Maton EBG808CL Performer

I have owned my EBG808CL for almost 3 years now. Inspired by TE I bought it used on eBay. I have been overwhelmed in many ways with this instrument. The Bunya wood top seems to resonate very well.

For live performance, it is unbeatable in sound. The A-5 Pickup system in this guitar is totally awesome. A sound when played unplugged is also unbeatable for a guitar of this size! I love the response when plugged in... you can go from mellow to yellow with just the stroke of your pick!

The satin finish on the gutar is pretty cool. Seems to affect the sound of the instrument in a good way. The action is good, although, after 3 years of playing I am getting a lot of fret wear and buzz.

If you want a stage acoustic that can hang in there, this is your machine! I have set my fender strat way back in the closet... all around dependable.

Ok.. is there a downside? The only negative thing I can say is the frets seem to be wearing more than a guitar of this price range should. I own a 1972 Gibson and still has little to no wear on it. The Maton has some fret buzz going on.. which is not cool. I am thinking about a fret job on it ( you can see really bad fret wear on the 2 and 3 frets).

Over all I give this instrument a 9.5

Blessings of Jesus 2 U!

Bill

Maton EBG808CL Performer -Satin Finish (you know the rest!)

For abrand spanker - it sounds awesome already, imagine what it'll be like in a few years time!
A Peavy Renown Solo Series - not ideal, but all I have for the moment.
A bright,full sound which will only improve.
No dislikes so far.

Very well set up. I've owned a M225 for seven years & it has just got better & better. The new guitar has asimilar action.
No flaws noted.

Having read the reviews above before playing/buying, I was a tad concerned about the thin finish. On getting the guitar all my concerns have vanished. Another Maton winner. We will see!

E-mailed the factory once on the M225 & got a quick response. Local support here in WA is suppossed to be good.

Seven years. Maton M225 Acoustic, Maton MS500 Electric, Ephiphone Les Paul Classic, Yamaha F310P Acoustic, Fender Squire Electric.

I have the 2003 EBG808CL Performer with satin finish.

The feature list is as has been posted previously.

This guitar is part of Maton's successful BG808 series. The original BG808 was intended to be more of a 'studio guitar'. This EBG808CL Performer model was designed to take the style of the BG808 and make a more 'stage guitar'. It does this very well. The slimline body coupled with the BG808 shape make the Performer a very comfortable guitar to use standing up on stage. There is some loss of acoustic volume due to the small body, but this is well counterbalanced by bunya being a rather loud tonewood.

Of course, you can get all of the volume you like out of the AP5 pickups. This active pickup system has volume, bass, treble and parametric midrange controls. A leaflet that comes with the guitar explains how to use a parametric midrange control for those who don't know (like me at the time I bought it).

The cutaway makes this guitar suitable for soloing as well as strumming and fingerpicking.

This guitar has a very strong and bright sound. It is not as mellow as a sitka spruce guitar (such as the BG808), but nice gentle sounds can still be got out of it. Good tonal variation depending on right hand position.

It sounds great strummed, fingerpicked and flatpicked (solos etc). I play folk through to acoustic rock on this guitar and it suits these styles very well.

The electrics reproduce the sound very well. Live, I play this guitar through a ZOOM 707II electric guitar effects unit (which I only use for reverb, tuning and a bit of additional volume/EQ control; no other effects or models are on) into a venue or the band PA. It sounds great through this setup. I have not played it live through a guitar amp; I have briefly played it through my Peavey Studio Pro 112 solid state guitar amp at home, and it sounded okay, and would probably sound good if I set the EQs properly.

This guitar came with TERRIBLE strings which I immediately replaced with Elixers. However, I believe that these now come fitted with Elixers. Everything else about the setup was perfect.

I have played several (but not a huge amount) of gigs with this guitar and I have never had any problems with it. Never even broken a string live. It has a few minor dents but that's more my fault than the guitar's :). It is very dependable. I use it live without a backup (as my only other steel string acoustic is a piece of shit) and I am never worried about it. My only worry is that I am paranoid about batteries failing in active electrics. A spare 9V battery is essential.

I have not personally had to deal with Maton customer support. I can, however, confirm the previous comment about Maton making free alterations in the first 12 months. My uncle bought another guitar from Maton (the EBG808), and they set it up (for free) for the very light gauge strings he uses. In my opinion, this is a customisation, not a repair, and so it is very good service for them to do it for free.

I have been playing guitar of various styles for the last 13 years. I started off by learning classical (which I still play) and moved into steel string acoustics and electrics later. This is my second steel string acoustic. The other instruments that I own (some items are rather similar to the first anonymous poster's) are:

- Esteve handmade Spanish classical guitar
- Yamaha cheap classical guitar
- Abelene cheap steel string acoustic
- Samick stratocaster copy
- Samick mandolin
- Yamaha EBX350 bass
- Yamaha PSR280 keyboard

The EBG808CL Performer is probably my best instrument, with the Esteve in a close second and the rest a long way behind. Maton are a very good manufacturer and the next instrument I buy will probably be a Maton electric guitar.

I would cry and cry if this guitar was stolen, and then buy another one. It wouldn't quite be the same though, as I have a particularly nice piece of bunya. That is the other thing that I love about this guitar, bunya is such a distinctive and beautiful looking wood.

I was pretty much set on a Maton when I was shopping for this guitar, as I had played my dad's Matons (a BG808 and an old entry-level model) and loved the sound of both and the body shape of the BG808. THe only other guitars I tried were some Corts as they were cheaper, but they did not impress me anywhere near as much.

Cutaway a must for ease of solos above the usual range and the AP5 in all honesty blew me away....i couldnt detect any line noise and the bass/treble/volume levels nicely implemented.
Very light guitar.

Possibly not as deep as other acoustics with larger 'cabinets' but the bunya wood delivers a punchy bright sound which outputs a unique sound from nice crisp low ends to smooth high end frequencies. Im quite content with it.

I read the other reviews, and i must say most high end guitars from any retail shop, although being better in action from the $600 - $800 models, are usually a little high out of the factory. This is to be expected. My mate had a bunch on 'luthered' martins...which were unbelievable! The things played with the action of an electric. very impressed.. My marton performer is no where near that, the action is great up til fret 7, and then is a bit too high for my liking, but i can handle it. as far as string bending, not likely - perhaps i need to get mine serviced? any tips anyone?

have to see, but as far as tuning, the thing keeps in great tune for the 2 weeks ive had it......theres nothing more crapulicious than having to retune after a good strumming song...the performer seems to hold its own here....little tune up but nothing major.

warranty apparently. just bought it wait and see.

love the sound, feel is nice, action just needs a little refining, sound is as good as a $3000 martin but playability 80% of one.
i love it and intend to perform gigs with it.

EBG808CL

SoundboardL: Bunya
Rosette:Herringbone
Outer Binding Ivory Black
Back : Queensland Maple
Sides : Queensland Maple
Neck : Queensland Maple
Headstock : Queensland Maple
Fingerboard : Rosewood/Dot Inlays
Bridge : Rosewood
Finish : Satin
Pickup : AP5
Pick Guard : Black
Machine Heads : Grover Chrome Deluxe
Colours: Natural

with the AP5 pickup it give you a few more goodies

I usuall play Christian gear because of Church but also a wide range of things rock n roll aswell.
dont have a amp at the moment i use my churches PA system sounds pretty good, but think of getting a special amp fo it aswell...
it's good tone bright sound, that why l chose it from the other Matons.
because of it shallow body it gives the brighter and fuller sound better than a normal size guitar..
love everything about it espically the sound, you friends will love it more then you do..

not quite sure ask maton???
everyone is on really well l guess...
no flaws or nothing...keep it in the cast and she will be alright

never will fail me and hasnt and never will, but to keep the best sound new strings need to be updated...

dont know dont want to know or talk to them

awesome guitar you would ever dream of great sound great look, what more can l say

See http://www.guitar.com.au/guitars/acoustic/maton/performer.htm for the EBG808CLG details. I chose the cherry finish which after speaking to the factory are only made < 50 year.

Sound + features v cost this guitar is a winner.

I've played guitar for 27 years and played alot of different guitars. I play with guys that have full dreadnought acoustics and I have to say the only thing this guitar gives away is a bit of volume acoustically. The sound QUALITY is superb and once your plugged into an amp there's no difference. The AP5 pickup is superb and the bass/mid boost let's you really fine tune your sound. I have played this thru acoustic amps and normal amps and the ap5 really lets you fine tune the sound depending on what you're running through.

I think the size and shape (and cutaway) add to the playability of this guitar and I'll never go back to a dreadnought. I have a top of the range charvel which is growing cobwebs since I bought the maton.

I actually went for the EBG808CLG model as to me the gloss finish is alot easier to play than the matt natural finish. Plus I think it looks better and will be more durable over time. Straight from the shop the action was very playable and I wont be making any changes, great for strumming/fingerpicking/bending.

This guitar was built May 2006 so I dont expect there to be any problems for awhile!!!

Apparently Maton are happy to make free minor changes to setup within the first 12mths providing you take your receipt with you - havent tested this and probably won't but no reason not to believe this.

Currently playing this thru a Marshall Valvestate which I drive with an amp module and fx rack but tend to go staight into the amp with the Maton. Sound is not as warm as I'd like but I'm between amps at the moment. Its certainly not the Maton's fault.

Honestly, if this was stolen, after I hunted down the thief and killed him/her. I would go straight out and buy another one. Have had several compliments already on just how good this guitar sounds and its only going to get better as the wood ages and I find the best string set for it.

Give it a nine out of ten overall only because I dont believe in giving anything a ten.

Interestingly, I played a few messiahs and tommy emmanuel models which cost $2k+ (aud) more than this retail and 'Yes' they sounded slightly better and had the mic pickup, but I don't think they sounded $2k+ 'better' and even if I had that sort of money to throw at a guitar I think I'd still go with this model since the size and shape make it a guitar you can comfortably play for hours on end.

The bunya top (Australian timber rising in popularity) is a defining feature of this guitar. It's a unique top which gives a very unique sound.

Very bright, warm, full sound. The bunya top probably gives a warmer sound then spruce & cedar. Bunya is also naturally louder then spruce, and seems to resonate more. It's a very different but pleasant sound - not necessarily everyone's cup of tea though.

Factory action I suspect was alittle high. I bought it 2nd hand and had to get it readjusted later on. I think most shops would set it up for free if it was bought new.

They do seem to last. Everything looks & feels right. The woods are quite thin though, so I suspect you still need to be careful with knocking it about.

Maton staff are very friendly & prompt with communication - I've asked them so many questions.

A really unique guitar. The bunya top gives it a very warm, full sound, which I really like - but may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Although it's small, it's reasonably loud - comparable to dreadnaughts. Worth checking out if you're looking for something different to spruce.

The detail is already listed; the main feature for us is a great sounding acoustic in a small package.

The sound is great for anything from Jimmy Buffet to Clint Black; CCW to Waylon & Willie; Blues & Country; Slim Dusty to Troy Casser - Daley. And the secret for me was switching was switching to low tension Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum tin-coated strings. Thanks to the guys at Cranbourne Music for switching me to these strings for this guitar. I'll stick with brighter sounding phospher bronze on my full sized Maton 225.
The AP5 pickup also sounds ideal through a Fender Acoustisonic 30 or an all valve 20 watt Princeton 11. If there's a drummer around these amps need to be DI'd through a PA, but add a great front end instead of going to a clinically dry mixing board.

Haven't had to do any work to the factory setup. Strings need changing a little more often but the sound is worth it.

With reasonably fresh strings the little guitar maintains tuning under all circumstances. Would like another just for alternate tunings.

I tend to pick this Bluegrass size instrument up more than my regular full size instrument as it fits so well into my (slight sized for a fella) hands. For the price I paid I'd love to get another and constantly search the net for a bargain. It suits the amps I have as well; or they complement it. Ladies find it a great size as well.
Jimmy
www.vicnet.net.au/~willirsl

My Maton was made in 2003 in Australia as they all are. Standard 21 frets with cut away which I love. The AP5 pick up is awesome. Great mid controls.
Soundboard: Bunya
Outer: Binding Ivory
Back: Queensland Maple
Sides: Queensland Maple
Neck: Queensland Maple
Headstock: Queensland Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood/Dot Inlays.
Satin finish. Thin body which is great cause it sits nice and it is easier to "throw around".

Perfeect sound for what I want. Playing in church requires awesome plugged in sound. This Guitar gives that. I usually just plug it through a PA. Not as full sound acoustically because of the thinner body but makes up for it when plugged in. Amazing sound.

Action is really good. Set up is nice. This guitar was perfectly finished. Looks awesome and not a flaw in it, Yet!!

Live Playing: Yes
Hardware: Solid as a rock
Finish: Seems a little thin. Hopefully be fine for a long time.
Strp buttons: Changed to straplocks just for safety sake
Dependability: Always great to play and reliable
Back up: Break strings all the time so would have my second guitar there just incase but other than string breakage wouldn't bother.

Got a 1 year warranty. Not sure if it from Maton or the shop. Never dealt with Maton.

I've been playing for 7 years. I've had another Guitar since I started so it's been real real nice tp play a good guitar for once.
I would definatly buy another one. I love the size (Dimensions below)
Total Length 1012mm
Body Length 477mm
Body Width 366mm
Body Depth 91mm,
I love the plugged in sound.
Other than the fact that it is an Australian Guitar (Damn Aussies) I love it.

How do give a numerical rating to the features of an acoustic guitar? It's supposed to be simple!

Custom made in Melbourne (the suburb of Box Hill, to be specific), Australia in July 2003.

This is a thinline acoustic-electric guitar, with a constant parallel body depth, and a smaller-than-dreadnought, bluegrass-style body. This model is the highest of the entry level models in Maton's 808 range.

This guitar has a solid bunya top, and Queensland Maple back, sides, neck and headstock. The fingerboard is rosewood, with plain dot inlays. The guitar has 21 frets and a soft cutaway giving great access to all frets. The action is nice and low, so it's very comfortable to play, but high enough to know you're playing an acoustic.

It comes with Maton's AP5 pickup/preamp system, which gives you volume, bass, treble and two mid controls.

The guitar is stained in "Ultra Blue" (that's the customised part) and has a satin finish. Together with ivory binding, mosaic soundhole rosette and white bridge pins, this guitar looks nothing short of spectacular.

It's got chrome Grober Rotomatic machine heads, and I bought it together with a Maton hard case (also quite nice!).

This guitar is perfect for what I play. I'm a (usually solo) singer/songwriter. It sounds great acoustically, and great plugged in. The AP5 is very versatile. I have the same pickup in my Maton 12 string, and know from experience that with the slight turn of the mid controls (and a decent amp) you can get a solid electric sound (both clean and dirty) as well.

A nice little feature of the AP5 is that you don't get the usual plugging noises if you're plugging/unplugging the guitar. I can't remember exactly how they do it, but it's explained in the manual somehwhere.

I'm generally a big fan of the action on Maton guitars. I'm the kind of person that finds a product he's comfortable with, and sticks with it. I purchased my Maton 12 string (EM425/12C) three years ago, and was very satisfied. (The action on the 12 string was better than on the 6 string I had at the time).

I could not find a single flaw anywhere in the setup, construction or finish.

* Will this guitar withstand live playing?

Yes. All Matons do!

* Does the hardware seem like it will last?

Yep.

* Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing?

I think it's fantastic. My 12 string has the same finish, and if it's at all possible, it seems to be improving with age.

* Are the strap buttons solid?

Yep. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for my old strap.

* Can you depend on it?

Yes.

* Would you use it on a gig without a backup?

In the spirit of the question, yes. Realistically I would always have another guitar there, as I change instruments depending on the song :)

Maton is a relatively small company, though they moved into a larger factory earlier this year.

I have only dealt with the company for enquiries (email and phone) and they were always very friendly.

I live about 15 minutes drive from the factory, so if anything were to ever go wrong, I would have no problems.

I've been playing since 1996. I also have a Maton EM425/12C (12 String acoustic/electric with cutaway), a Squier Strat, Yamaha RBX2000 Bass, Samick Mandolin, Roland Keys and a lot of recording equipment.

If this guitar were ever stolen I would be very upset. I had my eye on this model for well over a year. I also tried a few Garrisons, other Matons and various other brands. Didn't find a single one that suited me better than this guitar.

The guitar has a beautiful acoustic and amplified sound, and it looks spectacular (then, I would think that... I had the look customised).