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Very, very cool!! I would love to see some videos on Youtube, so we can all hear how it sounds. Congratulations, Ian!! If you ever want to sell it, let me know. 🙂

I have to say that seeing this is a bit of freakout. It was only about two hours ago I had my Flamingo body out of it case for another round of “what am I going to do with you?”

The body is stripped, I think only one of the pickups was working (fixable of course), bits of the tremolo are missing and the tuner holes need to be re-plugged. This afternoon I was thinking … two P90s and a wraparound bridge – kind of a cross between a Flamingo and LP special possibly in TV white or yellow with a tortoiseshell scratchplate, or a white scratchplate and an old Epiphone Coronet/Wilshire/Crestwood style Silver Fox finish could look good …either way I think something must happen this time.

I was just about to google for a Maton style toggle switch when I noticed this Flamingo on my Mac’s Top sites page ….it’s a sign. Though it is probably telling my to turn it into a Junior and avoid the switch altogether.

Ian, that is super cool – cutting the sharkbite into it is inspired and it really does transform it! This could be an idea I’ll “borrow” if I can win over the purist half of me that is nagging to just restore it back to original. It’s been a long running battle.

Just as an aside, I’d always imagined that this was short scale instrument, because the body is so small and light and …it just feels tiny! I measured it up this afternoon and it is pure Fender 25.5 inch scale (and 9.5 inch radius fingerboard) – certainly not what I thought, though that probably helps with the twang!

As a guitar in itself, it looks pretty cool, but I don’t like the sharkbite….now it can never be put back to original, which lets face it, is the only real ‘good place’ for a vintage guitar to go.

These are knocking on for fifty now! They should be preserved!

True, the Flamingo does look a bit of a strange bird when sitting in the guitar stand … but strap it on and it suddenly looks WAAAY cool. Yes, even cooler than the sharkbite Fyrebird!!! It’s just a pity that it doesn’t play as well as other Matons (big chunky neck) 🙁

Ditto on Sharkbite…it looks cool, but it would be much better to just make a new guitar, rather than permanently wreck an old one.

Also don’t see the mileage in making it a bit like an LP JR…I mean, if I want to play a Maton, I want a Maton…not a frickin’ Les Paul.

Need to stop perpetuating the idea that only Gibson and Fender make ‘proper’ guitars

Dario- don’t do it! If you want a LP/Flamingo combo, sell the flamingo and get someone to make you a custom job!

Much respect to Scott and Adrian for their support of vintage Matons.
Rest assured that this was a much modified instrument when I got it.(only the strap buttons were original and they are still on it).
Over the last 10years I have rescued and sympathetically restored a number of vintage 60’s Maton solid bodies back to original. The idea here was to make something a little more robust that didn’t get completely stuffed from playing regularly – and I only wanted to play a vintage Maton.
Walt if you ever want to off load that Wedgtail you know where to find us all.

To be fair- apart from my reservations re: the modification, it does look truly awesome.

Maton should up their reissue game…I actually would buy one of these

Hi Ian, Of course I understand the opinions from the other fans not to change a vintage Maton. Basically I would try to restore any Maton in the original condition. In a way it is a pity that the change is irreversible, esp. if there are only a few left on this planet. But Maton also did some variations and experiments on their own models. For example: the Wedgtail had at least two totally different headstocks. If that Flamingo was already modified so much, I can (partially) understand the idea to make a creative change. I like the new design anyway, although partially I also feel pity. I hope it turned into a nice playing & good sounding guitar.
Ian and others, I am sorry, but give up your dreams about my Wedgtail. 🙂 Although I will not likely use it live (for playing in my bands I prefer the Maton JB6), I will probably never sell my Wedgtail. I know how rare and special it is and I do love the unique shape.
Personally I would advise Maton to rerelease the fantastic JB6, esp. now that they did that with the JB4.
And I hope to find a 6 string Fyrbyrd and a Flamingo one day (for a reasonable price).

I did say I’ve had reservations about doing anything to this for years – looks like I’m back to leaving it alone. I’m in the early days of learning to build my own electric guitars so it probably does make more sense to just restore this one and custom make something with the features I like and want – fair point Adrian. Might have to move over to Bigsby rather than the original vibrato though …

If you really want to see a mint Flamingo I hope you caught the one Grouse guitars has one currently for sale – you won’t find a cleaner one (unless Ken owns it?)
Prices are climbing up but so they should – what would they be worth if they were 60’s Gibsons or Fenders???

I have owned several Famingos over the years and interestingly all in the the two colour schemes shown in this thread. As a guitar they were pretty bad to play (IMO). The bodies were Sassafras and very light which made a good thin tone for surf music but even when in tune they sounded off like they were out. I personally like what has been done to this guitar.given that it was incomplete and finding the parts to restore would be difficut to say the least I believe you sir have side stepped the issue of defacing an old collectable. well done.

Anyone seriously wanting a wedgtail and would be happy with a clone please let me know. Currently picking out materials for a few copies of mine to be built. Originally they were Honduras Mahogony (not actually a mahogony) but this timber is now level 2 on the CITES register and as such cannot be brought into Australia. Queensland maple is very close in both tone and look if you pick your grain and I am off to look at some fine pieces that a luthier has. Pickups may be the only thing that looks a little different in shape.

Defacing (bit harsh) but again I understand the sentiment
I did appreciate the” you sir” – very mighty boosh

Hi Tex, what a pity to hear that the Flamingo was bad to play. In that case I am less interested to fin done, although it would of course be nice for my Maton collection. Interesting that you are going to clone the Wedgtail. I must say that the shape is very nice.

Soundwise I love the JB6 more, which is also made of sassafras wood.I have read somewhere that Carlos Santana also had a JB6, but I never had that confirmed. Does anyone here know more about this?

Walt. Flamingos play fine -it’s just the original tremolo and bridges were junk (very attractive junk). Any bigsby style tremolo without a string tension bar is super touchy to keep in tune + original tuners were less than advanced also.

Walt,
my Flamingos were adequate but I have better guitars. I ended up with tuners that cost more than the guitar at the time in an effort to get them to stay in tune,I found the trem had a problem returning to its tuned position without help. I still love them but maton made better guitars and they were an entry model. I am sure Ian has made his play much better.

Maton Flamingo 25 Pound in 1964 when I was earning 6 pound a week as an apprentice. Paid it off on the never never with my Goldentone 40 watt combo. Pink Flamingo, creme Goldie with the black and Gold swirl. Man I was HOT!!!!!!!!

PS,
There was another shape for Flamingos that had a lower horn, these are quite rare but don’t look half as sexy. There is one on this site,…more than the mastersound part 2.

Remember guy’s this was 1964.. and a Flamingo was half the price of a Fyrbyrd which was 112 pound. Strats were around 175 pound along with Burns Split Sounds.
It was twice as good as the early Japanese offerings of the time.

Maton ibis up on ebay – start price of $4000 and already has a bid!!

Maton Ibis is mine :)… Did a deal with the seller before he put it up on the bay… Ended up driving to his place to pick it up… Was a long road trip but well worth it… It is off at my techs place getting a clean up as we speak… When done will let you guys know 🙂

Greg

Well Done Greg!
It’s quite a prize!!! Looks like it’s in top shape. They are REALLY hard to find – There are enough switches and dials to keep you busy for a while.These are great things to play – try not to take your eye out on the wild top horn shape.

The C L E A N E S T! maton Goldline (red on White) with flamingo style headstock on American ebay. Going for $3500 USD. Watch it go!!!!

Hi
I have the auspicious duty of restoring the electronics on a Maton Flamingo Fyrbyrd Twin Pickups. Do you know any one who might have the schematics of the pickups and pots? The original pots are very corroded and might not be usable, but the school teachers who has bought this wants to restore it to its original condition.
Cheers
Wombat