Mike Vanden Guitars and Mandolins

   

 

MANDOLINS, MANDOLAS and MANDO-CELLOS

Archtop Guitars:

Martin Taylor Artistry
Cadenza
335 Semi Acoustic
 

Flat Top Guitars:

 

Mandolins / Mandolas:

F5/F4 Mandolin
F55 Mandolin
Simon Mayor
Stretto Mandolin
Stretto Oval Soundhole
A Model
H5 Mandola
 

Workshop Tours:

Martin Taylor Artistry Tour
335 Tour
F5 Mandolin Tour
 

Mimesis Pickups:

Pickup Systems
Archtop Jazz Blend
Archtop Guitar Pickup
 

Other:

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Mike Vanden Mandolins Mike Vanden Mandolins Mike Vanden Mandolins Mike Vanden Mandolin Mike Vanden Mandolin

 

There are three basic styles in the Vanden range of archtop mandolins, mandolas and mando-cellos; the F5, the Simon Mayor and the A model. They all feature best quality materials and are hand carved and graduated.


The elite of the range is the F5 which is based on a classic Loar model. Highly figured maple is used for the back, neck and ribs with best quality spruce for the belly. The peghead veneer, fingerboard and bridge are all ebony. The belly is hand carved and graduated with two individual tone bars, carefully shaped, to transmit the string vibrations. The back is hand carved and graduated and tuned to the belly.

Mike Vanden Mandolins
Mike Vanden Mandolins
     

The neck is reinforced with carbon fibre The body, headstock and fingerboard all feature ivoroid bindings; a mother of pearl Vanden is inlaid in the headstock; nickel plated hardware is fitted and the instrument is finished with either a brown or deep red sunburst and high gloss cellulose.

 

The most popular is the Simon Mayor model which is based on the A model shape, but with a longer neck - the scale length is also longer at 360mm. This has benefits both in tone projection and playability.

This model is used by Simon for his recording and live performances.

Peter Mix (Rigel Mandolins, USA) has taken delivery of a Simon Mayor mandolin.

 

For the A model, again best quality materials are used and the belly and back are hand carved and graduated. There is a round sound hole and the fingerboard is not elevated over the body producing a rounder, more mellow sound than that of the F5 or f-hole models. Ivoroid bindings are used for the front of the body only. Nickel hardware

 

Each style is available as mandolin, mandola, octave mandola or mando-cello with the following scale lengths: mandolin 352mm, mandola 420mm, octave mandola 530mm, mando-cello 632mm.

      Optional extras

      • Fern/flowerpot peghead inlay
      • Ebony pickguard
      • Curved fingerboard
      • Hand engraved tailpiece
      • wh/bl/wh ivoroid bindings
      • Mimesis pickup systems

         

 

 

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Contact
The Old School, Strontian, Acharacle, Argyll, PH36 4JA, Scotland
Telephone / Fax +44(0)1967 402114