NGD: first acoustic

samzadgan

I went searching for acoustics recently, and tried out a bunch of cheap/good-value-for-money type guitars like Yamaha's, Blue Note and Eastman. Even tried a Taylor all mahogany one, which was amazing but waaaaayyy out of my price range.

After trying a lot, I turned my attention back to some Aussie builders, like Cole Clark and Maton. Well, Clark's were too expensive, and as were Maton or so I thought. Today I went into a shop (not my regular one) and talked to the acoustic specialists, and for my budget he said the best guitar in the shop was the Maton S60 (solid body), plus there was a special promotion and they were $200 cheaper. I tried it, and i was floored...it had the mat finish I like and the sound was snappy, full and had so much resonance...much like the Taylor, but it felt nicer in my hand, i think i prefer the neck profile to the Taylors.

Anyway, i left the shop thoroughly impressed, and called my regular guitar shop to see if they had these in stop and also if they had the same price...not only did they have it, but for same price...and they had a different finish for a little bit more.

By the time I got there, the guy had set up both guitars with thicker strings (13's) and tuned them both to B standard, as he knows thats how i set up my electrics! Needless to say, I played both guitars for about an hour and walked out of the shop with this beauty!

thermionic

That's a nice-looking guitar. A different look to say, a Martin or a Gibson, but not so "fashionable" that it will look horribly dated in ten years' time. If I saw one in a shop I'd want to play it.

Sassafras

Very nice and a bit different to most modern acoustics.

I'm a bit of a sucker for a sunburst finish.

Deadman

I was about to post a thread asking about this very guitar. Maton S60 is on my shortlist! So I take it you're impressed?

samzadgan

@deadman A couple of weeks on, and im still impressed! It just sounds so alive and the neck feels great. I have absolutely no complaints.

Deadman

I'm just impressed with the spec. All solid wood and nitro for a start. Did yours come with a case?

samzadgan

Yeah came with case...and great sturdy one at that.

Deadman

Thanks, I thought it would. Not all the sites list it as spec. Still trying to decide whether I want another dread or something smaller this time. You know what it's like..

Teyeplayer

Great guitars. Picked myself up a natural finish S60 last Christmas after spending too much time in a guitar shop with a buddy when we were supposed to be buying our wives Christmas presents.

I own a variety of acoustics ranging in value and use a Martin 000-15 as my main stage guitar; I wanted the dreadnought corner covered. Played a range of £1000-2000 guitars, picked up the £500 Maton for a mickey take and then couldn't put it back down. Yes it didn't compare to some top end acoustics, but there were plenty of 'high profile' brands that when played were just average in comparison. Really great guitars for the money and at this cost you don't worry about chucking it in the back of the van when out on the road!

ICBM

I've been very impressed with every Maton I've ever played. They don't always use the accepted 'right' woods, they're usually not fancy or even particularly pretty, and occasionally the finishing is a bit 'functional'... but every one has played well and sounded great.

I hope that doesn't sound like a back-handed compliment, it's not meant to be - just a guitar company that believes in making the right bits right and not worrying too much about the ones you don't need to, I think.

daveww

Looks lovely.  From what you've said I'll have to seek one out and give one a try. 

Teyeplayer

ICBM said:

I've been very impressed with every Maton I've ever played. They don't always use the accepted 'right' woods, they're usually not fancy or even particularly pretty, and occasionally the finishing is a bit 'functional'... but every one has played well and sounded great.

I hope that doesn't sound like a back-handed compliment, it's not meant to be - just a guitar company that believes in making the right bits right and not worrying too much about the ones you don't need to, I think.

Spot on @ICBM, not that a guitar can't be both beautiful and functional of course. Don't we so often as players revert to being that child staring through the window of a guitar shop thinking 'I want the red one' rather than remembering these are just tools of our trade and the dusty one in the corner might not be as pretty, but might be the best tool for the job?

I too think it's great that they use unconventional woods, more companies could do with going the same way in these days of diminishing resources. 

usedtobe

Looks good to me!

samzadgan

Talk about necro bump...

good news is, I was playing this guitar the other day...i actually play it a lot and its been great to take on road trips too.

It's still got the same strings, and still sounds great.

At some point though I will take it back and put a set of 14's on it so i get a little more string tension for B tuning.