Ivan Mulia makes guitars unlike anything else out there. With workmanship that is on a level that seems almost impossible, it is apparent from the moment you are near one of these guitars that you are in the presence of magic. Yet in spite of their other worldly quality iVee guitars are clearly the products of down-to-earth passion. There's no "artisan" intimidation factor here, just honesty in its purist form. These are instruments who's deep musicality extends all the way back to the originating spark of an idea in the builder's mind. Every curve of the etchings and the placement of every fret is somehow "musical." And that's even before you plug one in or pick one up to play it.
Ivan Mulia of iVee guitars is truly Indonesia's best kept secret.
The iVee New-T Reso
The iVee New-T Reso's origins are clear from its shape and pickup configuration, yet this is hardly a typical T-style guitar. The ornate brass plate w/ resonator construction and bold hardware choices take this guitar far from its origins into new territory for both the traditional T-style guitar and for the traditional resonator guitar, while expanding the very concept of tonal flexibility. The New-T Reso is a bridge between two worlds and an exploration of everything a guitar can be.
A little cultural background on Gayo from Ivan Mulia
The word Gayo comes from the ancient Aceh language adopted from Sanskrit which means mountain. In general, people living in the mountains are called Gayo people or mountain people, gradually forming the Gayo tribe that we know today. Gayo people or mountain people are Karo migrants from northern Sumatra who settled in Aceh and formed a large community. In the 11th century, the Linge Kingdom was established by the Gayo people during the reign of Sultan Makhdum Johan Berdaulat Mahmud Syah from the Perlak Sultanate, as it was told by two rulers who were ruling during the Dutch East Indies era; namely Raja Uyem and his son Raja Ranta, who is Raja Cik Bebesen, and also Zainuddin from the rulers of Kejurun Bukit. Raja Linge I is said to have four children. The eldest was his daughter, Empu Beru or Datu Beru, and the remaining are Sebayak Lingga (Ali Syah), Meurah Johan (Johan Syah) and Meurah Lingga (Malamsyah). Sebayak Lingga wandered off to Karo land and founded a country there and he was known as Raja Lingga Sibayak. Meurah Johan ventured on to Aceh Besar and established his kingdom by the name of Lam Krak or Lam Oeii, also known as Lamuri or Lamuri Sultanate. This would mean that the Lamuri Sultanate was founded by Meurah Johan, while Meurah Lingga who was living in Linge, Gayo and the rest became kings of Linge for generations. Meurah Silu migrated to Pasai and became an officer to the Pasai Sultanate there. Meurah Mege himself was buried in Wih Ni Rayang at the slopes of Keramil Paluh in Linge, Central Aceh, which until today can still be found and is considered sacred by the locals. The cause of migrating was unknown. However, according to history, Raja Linge favoured his youngest son, Meurah Mege, causing the rest of his children to prefer to wander away.
- Type: electric resonator guitar
- SN: 160603
- Body: brass plate, 1mm w/ Gayonese etching
- Body side: brass 1mm
- Colors: black w/ polishing brass contour
- Hardware: gold w/ aluminum neck pocket
- Neck: birdseye maple
- Radius: 12"
- Scale length: 25.5"
- No. of frets: 22
- Nut: Graphtech tusQ
- Nut width: 1.65"
- String spacing: 1.4"
- Machine heads: Gotoh
- String action: medium for fingerstyle and slide use
- Bridge: biscuit cone type (Sonokeling w/ Graphtech tusQ saddle)
- Pickups: handwound Ganèé
- Controls: vol (Bourns, 250K), tone (Bourns, 250K w/.033 Orange Drop cap)
- Case: hardshell included
- Weight: 8.38 lbs