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Thread: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

  1. #1
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    Hi fellow mandophiles,In the U.K. one of the more highly sought after
    mandolins are built by Mike Vanden. He has a couple of good endorsers
    in Simon Mayor and guitarist Martin Taylor. I too wanted one of his
    mandolins after having played one or two at some of the UK bluegrass
    festivals and found a used one for 1400GBP (nine years ago this was
    still a lot of money!!) and was proud to say "i own a Vanden".
    However, a couple of years down the line, things started to turn very
    sour. Firstly, the binding shrank and bits started to fall off.
    Secondly the neck warped at the heal joint. Most disastrous of all
    though was when the top sank on the treble side.This problem finally
    cracked the top and made the instrument unplayable. I contacted
    Mr.Vanden, explained the problems and asked if he, as the builder,
    would satnd by his instrument and repair it (i offered payment of
    course since i was not the original owner) but he said that he was
    not interested and washed his hands of the mandolin saying "It was
    one of my first". He did offer to sell me another used Vanden
    mandolin for about 1500GBP but as you might guess, i was very annoyed
    that the Vanden mandolin i had was,for all intents and purposes, now
    scrap wood and told him to keep his mandolins (or word of that
    nature).I have just had the mandolin professionaly rebuilt by Carsten
    Schnoor in Hamburg, Germany and it is now, once again a fine
    instrument.He told me that the reasons the mandolin originally fell
    apart may have been that the neck angle was too severe and also said
    that the original top was way too thin. So fellow mandophiles...let
    me just say that all traces of "VANDEN" are now removed from my
    mandolin and may this be a warning if you consider buying from him.
    Sean Moyses

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    Disappointing story to be sure, though the builder's direct comments might be interesting to read.

    The Vanden mandolins I've played were both Mayor's own so you can assume that they are fabulous instruments. The older one has likely been around the world a few times, played more than most, been as reliable as any other, and well documented on various recordings. The newer one passed the test for me, but as you discovered maybe time will tell.

    That your experience involved an earlier instrument, did it come with any kind of warning that it might not be up to snuff?

    How did previous owners treat it?

    Had it already been modified?

    Was it allowed to dry out?

    I'd be surprised if Vanden would do the work for anyone but the original owner without charge, but if there was mistreatment I bet he'd expect some repair work to be paid for.

    Glad you eventually got it fixed though. It would be a shame to loose it.

    True, reputations are built not only on the instrument but on customer service.

    Peace, Mooh.

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    By the way, can you post pictures? Mooh.

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    There are only 3 in ireland that i know of
    I have played 2 and had the privalage of loaning one of them for about two years,
    I found them very playable and amazing tone, and would have bought one only the owner would not sell, cant blame him, you say you bought this mando second hand and had it nine years , i have cars that didnt last that long, but what really gets me is you phone the guy up expecting him to stand over a 9 year old mando you didnt even buy off him , bit cheeky to say the least, scots are hard deal with at the best of time :-) , god knows where that mando was before you bought it, its like when you bring your car to the mechanic and he says good god who had this before, anyhow glad you got it sorted, always buy knew if your not shure, or get good advice,

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    This is a vanden against 3 guitars :-)
    https://youtu.be/ngYJXRe-Bks

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    Registered User mandrian's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Hi,

    I realise that this is an old thread, but feel that the original poster was being very unfair to Mike Vanden.

    If the mandolin was one of Mike's first it was made in the 1970's, so why you expect the maker to repair it (paid or not) after a period in excess of 25 years is unclear, particularly when you are not the original purchaser.

    I have always found his instruments, service and advice to be excellent.

    Regards

  8. #7

    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    I've had a couple of very highly regarded mandolin builders refuse to work on their older instruments (I was not the original owner of either mandolin), but they did recommend builders who know their mandolins well and who could repair. I ended up selling both of mandolins as is.

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    For those who may never have come across Mike Vanden, you may well have heard of the guitar pickup he invented which is now sold as the Fishman “Rare Earth”.

  10. #9
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    I got to know Mike Vanden fairly well via his instrument displays at various UK Bluegrass Festivals many years ago. The instruments that he had on display were always of the very highest build quality. However - despite this being a very old thread,it was a bit disappointing to read of MV's reluctance to carry out the repairs to his own mandolin. However,he wouldn't have been the first mandolin builder to have had 'build problems'.

    Currently,MV seems to be building 2 style of mandolin - a Simon Mayer signature model & a model named 'Stretto' - both "A" styles. The ''Simon Mayer'' model appears to be a very similar build to the ''Griffith' Loar in body style,
    Ivan
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    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
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    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Kelsall View Post
    I got to know Mike Vanden fairly well via his instrument displays at various UK Bluegrass Festivals many years ago. The instruments that he had on display were always of the very highest build quality. However - despite this being a very old thread,it was a bit disappointing to read of MV's reluctance to carry out the repairs to his own mandolin. However,he wouldn't have been the first mandolin builder to have had 'build problems'.

    Currently,MV seems to be building 2 style of mandolin - a Simon Mayer signature model & a model named 'Stretto' - both "A" styles. The ''Simon Mayer'' model appears to be a very similar build to the ''Griffith' Loar in body style,
    Ivan
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    I agree ! It's not always what you say , but how you say it ! I don't think MV handled the situation correctly if----------- this is how he handled the situation. I would have to hear MV's side of the story.

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    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Mike Vanden is a super nice fellow, who has been building great instruments since the 1970s. I've known him since '82, owned two of his mandolins and played another 5 (if I remember correctly). They were all from the early '80s and excellent. A few early Vandens were youthful follies and not yet top quality; I remember one of those. Since they were inexpensive, I'd never blame Mike for not living up to some lifetime warranty he never granted.
    Last edited by Hendrik Ahrend; Dec-15-2018 at 4:33pm.

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Quote Originally Posted by tony byrne View Post
    This is a vanden against 3 guitars :-)
    https://youtu.be/ngYJXRe-Bks
    I wouldn’t play in the same room as that guitar player on the right. One could get ones eyes punched out.@

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Quote Originally Posted by tony byrne View Post
    This is a vanden against 3 guitars :-)
    https://youtu.be/ngYJXRe-Bks
    Who is the mandolin player?

    And yes, that guitarist on the right really shouldn't play at a session with his strings waving around like that. I would have thought he might have more sense frankly.
    David A. Gordon

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    From Dagger Gordon - " I would have thought he might have more sense frankly. " Incomprehensively stupid !!.

    Henry - As i mentioned,i got to know Mike Vanden quite well at one time,as i used to seen him quite frequently. He is a thoroughly nice person. The last time that i saw him was at a Guitar show at London's Wembly Conference Centre many years ago. I had the great pleasure of playing one of his superb Jazz guitars,equipped with his then 'new' pickup. The guitar was awesome - my playing was a tad 'less' good,
    Ivan
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  20. #15

    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    A few years ago during the break in his concert someone asked Simon Mayor about buying a Vanden mandolin from Mike Vanden, Simon told him no problem if you could find him, he's probably gone fishing, he'd rather go fishing than build instruments.

    Dave H
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    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Quote Originally Posted by Dagger Gordon View Post
    Who is the mandolin player?

    And yes, that guitarist on the right really shouldn't play at a session with his strings waving around like that. I would have thought he might have more sense frankly.
    I went through the 'don't cut the string ends' phase as a teenager after seeing the back cover of Don McLean's American Pie album. Got cured of it rather quickly. And much later moved on to the better instrument.


    Daniel

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    I use his magnetic pickups on my Sobell 10 string and octave mandolins which have served me well since he personally installed them in about 1991.
    Here's a fairly recent video from the man himself.
    https://vanden.co.uk/about/
    David A. Gordon

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    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Hanson View Post
    A few years ago during the break in his concert someone asked Simon Mayor about buying a Vanden mandolin from Mike Vanden, Simon told him no problem if you could find him, he's probably gone fishing, he'd rather go fishing than build instruments.

    Dave H
    Priorities first !

  25. #19

    Default Re: Vanden mandolins/Mike Vanden

    Well about Vanden Mandolins. I have had about 3, and still a unique F5, played it professionally for over 39 years. Never wanted another one, and i' ve seen a few. Vandens and other brands, also handmade ones.

    Please don’t use the forums for commerce.
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    Last edited by JEStanek; Jan-01-2024 at 4:38pm. Reason: No commerce in forums

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