

The idea to make a guitar of high artistic merit that arise after a Canadian businessman and musician, Danny Fonfeder interested Tuges works of sculpture. To make the guitar not only beautiful to the eye, Tuges who was born on October 7, 1952 was later to learn from a professional guitar maker from the United States, George Morris.

"I was originally a stone carver, sculptor, but in 2005 I started learning guitar chisel," he said when met at the home Tuges guitar production in No Way Varuna. 5 Guwang, Sukowati, Bali.

Handmade stringed musical instrument of the nation was born out of ingredients-quality options such as rose wood, mahogany, ebony, and alascan spruces. Apart from using imported materials, in recent years also will begin to look Tuges local wood that turned out to have qualities that are not less good.

Blueberry guitar prices also varied depending on the material used and the level of difficulty and ornamentation in carving his guitar. To produce a ready-made guitar, it takes many months.

In addition to prioritizing detail on carvings, which oversees about 45 Tuges Balinese youth with creative hands were also watching closely the resulting sound quality guitar production. With prices starting at U.S. $ 3,000, Blueberry guitars are more in demand in international markets.

"People bule message to me sometimes they feel shy with the art I make, they feel the price of U.S. $ 3,000 was not much with the guitar that they ordered. So I'll see you again, they love token of gratitude to Rp 5 million as a bonus," he said.

However, there are also some musicians such as Dewa Budjana Indonesia, Balawan, and Erros Djarot ever ordered a guitar made ​​Tuges.

Gitar Akustik Jumbo Pesanan Presiden SBY

Saat ini Tuges mengaku sedang mengerjakan gitar akustik pesanan presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dengan ukiran namanya dan nuansa merah putih.

"Cerita awalnya Pak SBY pesan gitar itu pas lagi ada kongres di Bali, 16 Juli 2011 lalu. Saya diundang Pak Menteri (Budaya dan Pariwisata) Jero Wacik untuk ke hotel tempat Pak SBY menginap. Pak Jero pun atas rekomendasi Dirjen I Gede Pitane yang mengetahui kerajinan ini," tuturnya.

Tuges guitar for the number one in Indonesia was made ​​with 30 types of sculptured shapes and materials quality choice. Material specifications for the bass and treble is made of rosewood, and spruce wood alascan imported directly from Alaska.

While the handle is made of ebony, and the back of the mahogany. "For the love of my carvings SBY green stone and pearl oysters," he said.

The guitar is expected to be completed before the anniversary of SBY 62nd Sept. 9.

"I have to drag ngerjainnya. In addition to orders Pak SBY, I am also currently working on orders Pak Joko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Politics. He originally played drums, but asked for an electric guitar was a long-neck or a baritone with a tiger motif, did he zodiac tiger," he concluded .

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