Rapolas Gražys (Lava Drops)
10 Questions We Ask Everyone
Rapolas Gražys (Lithuania)
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We are in
Frankfurt, walking through the MusikMesse, pavilion #4: a sound calls our
attention. Oriental notes fill the air of a pavilion full of distortion,
electricity and ‘heavy’ oxygen. It's like a time warp. We are in the guitar
makers’ area, the territory of who makes guitars with their hands, centimeter
by centimeter. We are in the most creative place of the fair, where forms are
invented, technology is experimented and sounds are investigated.
Rapolas
Gražys, Lithuanian artisan, presents Lava-Drops, his fretless guitars brand.
Its shape, sound and playability are amazing. We hope to see soon Rapolas’ new
creations, with fretted necks, this time. Hopefully the wait will be worth.
SIX STRINGS...
1. GUITARS EXCHANGE: How did you end up becoming, or
start out as, a luthier?
Rapolas Gražys: I have been playing guitar for more
than 14 years. All my life is connected with
music and design. I do not think I can say that I am a true luthier. After
graduating and working in a lot of projects with industrial design, I finally
connected the music and design in one. My main profession is industrial design;
music always has always been the biggest part of my life. Now all my works are
related with musical industry…
2. GUITARS EXCHANGE: What inspires you to design and
manufacture a new guitar?
Rapolas Gražys: I
got inspiration from classical instruments like cello, violin, contrabass and
Eastern instruments: the main detail of which is a fretless neck. With a fretless
neck you can provide shade sounds, such as microtones. This demands a “skilled
hand” while playing, but for a musician it gives wider opportunities. Vibrating
notes with a fretless neck, as opposed to a guitar with frets, make sound
unique and is reminiscent of sounds of ethnic music: the keystone of the music
I create and what this project is. In regards to visual aspect, the fretless
neck does not take away from aesthetic form with its vertical sections and the
form remains pure. After creating the fretless instrument I saw that the
possibilities of the instrument is wider than I had thought before. The
instrument could be used in many situations, and various styles of music, from
jazz to rock, to fusion to experimental music.
3. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Do you look for a given sound for
any particular reason?
Rapolas Gražys: Currently I am looking for a sound that suits the
needs for fretless guitars. Since my design is not classic guitar design, I
need new ways how to find the particular sound from this unusual body of the
guitar.
However at the same time, I am also
creating a model with frets. So I think the main point of the guitar sound is its
versatility. So that the guitar could be used in a variety of situations.
4. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Select one and talk about: soul,
jazz, blues, rock, pop…or other.
Rapolas Gražys: I think I am a guy who cannot be
described with only one style of music.
I like to
combine all genres and styles and sounds in one. I like to experiment and not stick
to one in particular.
Maybe jazz
could be the word: not for the musical style but for the emotion – the
improvisation.
I was born
in Lithuania. We have a big tradition regarding to ethno music. So
improvisation, ethno and then combining it with fusion or rock music could create
something new.
5. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Are you a jobbing artist or a
solitary artisan?
Rapolas Gražys: Jobbing artist. Always trying to
find new ways and work in different design spheres.
6. GUITARS EXCHANGE: What was the last record or CD
you bought? And listened to?
Rapolas Gražys: The last CD that I bought was a new
album of Lithuanian Bass player Domas Aleksa and his album ,,Time twister’’.
You must listen to it. Something new in musical sphere.
...ONE BODY...
7. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Electric or acoustic?
Rapolas Gražys: At the moment electric made from one
piece of wood. To get a better sustain and have more ergonomic feeling for the
player.
But for my
personal view also I like to play acoustic music a lot.
...ONE NECK...
8. GUITARS EXCHANGE: What is the secret behind your
choice of wood?
Rapolas Gražys: The secret is that I pick the best
quality of wood. Every piece I look with care and attention. For my design not
every piece is suitable to make the instrument. I have my own technology that
makes instrument more long-lasting.
...AND TWO HANDS
9. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Why should we consider
luthier-crafted guitars as a viable option to guitars made by the large
manufacturers?
Rapolas Gražys: Quality, trust and unique design. I think luthier
crafted instruments is being cared more. And the feel that one instrument is
being made not by 10 or more people but from one or two, it has something
mystic.
10. GUITARS EXCHANGE: Who plays your guitars? Who
would you like to have play your guitars?
Rapolas Gražys: There are couple guitarists from Lithuania, like Alex
Ten, Lukas Eiliakas, Robertas Semeniukas…Robin Aristorenas is from UK.
I think couple of musicians them
could be Ergan Ogur, Greg Howe, Andy Timmons and etc. would be the musicians,
that instrument could suit to music which they create.
FOR SALE on GUITARS EXCHANGE: Lava Drop RG 2015
Official Lava Drop Website: http://lava-drops.com/