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| Here we have a Maton Premier Electric 545 (PE545) archtop guitar which pre-dated the rather individual-looking (ugly?) DC545 thinline. The single-cutaway PE545 was made between 1962 and 1964, while the dual cutaway DC545 ran from 1964 to 1967. Serial numbers of the first series ranged from 1587 to 1778 - this one is 1744, making it likely to be a 1963 manufacture. There were only 145 of this model ever produced. The pick guard is missing from this guitar, but I really like the look of these single-cut bodies without a guard, so I have not bothered to have a replacement made. The originals were a rather weird bat-wing type shape. Neck set is perfect, so the elevation of the strings from the arched laminated Maple top (approx 20mm) means your plectrum will never get anywhere near the guitar's top in any case. The single-cut Premiers are just a nice size, with 42cm (16.5 inch) wide body and 6.5cm (2.6 inch) deep sides. Big enough to be cool, but not uncomfortable. Pickups are nice powerful original humbuckers with adjustable polepieces. I like the control layout on these too, with the 'lever' type pickup selector switch (3 position) on the upper bout and single volume and tone controls on the lower bout. The neck is typical Maton - dead straight, slick and fast. Scale length is 24 3/4". These came originally with a fibre (cardboard) hard shell case, and this one must have long ago met the big paper recycling plant in the sky. So, no case. I'd be reluctant to post this one. Any prospective buyer can organise something at their own expense, or take a drive to central Victoria to pick it up in person!. $ not recently valued for the present market but feel free to make a serious offer.
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