NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

atmo · Post by **atmo** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:21 am

Picked up this today. Maton have pretty much stopped production of electrics so I figured I'd grab one while I still could.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:58 am

That's lovely - well done.

atmo wrote:Maton have pretty much stopped production of electrics so I figured I'd grab one while I still could.

Did not know this - do tell?

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:13 am

Have never heard of Maton

but that looks ace.

What does the big "selector" knob do?

atmo · Post by **atmo** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:37 am

benecol wrote:Did not know this - do tell?

I'm unsure of the exact reason, but apparently they were having trouble meeting demand for acoustics, so they may have moved the builders to acoustic production.

On their website the only info is:

PLEASE NOTE: The Josh Homme signature model (BB1200JH) is the only Maton electric guitar currently available. Stay tuned for exciting developments across the range of Maton electrics.

BearBoy wrote:What does the big "selector" knob do?

That's the pickup selector. Just a rotary switch rather than a toggle.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:59 am

atmo wrote:That's the pickup selector. Just a rotary switch rather than a toggle.

Ah, okay. Was intrigued by the position labelling: "cool", "hi-fi" etc.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:23 am

atmo wrote:I'm unsure of the exact reason, but apparently they were having trouble meeting demand for acoustics, so they may have moved the builders to acoustic production.

*shakes fist at boring, boring acoustic guitars*

Post by **Doog** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:07 am

BearBoy wrote:
atmo wrote:That's the pickup selector. Just a rotary switch rather than a toggle.
Ah, okay. Was intrigued by the position labelling: "cool", "hi-fi" etc.

From the DOD school of 'labelling things with bullshit'

The guitar looks ace, Atmo! Never quite gelled with the bodyshape and pickguard, but that all-black defo works the most for me so far.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:19 pm

Nice first heard of Maton through Mick Harvey (the Bad seeds) then Homme got one for the no one knows video... like the black guard on yours rather than the white one on Homme's

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:39 pm

No idea why they don't have a bigger foothold in the states.

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:17 pm

jcyphe wrote:No idea why they don't have a bigger foothold in the states.

The early Matons were an Australian brand, not really for export. There are a lot of local brands like that in different countries, for example U.K. brands like Grimshaw or Shergold.

The new ones are kind of a nostalgia thing like the newer Hagstroms.

Here's a bunch of old ones;
Web Page Name

Web Page Name 2

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:42 pm

I know the history they're known for making quality electrics and acoustics, I'm talking current production, but they don't really seem to have a large presence in the United States.

I wouldn't compare the new ones to Hagstroms. From what I understand the Maton guitars are still made in Australia with mostly woods sourced from that area and other countries in that area.

Atmo is your electric made in Australia or somewhere else?

atmo · Post by **atmo** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 1:44 am

These are made in Australia, I don't think Maton have done any offshore production.

Their acoustics are really popular over here. At any size gig, if you see someone with an acoustic there's a good chance it'll be a Maton.

luciguci · Post by **luciguci** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:27 am

BearBoy wrote:
atmo wrote:That's the pickup selector. Just a rotary switch rather than a toggle.
Ah, okay. Was intrigued by the position labelling: "cool", "hi-fi" etc.

Alright but what does that little slider switch do tho

Post by **Doog** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:11 am

10 seconds of Gooling:

Controls: Vol 1. (Bridge), Vol 2. (Neck), Tone 1. (Master), Coil Tap Switch

And I bet it's actually a coilsplit, and guitar companies don't even understand their own fucking terminology.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:07 am

Doog wrote:10 seconds of Gooling

Post by **Doog** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 11:18 am

Lousy tinyass keyboard making me look like an IDIOT

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 1:59 pm

Proper solid guitars, glad to hear you snatched up a keeper.

I admittedly first learned about Maton Guitars a decade or so ago indirectly while teaching kindergarten. These cheery fellows were somehow involved...

dylanafghjkl · Post by **dylanafghjkl** » Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:01 am

did work experience at maton a few months back and they've actually stopped production of all electrics which sucks because their 60s stuff was super post-modern and cool.. tho they haven't made these since the 60s soooooooo

Doog wrote:And I bet it's actually a coilsplit, and guitar companies don't even understand their own fucking terminology.

i believe it's both actually! i think when it's in humbucker mode it's tapped at one point and when it's split it's tapped somewhere else so you don't get any volume drop

NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

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Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic