|
|
|
|
|
| We've had a few vintage Maton Supremes through here, but this is the oldest one yet. It is serial number 656 and I have imported it from New Zealand - note the 'made in Australia' stamp on the back of the headstock in the 'more pictures' link below. The Supreme was made both as an acoustic (F240) and electric (EG240) archtop, which was made between 1953 and 1962 (serial numbers 304 to 1691). Serial number on this guitar indicates a likely 1955 build. This vintage electric archtop guitar has a Mahogany body, with a laminated Maple top which displays some nice flame through it. I have seen a few 'export' vintage Matons now, and am convinced they selected the fanciest examples for export, probably hoping to expand the export market where they were competing with the world's best. Neck is laminated Mahogany and Maple, and the fretboard is either Rosewood or an Australian equivalent. Neck angle is great, and action and playability superb. And it's a REAL archtop, with a full 17" wide body (depth is 3 1/2") and a 25 1/2 inch scale. Maton's marketing at the time said, "The slim, smooth neck and low frets make playing effortless and fast". This one's certainly effortless and fast! I love the pickups on these very early EG240s - a great single-coil bar-magnet pickup completely floating in the cavity, suspended from a bracket just as the original Charlie Christian pickups as first used on Gibson's ES-150 models in 1936. This pickup is normally hidden under the cool plastic cover, but I have photographed it with the cover removed in the 'more pictures' link below. The guitar is in good, totally original condition, with no cracks, and only some (quite numerous) scratches to the finish. The glue join in the neck laminations must have failed at some stage and been re-glued (not uncommon on vintage Matons), and the resultant line can be seen in the black headstock facing. The repair is stable - probably stronger than the original glue join! This can all be seen in the 'more pictures' link below. The guitar comes with a good aftermarket case.. I had been retaining the guitar for my own use, as it is one of the best-sounding electric archtops I have ever come across, whether plugged into a vintage valve amp or my AER AcoustiCube3 solid-state acoustic amp. I imported this guitar from New Zealand, and its sister guitar (a '56 - click here to view it) has sold. $ not recently valued for the present market but feel free to make a serious offer.
|
