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| The Maton FT6 Coolibah model was produced between 1952 and 1958, with serial numbers ranging from 211 to 660 - just 450 produced. This vintage Maton guitar bears the serial number 655 - just 5 from the end of production! I think I could safely date this, therefore, as a 1958 guitar. Maton described the guitar at the time as "The FT6, a concert size Model designed to suit both Hillbilly and Hawaiian style players. Sound construction and bracing principles enable this Guitar to stand rugged conditions and use." It is a dreadnaught style guitar, with a 16" wide body which is 3.5" deep. The body and neck appear to be Mahogany, while the top is Spruce. While the may originally have been for equally good for Hillbilly or Hawaiian players (!), I think it is more of a collectible than a player. It is strung with a set of Martin 80/20 Bronze strings of 12-54 gauge, and sounds nice and bright and clear, but action is on the high side, measuring 4mm at the 12th fret on both the bass and treble sides. While the bridge still has its full height and could be shaved and the saddle lowered to bring it down a couple of mm at the 12th fret, the only proper way to bring it back is to have the neck properly reset by a competent luthier (I always use and recommend Jim Cargill in Seaford, Melbourne for such work). The tuners have been replaced, and the guitar has its share of knocks and scrapes (see the detailed photographs in the 'more pictures' link below). The neck appears to have been reset once before, or the glue join between the neck and heel may have failed and been repaired at some stage, but it is firm and tunes up well - once again, I have photographed the neck join in detail. The guitar is in good, totally original condition, with no cracks, and only some (quite numerous) scratches to the finish. The guitar comes with its original case, the main structure of which is in surprisingly good condition, considering It has been protecting the guitar for more than 50 years! One of the hinges has come away from the case, requiring new screws or panel pins to be fitted, but the overall structure of the 'fibreboard' (cardboard) case is still surprisingly firm and robust. This is a very interesting vintage Maton, and would be a great (and very affordable!) addition to any vintage Maton collection. Sold
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