Maton 50th Anniversary MS500 Mastersound, gloss sunburst, made in Melbourne 2008. The Mastersound is a very cool shape, it was absolutely the guitar I wanted as a teenager. This version is blessed with a full 25.5" scale, a set neck and gorgeous double binding. The binding really makes the burst finish pop too, as if it needed any help in the first place. The tone has a distinctive Maton thing to it: warm and understated mids with a certain heft and and immediateness to the attack. The long scale does the MS500 a world of good in the definition and chime department; they just sound better than the more common 24.6" version. Maton aren't making any electrics these days, so any and all Mastersound models are creeping up steadily in price, but surely this being a very limited run model (and being gorgeous, frankly) makes it a very safe investment indeed.

Model: Maton MS500 Mastersound
Made: Melbourne Australia, 2008 (serial 0439)
Finish: gloss two tone sunburst
Body: Quandong
Neck: rock maple, rosewood fretboard, 12" radius, 25.5" scale
Weight: 3.550kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Maton MVSC single coil (neck), MVHB humbucker (bridge, splittable)
Case: Maton tweed case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has some dimples on the top edge, no major marks. Neck is pretty clean and smooth in the hands, no major marks. The back has a handful of minor scuffs around the back edge, nothing major. The sides have no major marks. The front is also pretty clean, just some normal play wear on the top horn and guard. Overall: excellent condition (9/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets look great, 9/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.