Maton EM225C Acoustic/Electric Sunburst 1996
Maton EM225C, sunburst finish, made in Melbourne Australia around 1996. This guitar has sang some songs and seen some stuff in it's time it would seem... cool. It arrived from a local customer in need of minor repairs and with the interior label missing, so we sent it to our local pro luthier Paul Mineur who flattened out the top, re-glued the bridge nice and firmly and did a setup, and it came up playing really nicely. The EM-225C must surely have been Maton's top seller for many years, and quite probably one of the best selling acoustics in the country for quite a while there, as they have a way of popping up all over this fine nation: every bar around the country stands a pretty good chance of hearing one of these offering it's summery, gentle song on any given Friday evening. The tone is recognisable and very usable: bright and clear with an understated, balanced bass and midrange, perfectly reliable and unassuming for accompanying vocals. The sunburst examples are outnumbered by natural satin models by at least ten to one, and with many hours of play on the clock, this one looks especially cool. I reckon this one is up for another few thousand songs if you are?
Model: Maton EM225C
Made: Melbourne Australia, 1996 approx
Serial: label missing
Finish: sunburst, satin nitro
Body: solid sitka spruce top, laminate Queensland maple back and sides, dreadnought shape
Neck: Queensland maple, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale, 12" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 2.150kg
Mods: bridge re-glued, top re-flattened with clamps and time
Pickup: Maton AP4 piezo + preamp system
Accessories: vintage hard case, reasonable quality, poor condition
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and dimples on the end and edges, some hanger burn around the nut, filled holes from previous tuners on the back and a dent near the logo and some some scuffs on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands plenty of rub wear, dimples and scuffs on the back and a bald patch on the heel from rubbing on a strap. The back has a bald patch on the top shoulder, a scratch on the bottom shoulder and in the elbow area and widespread scuffs and rub wear around the whole body. The sides have dimples and scuffs around the whole body and some dents near the jack, as well as some minor peeling of the clear coat on the binding the whole way around too. The front has a bald patch in the elbow area and between the sound hole and bridge, dents around the bottom corner and widespread rub wear and scuffs around the whole body and play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (6.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only