Yes at last Maton hits the list

I just want Tommy's muscle memory

About 20 years ago I was in a shopping precinct where Tommy was signing memorabilia but I had nothing for him to sign so I just went up to him and shook his hand and said "I love your picking Tommy." He thanked me and that was it. But by the time I got home in a short 10 minutes all the licks and notes he had transferred to my hand had faded into nothing, I was no better a guitarist than I was before..S

No wonder I've never been able to find one.  Bit of a drive from the GTA in Ontario for me.  Would cost me almost as much as a guitar in gas just to get there and back.  ( Gasoline that is, ...not GAS. )

I was watching a You Tube video the other night filmed at the CMHF in Nashville and it was hosted by a guy named John. It was a Tribute to Chet Atkins (yes I am standing to attention when I mention his name)and there were several guest pickers on there. I noticed 3 Maton guitars there on stage. One was played by a young lady who was part of a Duo and another was played by a young Australian lad who apparently won The X Factor. Cant remember who played the 3rd one. But at least Matons are getting around in the world. A friend of mine in the UK has bought one after seeing me with mine in a photo. So perhaps Matons will take over the world.. S

The only time I've ever seen and heard a Maton in the flesh was at a concert Tommy Emmanuel played here. If they came with a guarantee I would sound like him, though, I'd buy one immediately.  

I just looked at Maton's website - now I want to try two Aussie guitars, Maton and Cole Clark. Don't know how I'll ever get the chance.......

Justin Sandercoe (justinguitar.com) is a Londoner originally from Tasmania and plays a Maton.  He was asked somewhere what his top choice guitar recommendations would be.  He said, "Maton. If you can't afford a Maton, then a Cole Clark; if you can't afford a Cole Clark buy a lower-end Taylor." (I paraphrased).

He seems to have a South Pacific slant, I'd say.  I've never played a Maton but I do very much like my recently-acquired new-to-me Cole Clark Angel2. I get a thrill every time I pick it up.

I first picked up a Cole Clark (not the one I bought) only after playing an entire wall of Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, Takamines and Epiphones -- none of which spoke to me.  The Cole Clark spoke loudly, and thus ignited the quest to find one within reasonable reach (the one I played in the store was $2550... nah). I found my gently-used one on Reverb for $1450... still a stretch but one I could swallow and reasonably rationalize on the home front ("It's one of a kind, hon...). 

Colin Hay (Men at Work) plays a Maton in this video: