Handcrafted bass guitars focused on quality, performance and durability.
Luthiers are uniquely positioned to offer high-quality and appealing customised bass guitars.
Silvan allows customers to access a variety of styles, better hardware and premium wood options.
We’re not trying to please everyone.
Just you.
“Silvan comes from my grandfather's last name, Silvano.
The origin of this word dates back to the Latin Silva — wood.
In time it evolved into Silvanus — a woodland deity.
In the mid-16th century, it turned into Sylvan by the influence of the French word Sylvain.
Silvan® has a sense of a wooden element being worked upon by a woodland creature.”
Miguel Pamplona
Founder
Values
Quality
High-end hardware and woods.
Performance
Enhanced playability and creativity.
Durability
Builds that last.
Good work takes time
We study, develop and apply specific strategies and designs to each instrument.
Personalised service
Each client is unique.
Personalised work
Each project is as unique as possible.
Open door policy
Drop by or schedule a visit so we can give you our full attention.
We’re fluent in both English and Portuguese.
Team
Miguel Pamplona
Founder
Miguel studied lutherie at Academia Nacional de Luthiers with Daniel Garfo (Delfina Guitars) and guitar tech at Clínica da Guitarra with João Oliveira (Roidz Guitars), specialising in bass guitars.
As a luthier, his practice explores the aesthetic of things through material encounters, relationships and tensions.
Miguel creates from a process of analysis, transformation, and replacement of things.
He solves design conflicts with precise minimalistic means, exploring the point where things become something else.
Nuno Oliveira
Production
Nuno is a multi-instrumentalist and also studied lutherie at ANL and guitar tech at Clínica da Guitarra, specialising in guitars.
He followed Miguel into the business and has helped create and grow the workshop from the beginning.
João Freitas
Apprentice
Taking advantage of his skills as a designer and bass player, João started his relationship with Silvan by testing our theories and creations as a consultant.
He upgraded to apprentice and is currently undergoing formation.
Friends
More coming soon