Maton Guitars

Subject: Maton Guitars
From: GUEST,12StringStan
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:02 PM

Was playing in an accoustic session last nite, and this American came in with a Maton Guitar.Though I'm a confirmed Martin man, this beaut held and sounded as good, (better??) than any martin I've played. He in return loved my Martin, so we both swapped for the night. Pure ectasy.

I however have never come across Maton before, does anyone here own one of these pedigree guitars, any reviews or critisisms, or am i totally wrong.

I would seriously consider getting one. are they dear to buy?

He said he bought it 2nd hand in New Zealand about 5 years ago from a chap in debt, (ie: a bargain!!) Any Maton owners in debt out there???? haha
12sS

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:13 PM

Maton's are Australian made and the favorites of Tommy Emmanuel.

I have two friends in Central New York State who both own Tommy Models and they are very nice guitars. Because Tommy Emmanuel uses them they have a certain cache. What makes them great is the omboard electromics and amplification system.

I find them quite comparable to any American made guitar of similar size, quality of contruction, grade of materials, and set up.

I prefer my Guild F-30 and a friends Lowden but the Matons are a close third in playability.

Don

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:20 PM

They are Australian guitars, often made with Australian tonewoods rather than the usual ones. But it's so weird seeing this message, because I had not heard of them either until a month ago - but I have just returned from Australia with an EM425C/12 Maton 12-string cutaway which sounds and plays like heavenly harps. Its specification:

Soundboard:        "A" grade solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides:        Queensland Walnut
Neck:        Queensland Maple
Fingerboard:        Rosewood with dot inlays
Bridge:        Rosewood
Headstock:        Blackwood veneer
Outer Binding:        Ivory
Inner Binding:        Double
Soundhole Rosette:        Mosaic
Finish:        Satin
Machine Heads:        Chrome Grover rotomatic

Fitted with the AP5 pickup, regarded as the very best acoustic guitar pickup system available today, featuring sculpted frequency curve, sweepable mid range between 1 and 2kHz, and "Soft Start" circuitry (to avoid blasting people's ears when plugging in or -out).

The cost: $1,300 (US)
Value for money? You betcha!

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:28 PM

In fact, I have just recorded a couple of songs with it, and listening to the recordings, especially on one of the songs it sounds just like a spinetti! If you are interested, have a listen to Miracle of life and Rozellas

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 May 06 - 04:11 PM

Stan, I know its a bit tough to search the forum right now but if you enter Maton in the search, there is some good info collected from the pasty years. Many of our Aussie members obviously favored the Matons.....Bugsy and Murray and several others. In one thread I recall a discussion about their 00's and 000's being deeper than the American counterparts and felt it balanced the bass.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: Bugsy
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:30 PM

Thanks 'Spaw, (How are ya By the Way?) Yes, I have been Shouting the praises of Maton guitars since joining mudcat in '99 and always felt that it fell on deaf ears.

I had a martin 0018 which I loved but found the Maton BG808 had a much richer tone and a hell of a lot more volume. The quality of the workmanship was as good as any of the Martins I have seen, at about half the price.

I now have a Maton M325 which I suppose would be the equivant to the D18. It blows any of the D18's I've ever played out of the water.

I eventually sold my Martin because I didn't play it anymore. It just didn't do it for me like the Maton.


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: cobber
Date: 14 May 06 - 02:37 AM

When we came to the States in 1979, we all played Maton guitars, i8ncluding the bass player who played a fat bass that was based on the Mariachi bass of Mexico exsept it had a guitar nesk. They've stopped making them now. My current guitar was the prototype for a model called the Messiah and I love it. Maton gave us a guitar to carry as a spare on the trip which was a good thing as my brother's guitar was pierced by a fork lift in Heathrow airport in London. In California we had a similar experience to the one above in that a friend wanted to swap for his Gibson which was a lot more expensive. Maton's do have a sound of their own. They don't have the brilliance of a Martin but if that's the sound you have in your head, that's what you buy. I had a Martin 12 string once but the bridge lifted half way through a recording session. Maton lent me a guitar to finish the session and it became a permanent swap. Old Martins tend to hate the Auistralian climate. Perhaps it's their delicacy that gives them their sound. You can find out more about Maton from their web site here: MATON GUITARS

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 14 May 06 - 03:13 AM

Cobber,

I played a (current) Messiah (EM100/12) at the shop before I bought my EM425, and it was indeed great; but I couldn't fork out for the extra $1000 or so, so I settled for the one I got. Their electronics are the same anyway, and I prefer the back and sides of the EM425 because it uses Queensland walnut; it's a real looker.

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: GUEST,12StringStan
Date: 14 May 06 - 08:19 AM

Great info people. seems like I've stumbled on a gem. Very nice el greko, had a listen to the tracks. beautiful sound. I think I'll dream for a while, then work on making the dream a reality. It always seems nicer that way. No fun in just going out and getting just what you want. I'll enjoy the waiting and looking forward to bit first. A bit like the period before marrige, you'll never get it back afterwards!!!

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 06 - 09:48 AM

I remember them being sold in music shops in the Uk in the 1960s, for about £20. Nobody took them very seriously then, as it looked like a blatant and not very clever rip-off of Martin. They then disppeared. It is not until recently that people seem to have realised what great guitars they are/were. I just wish I'd bought one back then. Instead, I bought an Aria John Pearse model, followed by a Levin, a Gibson J200 and eventually a 'real' Martin D18.

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: JennyO
Date: 14 May 06 - 10:41 AM

George, those songs wouldn't play for me. They appeared to download, but then all I got was a second or two of flashing lights and no music. Maybe it's just me?

BTW, I'd love to be able to hear Tsamiko!

Jenny

Subject: RE: Maton Guitars
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 14 May 06 - 11:28 AM

It must be your borwser or connection, Jenny - persevere...
I PMed you a link for "Tsamiko".