G'day Folks,
          I've had a Maton CW 80 12 string since about 1981 and a similar six string since 1989 and they are both treasures. The bass end of the six is its special strength. I use her in DADEAD tuning. Kim Poole arranged Anderson's Coast in DADEAB but he showed me the other and the bass harmony lines sounded so rich that I just stay in that tuning. Somebody once said of their Martin "She can still surprise me after twenty years". It's that way with the Maton, which is basically Australia's Martin.

One of my friends just restored a 1961 Maton 12 which was as near to a total wreck as possible and yet still be repairable. He said the neck was dead straight after about 15 years in somebody's shed. Fully restored and re-finished, she looks and sounds brilliant. She plays as well as my own twelve. I have to say I played somebody's average Martin once, and found my own regular Maton preferable.

Like all good guitars, they improve with age, and several other's I've had occasion to play also have that magic warmth that only comes with a great guitar, well aged.

While you're at it, another Australian instrument I'd like to crow about is the Bouzoki of Jack Spira. I've had one of his for five years now and it sounds well aged. I play all but the top D's in octaves and it's a unique and interesting sound. Aussies do a good instrument. Good health, folks.

             Jack Halyard.