Maton Guitars Pre-Owned Custom Shop WA May - 17271

Maton Guitars Pre-Owned Custom Shop WA May - 17271

The Maton Custom Shop was launched in 2003 as a dedication to Bill May. At that time, journeyman builder Andy Allen was tasked with operating the Custom Shop, producing the first model, the W.A. May 808.

This gently used model was built in 2021 and shows very little wear:

• Clean finish with no pick marks, with a small (.5mm) finish chip on the lower binding and two very minute impressions in the Spruce top.
• Virtually no fret wear.
• Fresh Elixir phosphor bronze strings, and setup for fingerstyle (5/64ths & 2/32", bass to treble at the 12th fret).
• Original Hiscox flight case, Maton truss rod tool, and feedback eliminator.
• Includes optional factory issued pick guards (one tortoise, one black).

You don’t have to look very far to see many of the ideas and concepts that were close to the heart of Maton’s founder in this beautiful Custom Shop model, originally the first model added to the Custom Shop catalog.
 
The 000 or “Traditional” shape that this incarnation takes on is arguably it’s most classical and stylistic form to date. I just love this body style and everything it offers the player tonally and as a reliable, versatile and comfortable instrument.  

Bill's signature 3 layered Deco style headstock sits atop this model proudly as it did on Bill's very first Maton guitar (still in the Maton Museum 70 years on). The W A May Features a Solid Spruce Top with highly figured Fiddleback Blackwood back and sides. A stunning and so often favored combination of timber that is truly symbolic of Maton’s Australian heritage.

Wood body bindings species also native to Australia are made from Satin Box. This unique tree grows under the canopy of Victorian Blackwood. When the Blackwood tree has grown to maturity and is harvested, the Satin Box tree comes into its own.
 
The body depth on the WA May is the same as that of the 808 models, measuring 4-7/8" deep at the end block. It is deeper than standard 000’s and as such creates a deeper voice with plenty of bottom end and all sonic ranges are on show.

Specifications: