Literally, a showstopper instrument. This is a one of a kind work of art, let alone a musical instrument. This is the Lava Guitars Black Amber Drop #1, which stopped us in our tracks at the 2017 NAMM show. We decided we had to have this guitar at The Music Zoo, and here it is for sale.
The concept came from builder Rapolas Gražys, who wanted to build a guitar that connected the past and the future while also giving a nod to his home of Lithuania, where black amber from the Baltic sea is harvested. The construction of the guitar is a single seamless piece of sapele for the body and neck with an ebony fretboard and 24-3/4” scale length. The neck has a truss rod that is reinforced by two rods of carbon fiber. The sapele has been routed out in the body to house the 4.5 pounds of Baltic black amber, with a 5mm rim around the inlaid amber.
Baltic amber is over 45 million years old, produced by the Pine trees which grew in Northern Europe and around the Baltic Sea. It is also considered by many to have therapeutic properties due to its high level of succinic acid, a compound said to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The fact that the Baltic amber is millions of years old is humbling to say the least when you pick this instrument up to play.
The guitar as an instrument is a joy to play, with a very fast and striking response to notes and chords, likely from the rigidity of the amber. The neck has a rounded neck profile, with large frets that give way to fast riffing. The pickups are Lace Alumitone humbuckers, and rounding out the looks of this one of a kind guitar are gold hardware, and a 24 karat gold Lava Guitars headstock logo.
The Black Amber Drop #1 includes a certificate of authenticity crafted from aluminum, along with a bracelet crafted from Baltic black amber, and gold Schaller straplocks. We should note that the first picture of this guitar shows the body as it is back lit, so that you can see all the beautiful details and different colors in the amber, the second picture shows the guitar as it is naturally, without being back lit.
7 lbs, 15 oz. 4.5 lbs of Baltic Black Amber 1-Piece Sapele Neck and 5mm Body Rim 2 Carbon Fiber Rods for Neck Reinforcement 24-3/4” Scale Length .780" Neck Profile at Nut .940” Neck Profile at 12th Fret Ebony Fretboard Lace Alumitone Humbuckers 24 Karat Gold Plated Lava Headstock Logo Gold Hardware
Includes: Marco Magi Custom Made Leather Hardshell Case, Baltic Black Amber Bracelet, Aluminum Certificate of Authenticity, Strap Locks
