
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 Martins 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.

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Mike Vandens 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 Mikes
Mimesis pick-up range (now Fishman Rare Earth) and Mike set to work
to produce an innovative system for the arch-top guitar.
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 Mikes flair for innovative
designs that incorporate a players 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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