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This Cadenza was built to special order for Alex Johnson in March 2003.

Alex commented via email:
"Just wanted to spend a few lines waxing lyrical about the Cadenza. Just gorgeous - surpassing even how good I'd made it in my imagination. Spent a good hour last night just looking at the parallel universes that seem to exist in the depths of the maple. Never seen anything quite so lustrous. I mean the back of the instrument really looks like a mountain range on a cloudy day viewed from an airplane.

And it sings beautifully. Real presence without sacrificing any tonal roundness. Every note really feels like it has something to say. It pretty much outstrips anything in my collection for looks, tone and playability. Love it.

Thanks so much for building me such a jewel. Your craftmanship is breathtaking."

The Vanden 'Cadenza' guitar has been developed principally as an acoustic instrument and is available as the full bodied or cut-away model. Customers are given the opportunity to discuss personal requirements and specifications.

The front is from best quality sitka spruce and the fingerboard, bridge, pickguard and tailpiece are from ebony. Highly figured maple is used throughout, including the one piece neck.

The front is hand-carved and graduated and careful consideration is given to the mass and positioning of the individual tone bars and size and location of the f-holes. The back is then hand-carved and graduated to come into relationship with the belly. This is essential to give a balanced string response, power and rich tones. The neck is carved to a slim profile, is reinforced with carbon fibre and fitted with an adjustable truss rod.

This model features a new 'Vanden' logo and 'Aztec' inlay, together with an engraved truss rod cover, all from mother of pearl.

Machine heads fitted are Gotoh 510 gold.