Maton’s original Mastersound, model MS500, was in production for only five years, from 1957 to 1962, with a total of just 278 completed instruments. Our fabulous Cherry model here was the thirteenth last built, in early April of 1962, and the third last in Cherry. Surviving Maton stock records show the guitar was shipped to the Australian branch of famous UK distributors, Rose, Morris & Co. (Rose Morris were responsible for the highly prized Australian made Goldentone amplifiers. The Australian division later became Rose Music)
George Harrison
While some famous name players use the modern incarnation of the MS500 – most notably Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age – the biggest name* associated with the original model is The Beatles’ George Harrison, who, in May 1963, was loaned a 1962 Mastersound while his Gretsch Country Gentleman was having some repair work done on the tuners. Over the years this Beatles connection has grown somewhat out of proportion, as George used the guitar for only a matter of weeks, through to early July, plus the Beatles last ever gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, on August 3.
$450,000
In 2002 that loaner Mastersound sold for £35,000. Several years later it was sold again – for US$450,000! Not shown in our Cavern image, (pic # 1), is that that Maton had the regular shaped headstock – not the Fyrbyrd version. As verified by Maton, the Fyrbyrd headstock was only used on either the last or last two production runs. 19 in the last batch, 6 in the previous, though records don’t show how many might have received the Fyrbyrd treatment. At the very most, that’s a potential 25 instruments out of the 278 total Mastersounds.
Bigsby
Adding to the rarity factor, only four of those last nineteen Mastersounds had Bigsbys installed. Rare, seven ways to Sunday!!
Free courier delivery
With a great neck profile, like that of a 1960 Les Paul, the guitar is in all original condition, (bar the changed D tuner, shown in pic # 6**), and complete with its original Stamford hard case, this represents a unique opportunity to secure yourself an absolutely awesome piece of Australian guitar history, that is only going to increase in value with the passage of time. Our FREE COURIER DELIVERY is included to any address in Australia. ($100 shipping to New Zealand, $175 to the US, Canada, UK and mainstream European countries)
*In 1960, his father’s MS500 was six year old Tommy Emmanuel’s very first electric guitar, picked up around the same time that he discovered Chet Atkins
**Original shaft and cover are in the case and could be restored
Weight: A hair under 7lb 13oz / 3.54kg
Just Guitars
