MATON 503 CLASSIC
RRP: $1599
MATON MS500
DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR
DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR
RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, pop, indie, blues, heavier styles. Pros, semi pros, amateurs, players looking for a different take on the double humbucker solid body.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, indie, progressive, pop, blues. SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Big round chords and on the edge bluesy breakup on the neck pickup. It’s super useable and you can also brighten it up by flicking to the bridge. Switch the coil tap in the bridge position for a single coil vibe or you can also enjoy the neck and coil tapped bridge combo for a big fat vintage tone.
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Featuring Maton’s own MVB0 and MHN0 pickups the 503 Classic is round and full on the neck pickup and fat and gnarly at the bridge. The 3 way switch also gets you the in between sound whilst the coil tap on the bridge opens more doors for brighter S styled tones.
PLAYABILITY: Light and shorter scale make the MS500 a fun axe to play. Smaller hands will love the neck and those sick of playing back breaking electrics will cancel those chiropractor appointments. Easy to handle but still a serious instrument.
PLAYABILITY: A medium kind of C shaped neck is easy to handle and the 12” fingerboard radius lets you whip around with ease. The deep cutaway and angled heel joint also allow plenty of access to the higher frets. Quite light in weight it’s also great for those who steer clear of heavy axes. CONSTRUCTION: Maton’s 503 classic has some beautiful touches that conjure up vintage instruments whilst the design is definitely their own. Body shape, headstock shape, switches, pick guard all look great and the guitar feels top notch too. This particular example came in a cherry red finish that looked a treat and added to that vintage/modern vibe. OVERALL: Well known for their acoustic guitars Maton’s electric offerings such as the 503 classic really kick some butt. With distinctive looks at a more than reasonable price they’re definitely worth a look if you’re after a guitar that veers slightly from the classic shapes.
CONSTRUCTION: Vintage vibes and quality aussie craftsmanship here utilising Silkwood, Queensland Maple and Rosewood. The finish is sweet and Maton’s own pickups add to the old school feel, not to mention the control knobs and rotary pickup selector switch which feels and looks like something out of an old hot rod.
SPECS NECK: QUEENSLAND MAPLE FRETBOARD:ROSEWOOD WITH WHITE BINDING, PEARL DOTS BODY: SILKWOOD DOUBLE BOUND PICKUPS:MATON MVHB HUMBUCKER (BRIDGE–COIL TAPPED) MATON MVSC (NECK–SINGLE COIL) BRIDGE: FINISH–MAHOGANY BACK AND SIDES WITH HONEY FACE TUNERS: GROVER ROTOMATIC MACHINE HEADS CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA
MATON T-BYRD
RRP: $1899
OVERALL: A great Australian brand that needs no introduction. Possibly better known for their acoustic guitars, Maton’s electric range should soon reach the same heights with distinctive designs and shapes paired with classic tones. I’ve seen plenty of these guitars up close and live and they don’t disappoint. Worth checking out if you’re after something a little different in a solid body electric guitar.
DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SEMI HOLLOW BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR
RECOMMENDED FOR: Blues, roots, country, rock, pop. Although aimed initially at the country and country rock market the T-Byrd would be a great blues, rock, pop instrument too. Also handy as that ‘something slightly different’ axe when you need to mix things up a little.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, alternative, blues, pop, jazz and almost everything in between. Players of all styles and levels.
NECK: BOLT ON QLD MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: SILVER SILKWOOD PICKUPS: MVHB (COIL TAPPED) BRIDGE: CHROME TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: CHROME GROVER CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA
RRP: $3999
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The semi hollow design adds some nice body and sustain to clean tones. Both humbuckers can be split into single coils so you can work through fat and round tones to bright, sharper sounds with ease. I love the ability to change between woody almost jazz tones on the front pickup to grindy rock and roll on the bridge.
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: A telecaster bridge, bridge pickup and control layout make for some very T styled tones in the middle and back pickup positions. The Lollar Super T can do sharp and jangly or chicken pickin. Then move to the neck pickup and the cool addition of the Lollar Charlie Christian pickup will open up some big rounder tones–think rock and roll or blues. Makes for an interesting take on the Maton T type sound.
PLAYABILITY: Made for Josh Homme (of QOTSA fame) the JH is a hollowbody electric in Maton’s classic double cut style. A comfortable playing weight this BB1200 is lightish thanks to its hollow body but still meaty and solid enough to bash out loud chords and riffs without feeling like you should tone it down a touch.
PLAYABILITY: Bashing out chords or playing lines up the neck the T-Byrd feels pretty darn nice all over the fret board. Slightly more D shaped than some of Maton’s other electric offerings, the neck will suit quite a lot of players and the guitar is balanced and comfy overall.
OVERALL: A kind of cross between a tele, semi hollow chambered electric and classic Maton double cutaway the T-Byrd definitely has its own thing going on too. Whilst I can see the appeal for country, roots, rock ‘n’ roll players there’s no reason it won’t also fit into a heap of other musical settings.
SPECS
MATON BB1200 JH JOSH HOMME
DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: CHAMBERED ELECTRIC 6 STRING
CONSTRUCTION: Great to see Maton developing new ideas such as the T-Byrd. The build quality is up there with many pricier brands and it feels and looks like a serious player. Beautiful!
RRP: $1399
SPECS NECK: ROCK MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROCK MAPLE BODY: QUANDONG WITH ROCK MAPLE CAP PICKUPS: LOLLAR CHARLIE CHRISTIAN/ LOLLAR SUPER T BRIDGE: TRAPEZE TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: GROVER MINI CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA
CONSTRUCTION: I love the look, feel and tone and the satin Blackwood finish is earthy and natural with a dark, mysterious hint to it – perfect for Mr, Homme I’d imagine! The trapeze tailpiece adds some vintage feel to the guitar and the whole instrument feels great from a quality point of view – smooth edges, no marks, good intonation etc. OVERALL: Thanks to its feel and range of tones it would suit players of all standards and styles. This is not one of those signature guitars that only appeals to a tiny section of the population, the BB1200 JH really deserves some attention no matter what your musical bag consists of!
SPECS NECK: SET ROCK MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: BLACK WOOD TONE CAP/ BLACK WOOBACK BINDING IVORY PICKUPS: JHB (BRIDGE – COIL TAPPED) JHN (NECK–COIL TAPPED) BRIDGE: TRAPEZE TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: CHROME GROVER CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA
APRIL 2014 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / PG. 41