I had been looking for a good one of these 31-fret wonders for many years, and finally found one back in mid 2008, only to see it sell (to the lucky Steve in WA) after I'd only played one gig with it. So this one is simply not for sale!

The vintage Maton El Toro which went to Steve dated from 1968, with serial number 010. Only 56 were ever made between 1968 and 1970, but the original 'Palings' dealership sticker has been placed right over the serial number at the top of the back of the headstock on this guitar! However, this one-previous-owner guitar came with its original case and hang tag/warranty card, which identifies it as serial number 048, with a 'check' date of 12th month '68, showing that most of the 56 El Toros must have been made (and presumably sold) in 1968. Maybe this was purchased just in time for Christmas!

Obviously the El Toro is very much modelled on the 'longhorn' model from Danelectro, but is very different in actual fact, with a solid body (Honduras Mahogany, with a Northern Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard) and powerful humbucker-style 'Ultrasound' pickups with individually adjustable polepieces.

Scale length is 705mm (27 3/4 inches!), and the 31 frets cover a full two-and-a-half octaves! With the long scale, it's possible to tune the guitar down a tone or two, and then play everything from seriously low twang to the highest 'tiptoe through the tulips' possible! This guitar is seriously good fun, and is certainly not a toy! The original El Toro Red finish looks cool, and is in good condition, with just some chipping (mainly to the edges) as you would expect.

This example has a factory-installed Bigsby-style tremolo, which makes this an even cooler twang machine than the one that got away!

It was a very expensive guitar when new, and aimed at the higher-end professional. In fact, there were two options available when ordering an El Toro. For an extra 10% you could have a left-handed one made, or -wait for it - you could have the guitar 'personally endorsed'! Check out the image from the Maton archives at the bottom of the 'more pictures' link below.

This vintage Maton is dead original, and even comes with its original plush-lined hard shell case - pictures in the 'more pictures' link below.

not for sale