The matriarch of Maton Guitars and the wife of founder Bill May, Vera May, turns 100 this month. To celebrate, Maton is set to release one of the most beautiful guitars they’ve ever produced this December. This new guitar is not only a superb instrument, but also a very special part of Maton’s story.
The headstock is an elegant rethink of our W.A May headstock, which in itself is a 21st century interpretation of the headstock that appeared on the very first Maton Bill May built in 1946. An elegant gloss finished streaky ebony veneer with a Mother of Pearl logo contrasts beautifully with a figured blackwood headstock veneer.
The 808 sized body is bound with ebony and inner pinstripe bindings. The rosette has been carefully designed to match, also featuring ebony and pinstripe rings.
The soundboard of the Vera May is made from Lutz Spruce, a naturally occurring hybrid of Sitka Spruce and White Spruce (a close relative of Engelman Spruce). As often occurs with natural hybrids, Lutz has a certain amount of “hybrid vigour”, combining the best elements of both trees. The result is a soundboard with the stiffness of Sitka but with a little less density. This results in a greater balance of subtle overtones which is a delightful combination in a smaller bodied guitar like the Vera May.
The soundboard is finished in our UV cured gloss lacquer, providing strength and protection to the wood and enhancing its natural top end sparkle. The blackwood back, sides and neck are finished in our special tuned satin finish, providing all that warmth and midrange our 808 series is famous for.
The Vera May also comes with an AP5 Pro pickup system and case.
The fingerboard and bridge are made from streaky ebony, a material we have come to love for its strength, stability and tone as well as its earthy beauty. The fingerboard features snowflake inlays and a 12th fret Vera May signature block inlay .
The first 100 guitars will come with a limited edition Ivory Hiscox case.
The first 100 guitars will also come with the label hand signed by Vera May herself.
In December 2017 The Australian Music Association’s Rob Walker conducted an interview with Vera for NAMM’s Oral History archive. Check out the webclip HERE
Happy birthday Vera!