Maton Factory: Set-Up and Electronics

Now we're getting to the business end of guitar making - the final set-up and installation of any electronic components.

This isn't a simple matter of putting on some strings and tuning the guitar - it involves installing the nut and the bridge, getting the 'action' (height of the strings above the fretboard) correct, installing the tuners and then the strings - and then doing it again if things don't work out quite right.

Of course every guitarist knows best and likes their instrument set-up the way they want it. Maton selects a mid-position to keep as many punters as possible happy enough until they can get their own set-up done by their favourite luthier.

Maton takes very seriously reproducing the sound of a fine acoustic guitar through various forms of amplification. After much research and development the Maton pickup system was developed in the mid '90s.

A further innovation occurred when in conjunction with Tommy Emmanuel, the APMic system was developed. This system utilises both the piezo based system and a microphone which is located within the guitar body to deliver the natural acoustic sounds within the guitar body. The APMic is found in Maton’s high end models and custom orders.

Maton manufactures its own pick-ups as it is considered essential to have control over the sound of both the acoustic instrument and its internal amplification system.

Once they are set-up the guitars are sent back down to the waiting room for at least four days so things can settle down. They are then brought back to the Set-up Shop for final tweaking before being cleared for sale and ultimate enjoyment by someone.