A really cool guitar from one the lesser-known golden era guitar manufacturers, Maton of Australia.
If you’ve ever held a vintage Maton then you’ll know that their guitars go toe-to-toe with their American counterparts. Already well-established guitar manufacturers by the 60s, Maton had access to some rather fine timbers and excellent designs to match.
This is a fine vintage 12 string, built in the same vain as a contemporary Guild or Gibson model.
This model dates from 1965 - I found an identical ‘65 with a serial only 7 numbers away from this one!
The FG-150 features a jumbo body, Australian wood construction and a beautifully aged natural nitro finish.
I’m offering up this vintage classic at an attractive price owing to it being in the ‘players’ condition. It has a historic repair to the headstock ‘wings’ (though, not a neck break). Whoever repaired it used gold metal strips
as reinforcement to either side of the headstock and while being a somewhat crude job, matches the hardware on the guitar.
The guitar has an action of 4mm(ish) at the 12th fret, broadly acceptable for a vintage 12 string. It plays fine enough, the neck is straight enough (as one could hope for on a model like this) and the truss rod works, surprisingly. It would however benefit from a little work including a general fret level / dress, as some frets are causing acute buzz on certain notes. I don’t have time for the project, so I’m selling it as playable - but needing work.
Specs:
Country of origin: Australia
Date of manufacture: 1965
Natural finish
12 string configuration
Jumbo body
Solid Australian woods
Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
Condition:
As above, this is very much a player’s guitar owing to a previous repair to the headstock wings. Plays fine enough as is, but would benefit from fretboard and new plastics as they’re fairly worn. Pickguard lifting slightly around certain edges. Tuners working, but some shafts have bends to them.
Modifications/repairs:
Previous headstock repair. 1 non original strap pin, the odd screw has been replaced.
A golden era classic priced affordable for players.