Maton Big Ben Bass… OMG. Another one!

bigben_header

Another Big Ben bass has surfaced! This time from Perth.

A week or so ago, I received an awesome email from Filip in Perth…

A mate of mine showed me your site for the first time the other day and I was really impressed with your taste in guitars! (Thanks Filip!)

What really caught my eye was the Maton ad with the picture of the Big Ben Bass, I have been looking for info on my Maton bass for ages but I haven’t been able to find any info or pictures that prove that Maton actually made it.

Last year I went to a workmates house because he was giving me one of his old suits and I found it in his garage in bits. All of parts were missing so he just gave it to me with the suit. I didn’t know what it was suppose to look like so I made the pick guard up and fitted some TV Jones Thundertron pickups. The bass sounds mint and as it turns out the pick guard shape is pretty close to the original one.”

The photo’s Filip sent blew me away. He’s done a fantastic job bringing this beautiful Australian classic back from the dead.

body

The TV Jones pickups were a GREAT choice, and I bet sound a lot more hi-fi than the Maton originals.

headstock

The cracking paint on the headtock looks great as well. I’m glad Filip left the finish how it was and didn’t try to restore it. The Fender machineheads also work with that great Maton shape, and remind me of my Tym TByrd bass…

fretboard

The fretboard inlay design is also very cool and elegant.

back

The back of the bass shows how original this shape really is… Bill May was truly ahead of his time. Remember, this is the early 60’s in Australia… not late sixties Japan. (ie. Teisco)

There’s not much I can say about this bass… I’m really speechless. It’s one of the coolest looking guitar shapes (apart from the Maton Fyrbyrd & Wedgtail) made in Australia. Hopefully more will find their way out from decades of  hiding underneath beds and cupboards and they’ll be appreciated as a true Australian classic.

Filip has really done a great job with this bass, and I hope he gets many years enjoyment from playing it. Hopefully I’ll find a Big Ben for myself one day. *fingers crossed* Anyone have one laying around in their garage they want to give me?

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