Maton Guitars featured in the Australian Music Vault – Celebrating an Australian manufacturing success story
Used by a who’s who of the world’s best-known musicians including Tommy Emmanuel, Jimmy Page, John Williamson, Elvis Presley, Vance Joy, Keith Urban, Keith Potger from The Seekers, Brian Ritchie from the Violent Femmes, Tash Sultana, Diesel, Michael Franti, John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater, George Harrison and more, a collection of Maton guitars have recently been installed in the Australian Music Vault, a free exhibition open daily at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Guitars featured within the display include guitars played by John Butler, Tommy Emmanuel, Phil Manning, Grinspoon’s Pat Davern and the Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie as well as images, historical documents and guitars telling the story of Maton Guitars. The exhibit also features filmed interviews with Tash Sultana, Gordi, Tommy Emmanuel and Maton’s chief luthier Andy Allen.
From a small backyard workshop started in 1946, Maton Guitars has grown into a truly great Australian success story and are firmly established now as Australia’s favourite and most successful guitar export. Even Elvis Presley can be seen playing a Maton in the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock. Currently Maton employs 70 people and remains 100 per cent family owned and operated.
They specialise in creating superbly crafted guitars from Australian timbers such as Blackwood, bunya, Queensland Maple, Queensland Walnut and now Satin Box. Founder Bill May pioneered the use of many Australian wood species in guitar construction and is regarded by many Australian luthiers as the founding father of their industry.
“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.
“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. 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,” said Australian Music Vault curator Carolyn Laffan.
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