Merel Bechtold

'VanderMeij Guitars blew me away from the first second I saw and played them. They are superbeautiful, perfect in every detail and they sound and play great. Speaking about guitars...'

Merel Bechtold is a Dutch guitar player for the band Dear Mother. She is also known for previous gigs with Delain, MaYan, Purest of Pain and The Gentle Storm.

She started playing guitar at the age of 15, and shortly after her first band Purest of Pain. In 2013 Purest of Pain released the single Momentum and one year after they played at Wacken Open Air in Germany. A great start for Merels career!

 

In 2012 Merel played her first guest shows with Delain and in 2014 she was asked to replace Isaac Delahaye in MaYan, who strongly believed in her guitars skills and motivation. After two shows Merel became a permanent member of the band.

 

In the spring of 2014 Merel was asked by Anneke van Giersbergen to join a project she started with Arjan Lucassen (Ayreon) called 'The Gentle Storm'. In 2015 she toured Europe with both Delain and The Gentle Storm and played big European metal festivals in 2016.

 

In 2017 Merel signed an endorsement deal with VanderMeij Guitars and used a sevenstring Magistra on Delains headline tour in the United States and Canada.

 

In 2020 Merel launched her band Dear Mother.

merel bechtold delain mayan vandermeij magistra custom guitar

Gear

 Merel uses a:

 

  • 7 string 25" - 26,5" VanderMeij Magistra guitar; 
  • Black Limba body with matte finish;
  • Flamed maple top with highgloss translucent white pearl finish;
  • 5-ply wenge/maple neck;
  • Ebony fretboard with Luminlay sidedots and custom inlay;
  • 24 stainless steel Jescar Enterprises jumbo frets;
  • Bare Knuckle Pickups Juggernauts;
  • Hipshot multiscale bridge and open gear locking tuners.

 

  • 8 string VanderMeij Magistra guitar; 
  • Swamp Ash body with matte black finish;
  • 5-ply wenge/padouk neck;
  • Ebony fretboard with Luminlay sidedots and custom wing inlay;
  • 24 stainless steel Jescar Enterprises jumbo frets;
  • Bare Knuckle Pickups Juggernauts;
  • Hipshot bridge and open gear locking tuners

 

  • 6 string VanderMeij Magistra guitar;
  • Black Limba body with Flamed Maple top;
  • Birdseye Maple fretboard;
  • Fishman pickups.

Media

Gitarist, March 2018

Gitarist, June 2017