Klaten makes 15,000 souvenirs for Trump

Sat, August 20, 2016 / 09:05 pm

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A worker, wearing a T-shirt with a pattern evocative of Eddie van Halen’s iconic tri-color guitar, cuts a guitar body for a Gibson Les Paul miniature in a workshop owned by local entrepreneur Pramono, 42 in Klaten, Central Java. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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A craftsman works on a Gibson Les Paul miniature at Pramono’s workshop. Mahogany is used because of its smooth texture. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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Digitally printed stickers are used to give color and detail to the Gibson Les Paul. The stickers are used to ease production as well to meet the order deadline, which has to be met within a month. For other miniatures, Pramono usually uses spray paints and wood for details. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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A worker sprays varnish to seal the wood to allow painting and detailing closely similar to the original. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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Miniatures are hung to dry after being varnished. It is essential to avoid direct sunlight in the drying process to prevent cracking. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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A worker sands the wood to allow for the texture to become visible before spraying it with melamine paint. This model is a souvenir of US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign in Cleveland, Ohio. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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Women apply the stickers on each of the Gibson Les Paul miniatures at the workshop in Klaten. They use stickers to make the work faster to meet the deadline. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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One of Pramono’s workers sprays melamine on a Gibson Les Paul miniature. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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The souvenirs are put in a warm room before being stringed and packaged. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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After passing the quality control process, the Gibson Les Paul miniatures are stringed like their originals. About 60 workers, through their skills, have helped Pramono to become an international creative entrepreneur. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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A Gibson Les Paul miniature is displayed. In the background are samples of past work. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo
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After passing the quality control process, the Gibson Les Paul miniatures are stringed like their originals. About 60 workers, through their skills, have helped Pramono to become an international creative entrepreneur. JP/ Albertus Magnus Kus Hendratmo

The mooi indie atmosphere of Manjungan, a small village east of Mount Merapi, in Ngawen district in Klaten, Central Java, has given great space for local entrepreneur Pramono, 42, to foster his imagination.

Through his creative exploration, he has made miniatures of world-class guitars as souvenirs. His creations have led American musical instrument company Fender to give a license to Pramono to produce miniatures of its guitars.

In the beginning, in the 1980s, Pramono was only a fan of famous, world-class guitars. Dutch-American rock star Eddie van Halen’s guitar was the one he most loved. He said the combination of three colors—red, black and white—was awesome and not everyone could have such a guitar.

He later made a replica of van Halen’s iconic guitar.

Now he has 60 employees to produce not only the tri-color guitar he loved but also many others. The miniatures, measuring about 25 centimeters in height, have been sold worldwide. One of his international buyers is Axe Heaven, a store selling guitar miniatures.

He has recently been working on an order from US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, to make 15,000 Gibson Les Paul miniatures. Pramono said Trump would distribute the miniatures as souvenirs of his campaign. [EVI]