thanks ravingchat. i've been looking for a place to get a hotcake pedal for some time.

Paul Crowther will actually sell you a Hotcake directly from New Zealand.

I have been in email contact with him, and he says it is OK to post his email address here, but not to post prices. So if you want a price, just email him.

Email
croth@clear.net.nz

cheers,
xc

There's been a lot of interest in Neil's "new" 12-string he's had in the recent shows, and the people who had their money on it being a Maton would be right!

I wrote to Neville Kitchen (Maton's CEO), whom I met a couple of years ago and he confirmed.

It's a Fyrbyrd FB 1220 from 1965 or 1966. (so it's not so "new") You can download the specs from here. (Choose the model and scroll to the bottom of the page):

Check out the original price!

http://www.maton.com.au/resultlist.asp?modelcode=&model...submitButtonName.y=0

(or you can type Fyrbyrd in the search box).

Bad news 1: there is no nice pic
Bad news 2: Maton don't make them anymore (unless you can convince Neville that you're a rock-god). (
Bad news 3: they have none left in their inventory, so you can put your credit card away ((

There are some grainy pics (from 40 years ago), but no nice ones, in the PDF data sheets.

If you type Fyrbyrd in the quick search on the home page you'll get all the Fyrbyrds.

$210.00
wow.
hehe...

wonder where neil got it from?

quote:

Originally posted by RavingChat:
[qb] It's a Fyrbyrd FB 1220 from 1965 or 1966. [/qb]

Thanks for that RavingChat!

I for one was tearing my hair out trying to work out what that guitar was!

It is a very nice axe, and I am going to keep my eyes peeled for a six-string fyrbyrd to add to my mastersound.

Well, you never know, southofpiha, you may be lucky. I, for one, haven't stopped looking but I live in Europe and it wasn't until last year that Maton had a European distribution (and then only in Italy, I think), so the chances of my finding a Fyrbyrd over here, in a vintage guitar shop, are pretty slim.

But you never know... Keep looking and stay tuned!

to eevie: maton are a australian made guitar who specialise in acoustic. they play beautiful and their sound is warm. unfortunatley...i dont have one! but i will..it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine!

RavingChat, there was a '62-63 model fyrbyrd on australian ebay that finished the other day and went for around $1200, but it was the earlier shape, different to Neil's. The one I want is for sale at a Melbourne store, but I just need to find the $1500 to buy it! (though I'm sure it's more than worth it)

I have a Maton Mastersound that I picked up last year and has been great to me. I had no idea that Maton had been making electrics for so long!

I'll eventually get my hands on that guitar. If you ever need help finding one, let me know, and I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Cheers again!

Oh, right: cool! You see, there are some around, southofpiha...! I think guitar shops in Melbourne or Sydney are going to be a good bet! Unfortunately, I'm on your side of the planet only once or twice a year, so it's a bit hit or miss.

I suggested to Neville Kitchen, that I thought there would be a big demand for these old Fyrbyrds, thanks to Neil... Maybe we should lobby for their re-introduction into the Maton inventory....?

I know that Jackson's Rare Guitars in Sydney can hunt down guitars if you are really eager. you'll pay a bit for it tho...

Many thanks for the heads-up, theworld whereyoulive! I'll certainly check them out next time I'm in town.

I see they even have a webpage...

Wow, this great thread is still going. This is good stuff - we should consolidate all the details

I wanted to add, that Neil is also using a UniVibe (Dunlop).

and he uses Jim Dunlop .73 and .88 picks and Kyser capos.

* The red Gretsch (Firebird) is a '58 (or '59)
* The Les Paul Goldtop/Deluxe? I don't know, it's confusing - it'ss most likely from the early 70's...I don't believe they didn't do the mini-humbuckers until '69. Can't believe the fact I saw an identical one in a local shop ('73) Goldtop, mini-humbuckers and even the black plastic around the switch - too bad I didn't have $1500 sitting around)

Neil also used alot of Danelectro's (The Bellzouki 12 string and a Guitarlin (with the long horns, deep cutaways) during the Together Alone era)

He also have a Gretsch White Penguin hanging on the wall in his basement studio as well as a double cutaway, Gretsch DuoJet. There seem to be alot of goodies on that wall.


I am sure the pedal setup changes, but I have also seen it with just the Jimi Hendrix Dunlop Wah, the Hotcake, DD-3 Boss Delay and a Boss Tuner)

Can any of you, who have the (E)BG808, compare it to the Taylor 312/314/412/414? In body sound and size?

I forgot, there was the Blonde Gibson ES-335 (Early videos)

quote:

Originally posted by Evvie:
Well, he can't lip-synch.

I'm enjoying this thread even though I'm not very guitar-savvy. I'm curious to know more about Maton guitars. What are their hallmarks in appearance, playability, and sound?

Evvie

Hi Evvie,

I know this is a late reply, but I play Maton acoustics exclusively cos I just adore them. For me, the hallmark Maton sound is that warm glorious mid-tone without tinny upper ranges. You can get some models with fabulous lower ranges to them, notably the 808 series, which is the one Neil plays.

Great thing about Maton is they're 100% Aussie made and don't cost the earth for a great sound. Don't look past the laminate models (I've got an 808BGL), they can sound just as good for half the price.

Cheers - Tahl.

Alfred, in last months Audio Technology magazine, there is an article on Split Enz. There is also a photo of Neil's guitar pedals (some 10 or so he used at the concerts!), which I'm sure is what you were after.

This goes to show how little I know about guitars - I didn't even realise you could get smaller ones! I've often wondered why Neil's acoustic guitars seem smaller on him, while I struggle with my dad's. I'm not a big girl so the idea of a smaller guitar that I won't be battling with sounds rather good...might have to convince my dad of that

Man, this would make such a cool tv programme!

Picture the scene, Neil giving us a tour round his studio, showing us his guitars, amps, pedals etc he's been using throughout his career..

Oh well, i'm allowed to dream aren't i?

Oh my God. That would be mindblowingly awesome! the music geek in me just did a little scream of excitement at that idea.

quote:

The red Gretsch (Firebird) is a '58 (or '59)

I like the sound of this guitar