Guitars by Australian manufacturer Maton used by John Butler, Tommy Emmanuel, Phil Manning, Grinspoon’s Pat Davern and the Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie are now on display at the Australian Music Vault in Melbourne.
“The Australian Music Vault is thrilled to share the Maton story as part of our ongoing commitment to celebrating and exploring the many different aspects of the music industry,” said Australian Music Vault curator Carolyn Laffan. “Once you start looking for them Maton guitars seem to be everywhere, on stages across the country and overseas. This display gives our visitors the chance to get up close and personal with these beautifully hand-crafted instruments and the artists and makers who revere them,”
Bill and Reg May founded Maton in Melbourne in 1946. The name comes from their name May and the word Tone.
“Bill May is quoted as saying “I feel it is the right way of life for a man to come and work and to give his ability to a job which means something to him and something to the end user,” explains Maton’s Mark Mansour about founder Bill May’s philosophy on work.
Maton guitars were used by Col Joye & The Joys Boys in the 1960s. Harry Vanda used a Maton in The Easybeats in the 60s. Mike Mills used a Maton MGB4 on the R.E.M. song ‘Fretless’. Josh Homme uses a Maton MS520 on Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘No One Knows’. Elvis Presley is playing a Maton in his 1957 film ‘Jailhouse Rock’.
The Australian Music Vault is a free exhibition at Arts Centre Melbourne.
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