2003 Michael Heiden F-5 Artist
Serial # F64. Michael Heiden has been honing his skills in Luthiery since the 1970's, and is, today, among the world's most highly regarded mandolin builders. One chord strummed on this 2003 Artist F model is all the proof your pudding should need. This is a phenomenal F-5… period. From the feel of the neck to its throaty and explosive tonal response, this instrument would make any bluegrass player weak at the knees.
Heiden carves his necks with player comfort in mind, with a rounded profile, radiussed fingerboard and a nut width of 1-1/8". The Artist-grade instrument is dressed up with Satin Silver Waverly tuners with pearl buttons, a hand-made ebony pickguard, Loar'esque bridge, and a nickel-plated, engraved James tailpiece. Seasoned, Master-grade tonewoods were used throughout, with gorgeous fiddle-back hard maple back, sides, and neck, and a perfectly quartered spruce top. The top and back carving is beautifully done, with quarter-flower at the center of the top's recurve through the entire circumference -- it's something else! The Artist F is finished in a traditional hand-rubbed varnish, and stained in a faded vintage amber two tone sunburst.
The instrument is in very fine condition but does show some minor scratches and dings in its fragile finish. Crack and repair free, average fret-wear in the first five frets, completely original and unaltered. Set-up in our shop, the mandolin plays exceptionally well. A balanced, responsive, open, and loud F-5.
With original Calton hardshell case
Heiden carves his necks with player comfort in mind, with a rounded profile, radiussed fingerboard and a nut width of 1-1/8". The Artist-grade instrument is dressed up with Satin Silver Waverly tuners with pearl buttons, a hand-made ebony pickguard, Loar'esque bridge, and a nickel-plated, engraved James tailpiece. Seasoned, Master-grade tonewoods were used throughout, with gorgeous fiddle-back hard maple back, sides, and neck, and a perfectly quartered spruce top. The top and back carving is beautifully done, with quarter-flower at the center of the top's recurve through the entire circumference -- it's something else! The Artist F is finished in a traditional hand-rubbed varnish, and stained in a faded vintage amber two tone sunburst.
The instrument is in very fine condition but does show some minor scratches and dings in its fragile finish. Crack and repair free, average fret-wear in the first five frets, completely original and unaltered. Set-up in our shop, the mandolin plays exceptionally well. A balanced, responsive, open, and loud F-5.
With original Calton hardshell case