At LÂG, we seek to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing of our instruments, which is why we are proud to present a new range of guitars that embodies this approach.
It focuses on two aspects: reducing the use of exotic woods and limiting the impact of our finishing processes.
HOW ARE THEY GREEN ?
BrankoWood
Created by Branko Hermerscec, a talented Australian scientist, BrankoWood is the result of an innovative wood treatment process called tropicalization. This process transforms wood from short-cycle pine forests, guaranteeing a sustainable approach while avoiding the use of endangered wood species.
Created by Branko Hermerscec, a talented Australian scientist, BrankoWood is the result of an innovative wood treatment process called tropicalization. This process transforms wood from short-cycle pine forests, guaranteeing a sustainable approach while avoiding the use of endangered wood species.
Thanks to precise density control, BrankoWood not only offers the acoustic and aesthetic qualities of different exotic species such as ebony (Black BrankoWood) and rosewood (Brown BrankoWood), but also provides optimal wood stabilization, making it resistant to variations in temperature and humidity.
Perfect control of the tropicalization process results in a robust top with bewitching properties. With a balanced sound that reproduces both the sweet timbre of mahogany and the spectacular projection of spruce, our solid Pale BrankoWood top guarantee a unique sound.
Used for back and sides, this wood has a raw look and feel, enabling us to radically simplify the finishing process and minimize its environmental impact, which translates into:
Less varnish.
Fewer solvents released into the atmosphere
Less sanding.
Less dust.
Less electricity consumption.
The purity of raw smoked Eucalyptus guarantees exceptional resonance, magnifying and complementing the sound characteristics of the soundboards which its partnered with.
A virtuous material for sustainable development, wood is a key element of tomorrow's environmental challenges due to its renewable characteristics.
However, the use of exotic wood species in many sectors has led to unreasonable exploitation of the sectors, leading to a scarcity of the material and destructive practices.
It was therefore necessary to invent a new way... or a new material.
Aware of current environmental concerns, Lâg wishes to put questions of sustainable development at the heart of its ambitions by committing to the design of more responsible guitars.
The invention
It took Branko Hermescec two decades of research to come up with a revolutionary process that began with the planting of short-cycle pine forests in New Zealand (radiata pine) in order to provide a sustainable solution while preserving endangered species.
Called BrankoWood, this wood comes 100% from short-cycle pine (Pinus radiata) plantations. These trees have the particularity of growing straight and with few branches, forming a very uniform wood. In New Zealand, high humidity promotes the rapid growth of trees, which form large growth rings, essential for the subsequent soaking and compression process.
Rapid growth also contributes to the constant renewal of plantations and allows a high level of production that is entirely sustainable.
This pine is therefore the perfect species for optimal control of the tropicalization process in terms of appearance and density. The possibility of controlling density and appearance allows replacement.
BrankoWood comes from a complex patented 5 stages technological treatment to obtain precise properties of hardness, density and stability.
First drying
The wood, received in the form of flat sawn boards, necessary for the subsequent compression process, is first dried until it contains only 10% humidity.
Pigments impregnation
The wood is then impregnated in pressure tanks into which catalytic and pigmenting agents are introduced.
Second drying
The wood is dried again to lower its humidity to 2 or 3%.
Natural resin impregnation
The wood is once again impregnated under pressure with natural resin from organic waste. Putting it under pressure allows the resin to completely penetrate the wood.
Compression
It is finally hot compressed, reducing up to 40% of its original thickness, to achieve the desired density.
The end result is a totally stable wood (5% constant humidity) which is not only perfectly resistant to changes in humidity and temperature but also to UV radiation and even termites.
BrankoWood in LÂG Guitars
Lâg has been using Brankowood across the entire range since 2015. We use it for the fingerboard, bridge and headstock, an important part of our instruments identity. Driven by the success of this innovation, due to the wood stability, solid Pale Brankowood is now also used for the top of the new Sauvage guitars series.
Brown BrankoWood
Reproduces the look, density and tone of rosewood.
Black BrankoWood
Reproduces the look, density and tone of ebony.
Pale
BrankoWood
Used for the top of our Sauvage guitars series, Pale BrankoWood is nicely figured, and brings both the sweet tone of mahogany and the projection of spruce.
Used for the back and sides of our new Sauvage series, this wood with its decidedly raw look and feel allows us to radically simplify the finishing process and minimize its environmental impact.
With a unique aesthetic, this material visually brings depth by giving the design of the guitar a dark and intense color.
Core of the identity of the Sauvage series, the wolf is a symbol of freedom, independence and above all, untamed nature. A formidable animal that perfectly reflects the Sauvage range by offering it an intrepid soul and the spirit of returning to nature.
Depicted howling at the moon in its natural environment, it embodies the expression of emotions and creativity in a free and authentic way.
What better emblem than this reckless animal threatened with extinction to embody our eco-designed GREEN GUITARS range?
The wolf therefore proudly asserts the identity of the SAUVAGE series which is defined by a unique aesthetic and the use of raw, environmentally friendly materials.