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NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:21 am
by atmo
Picked up this today. Maton have pretty much stopped production of electrics so I figured I'd grab one while I still could.

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Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:58 am
by benecol
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?

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:13 am
by BearBoy
Have never heard of Maton :oops: but that looks ace.

What does the big "selector" knob do?

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:37 am
by atmo
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.

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:59 am
by BearBoy
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.

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:23 am
by benecol
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*

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:07 am
by Doog
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'

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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.

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:19 pm
by dezb1
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

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:39 pm
by jcyphe
No idea why they don't have a bigger foothold in the states.

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:17 pm
by Fakir Mustache
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

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:42 pm
by jcyphe
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?

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 1:44 am
by atmo
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.

Re: NGD: Maton MS503 Classic

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:27 am
by luciguci
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

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:11 am
by Doog
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.

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:07 am
by benecol
Doog wrote:10 seconds of Gooling
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Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 11:18 am
by Doog
Lousy tinyass keyboard making me look like an IDIOT

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 1:59 pm
by ultratwin
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...

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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:01 am
by dylanafghjkl
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

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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