Mike Vanden Guitars and Mandolins

MARTIN TAYLOR 'ARTISTRY'

Mike Vanden’s name has long been associated with high quality arch-top instruments. So it should come as no surprise that Martin Taylor, jazz guitar virtuoso, has teamd up with Mike on an exciting new venture.

Mike and Martin have enjoyed a long association based on a mutual deep affection for the arch-top jazz guitar. For many years they have discussed combining their desires and skills to produce a new yet classical looking guitar.

They were determined to develop an integrated design concept for the instrument to work as a whole, including a dual pick-up system. For ease of playing, Martin wanted an instrument with a 15" body, but without sacrificing acoustic performance, equally suitable for fingerstyle or for using a pick.

Martin was impressed with the acoustic tonal qualities of Mike’s Mimesis pick-up range (now Fishman Rare Earth) and Mike set to work to produce an innovative system for the arch-top guitar.

So, after many months of discussion, collaboration and sore fingers the ‘Martin Taylor Artistry’ has hit the road, just in time to be featured on Martin’s first album for the Sony label. And it is indeed a no expense spared luxury instrument. Highly figured maple is used throughout, including the one piece neck which is reinforced with carbon fibre, the belly is spruce and the fingerboard, bridge, pickguard and tailpiece are from ebony, as is the engraved pickup casing. There is the usual fine attention to detail characteristic of Vanden instruments and opulent features such as a ‘Martin Taylor Artistry’ mother of pearl peghead inlay, a Black Tahiti pearl engraved truss rod cover and gold Gotoh 510 machineheads.

The active pickup system features the new Mimesis Archtop Jazz Blend with Mimesis Archtop Humbucker and a modified Fishman Piezo Bridge Pickup. The whole unit is mounted entirely from the pickguard with the pre-amp and battery slung underneath, so no holes are needed in the instrument. Edge wheels are used for controls. There are volume and blend controls plus an active tone control for the magnetic pickup only. The sounds produced range from traditional jazz through to fingerpicking acoustic.

This instrument epitomises Mike’s flair for innovative designs that incorporate a player’s needs and classic looks and his skills to manufacture them. Mike will build a few more guitars with the same specification, and Martin will sign the certification.

Catch one while you can!

Click here to see the Review of the Artistry from 'Guitarist', Nov'99

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