Maton Factory: Custom Shop

We were very fortunate in being able to spend a few minutes in the Custom Shop. Andy Allen is a master craftsman and a luthier genius.

All timbers selected for Custom Shop guitars are handpicked from Maton’s vast stocks. This ensures that only top quality materials find their way into a Custom Shop guitar. The timber’s visual appeal and tonal quality also form an important part of the selection process.

According to the blurb, all the chosen components are then individually ‘voiced’ to ensure they can produce maximum acoustic performance. This is done by ‘tap testing’ and flexing each piece to determine maximum strength and minimum weight, the recipe for a great tone. It is a process that requires deep experience and construction knowledge and can only be done by an extremely skilled craftsman.

As head of Maton’s Custom Shop, Andy has the ability to build a guitar that will produce the sound that the customer has ordered and wants to hear. The construction of a Custom Shop guitar is performed by a single, skilled luthier and this ensures every detail mirrors precisely the customer’s requirements.

It also ensures the look as well as the sound matches the buyer’s dream. Each operation is done by hand, the way Maton guitars have been built since 1946, with no deadline. The process will take however long is required to meet the customer’s expectations - although they 'guarantee' a 12 week delivery. The instruments from this shop are priced between $5,000 and $10,000 - or even more if you are seeking perfection like Tommy Emanuel.

When we were in the Custom Shop I counted 76 guitars on back order - no wonder Andy looked a little preoccupied.