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Name: Veijo Rautia
Turf: Master luthier
Born in Valkeakoski, in the depths of Häme in 1958. Studied to be an instrument luthier in the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design from 1984 to 1986. Prior to that, studies included two years of formal music studies at the Oulunkylä Pop & Jazz Conservatory. I refer to myself as a failed musician, but then again, Leo Fender couldn’t play either.
My enthusiasm for music and guitar playing goes back to the early 70’s; I cite CCR, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and the likes as early influences. After graduating from the Ikaalinen College I’ve made a living (more or less) by building mainly guitars, pickups, Finnish kanteles, and repairing all sorts of stringed instruments.
The story of Flaxwood Guitars began c. the year 2000, when industrial designer Heikki Koivurova stepped into my workshop in Rantakylä, Joensuu. Heikki showed me a new material, a natural fiber composite of sorts. After tapping on the sample pieces for a while, I figured I’d try and build an instrument or other out of the material, seeing as its sound resembled that of natural wood. We proceeded to testing and measuring the properties of the material at the College and at recording studios, finally resulting in the conception of the first prototype guitar. The rest is history. We climbed a (flax) tree ass-first. Though many times along the way I considered hanging it up and going back to the tried and true traditional wood guitar business, I now have to say I am happy I didn’t do that.
Link: www.rautiaguitars.com
Veijo Rautia
Joensuu, Finland
18.11.2007
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