Nine famous Maton players and their guitars

For nearly 80 years, Maton has been the cornerstone of the Australian guitar industry. Maton has been producing instruments of the highest quality since day one and has received international recognition for its masterful craftsmanship.

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With an emphasis on home-grown materials and an uncompromising commitment to the best possible sound quality, it’s no wonder that Maton guitars have ended up in the hands of some of the biggest stars in music, so let’s take a look at some of the most impressive names that put their seal of approval on our beloved home-grown instruments.

George Harrison: MS500 Master Sound

In the summer of 1963, George Harrison’s Gretsch Country Gentleman was taken to Barratt’s Music Store in Manchester for repairs. Neil Aspinall, the Beatles’ road manager at the time, received a Maton MS500 Mastersound in return, which George could use as a backup.

George took a liking to the MS500 and used it for several months, even playing it at the Beatles’ last concert at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. George’s MS500 had a natural finish, a Bigsby vibrato arm and two humbucking pickups and was a good alternative to his Gretsch even after he got it back. A glowing recommendation from one of the best to ever do it.

Josh Homme: BB1200 JH

Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme has always prided himself on using obscure gear, preferring to create as unique a sound as possible rather than imitating the established guitar gods of the past. When Homme first came across Maton guitars in the 2000s, it was a match made in heaven.

Homme used a Maton Mastersound in the 2005 video for his band’s mega-hit “No One Knows,” and it wasn’t long before he had his very own signature model, the BB1200 JH. Homme’s beautiful signature instrument features a semi-hollow Victorian Blackwood body, coil-tappable high-output pickups, a stunning trapeze tailpiece, and offers a rich timbre and powerful sustain.

Jesse Hughes: MS T-Byrd Baritone

Jesse Hughes first encountered Homme Maton guitars shortly after forming her band Eagles of Death Metal. Hughes has played Matons almost exclusively since then, praised their sound highly and owned both MS500 and BB1200.

Hughes’ most unique instrument, however, is his custom-made T-Byrd Baritone, a guitar he had made for the tour to recreate some baritone parts he played on the band’s latest record.

“Zipper Down.” This custom T-Byrd features vintage Kay-style pickups, a cool purple finish, and Hughes’ signature lightning bolt f-hole. This unique guitar with lots of character is all Jesse Hughes.

John Butler: CW80 12-string

As a proud brand ambassador for Maton, John Butler has used his trusty CW80 on nearly every tour and recording he has been a part of for the past twenty years. Tuned to his signature Open C tuning, Butler’s CW80 has been customized to actually be an eleven-string guitar, omitting the high G string, which Butler considers unnecessary.

Butler’s CW80 features an ornate scroll carving on the headstock, is made from Queensland maple and Sitka spruce and has two separate pickups: a magnetic sound from Seymour Duncan Hole pickup and a Maton AP-5 piezo under the bridge for split clean/dirty sounds.

Tommy Emmanuel: EBG808 TE

Tommy Emmanuel is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest guitarists. His virtuoso status is legendary and requires a truly world-class instrument to do it justice. As a proud representative of Australian music, Emmanuel entrusted this responsibility to Maton and the results were outstanding.

The EBG808 TE offers the massive sound and incredible performance you would expect from a guitar bearing Emmanuel’s name, and features a Mother of pearl block inlay on the 12th fret, engraved with “CGP” The acronym stands for “Certified Guitar Player”, a title that is awarded Tommy by Chet Atkins and held by only 3 other guitarists in the world – John Knowles, Jerry Reed and Steve Warriner.

Eric Johnson: CS Classics

Another undeniable master of the guitar, Eric Johnson is known as a gifted musician with an impeccable tone. With a Grammy Award and five nominations, a platinum album, top 10 hits like “Cliffs Of Dover,” critical acclaim, and the admiration of his peers behind him, Johnson is a force to be reckoned with.

Johnson is a long-time fan of Maton’s CS Classic and uses them regularly in his performances. Johnson said of Maton’s AP5 pickup system: “TThe AP5 Pro is my absolute favorite Amplifier system for acoustic guitar. It is very realistic and can be used on stage even at higher volumes.” Anyone who has ever heard Johnson play knows that his opinion cannot be dismissed.

Courtney Barnett: CB808

Known for her dry vocal style and witty lyrics, Courtney Barnett is one of the most popular Australian songwriters of the last decade. Barnett prefers to play without a pick, so she relies on guitars with a powerful sound to achieve the greatest projection.

Barnett was an avid Maton fan and had her own one-of-a-kind “CB” 808 built, and has been inseparable from that guitar ever since. Barnett’s 808 features a triple-A spruce top with Blackwood back and sides in Vintage Amber Satin, and custom binding and rosette.

Paul Kelly: WA May

Paul Kelly is Australia’s finest songwriter and deeply interwoven with our country’s musical identity, so it’s only natural that Kelly would favour a Maton guitar, which is deeply rooted in Australian history and carries the brand’s heritage.

The WA May is Maton’s tribute to the brand’s founder, Bill May. Featuring a traditional body shape with extended depth for a deeper sound and more bass, the WA May Bill’s signature three-ply deco-style headstock, just like the very first Maton guitar that he built. The WA May is a real connoisseur guitar and, like Kelly himself, is perfect embodies the full range of craftsmanship and talent that our country has to offer.

For local inquiries visit Maton and their dealer list.