MATON CUSTOM SHOP No.48 B I L L Y T H O R P E T R I B U T E M O D E L

A true reflection of the quality and craftsmanship that the Maton Custom Shop has to offer. The Number 48 has a striking appearance and is built to an 808 body shape to provide special presence and clarity. Flamed Queensland Maple back and sides are a distinct feature of this model complemented with a Sitka Spruce soundboard. A full bass response comes from careful tuning of the top and back plates.

Queensland Maple may be readily available but the flamed appearance of the timber used in the Number 48 is truly rare. This scarce timber was set aside by Maton’s Custom Shop luthier, Andy Allen in order to create this exceptional guitar.

The appearance is further enhanced by the mother of pearl Southern Cross inlay in the fingerboard and the pinstripe neck stringer. Its unique timber blend combined with the passion of its maker, leads to a guitar of exceptional tonal quality and unusual good looks.

B I L L Y T H O R P E T R I B U T E M O D E L – M O S T P E O P L E I K N O W . . .

As most Australian’s remember him, William Richard “Billy” Thorpe, was a renowned English-born Australian pop / rock singer-songwriter and musician. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had a multitude of Hits at the Top of the Charts in the 1960s with songs such “Poison Ivy”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Sick and Tired” and “Mashed Potato”. Billy Thorpe’s career continued into the 1970s where he reinvented himself as the consumate Hard Rocker featuring in numerous concerts at Sunbury Pop Festivals and the Myer Music Bowl. The Aztecs were one of the major driving forces of the pub rock scene and were one of the loudest groups in Australia. Billy is remembered for his timeless classic, “Most People I Know, Think That I’m Crazy”.

According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, “Thorpie evolved from child star, beat pop sensation and cuddly pop crooner to finally emerge as the country’s wildest and heaviest blues rocker …Thorpie was the unassailable monarch of Australian rock music”.

Thorpe was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1991.
He died well before his time in February 2007 and was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter and producer.

Maton’s Custom Shop Luthier, Andy Allen was a long time friend of Billy Thorpe. While this guitar was being hand made by Andy in the Maton Custom Shop in Melbourne, he received the news about his friend’s untimely passing. As a tribute to his friend and fellow musician, Andy wrote a dedication on the inner side of the solid Sitka spruce top that would eventually become the soundboard for this remarkable guitar.

Maton Custom Shop No.48 Specifications:

Soundboard: AAA Select Grade Solid Sitka Spruce
Rosette: Indian Rosewood and Redgum
Inner Binding: Triple Black Pinstripe
Outer Binding: Indian Rosewood
Back: Solid Flamed Queensland Maple
Sides: Solid Flamed Queensland Maple
Neck: Queensland Maple with Indian Rosewood Pinstripe
Headstock: Indian Rosewood Veneer
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Inlays: Southern Cross
Bridge: Mulga
Finish: Gloss
Pickup: AP5
Machine Heads: Gold Grovers Rotomatic with Ebony buttons