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You could buy a brand new Ashton for that sort of money. They are more than just excellent value for money. Don’t just buy the first one you pick up, though. Play a few of them and don’t be in a hurry. A fellow I know got himself one that sounds as good as many guitars that cost many thousands. Good luck!
I’ve had a look in Maton’s website where they say they were made from 1962. They also say that their museum archives are incomplete. It is my guess that these amps were made a lot earlier, because the early Maton Starline electric guitars were made from 1951 – 1962. After that they became slimline, and then George Golla models from about 1969 until 1990, if I am not mistaken. They were all called Starlines. They were very expensive, and therefore few in number. I recently bought an S.E. 90 (1951 – 1955) which is my first electric guitar, hence my interest in these amplifiers. I have assumed that they may have been made especially to accompany the early Starlines. I may be wrong on that score. Thanks, Michael for your input. It sounds as though from what you said that these amps would be adequate for my style of playing. I know nothing about sound amplification, and value the advice of someone who knows. You are the first person I have known to have owned one.
[quote=”1bassleft”]Can you expand on the problems? Bridge, action etc or are they more to do with output?[/quote]
The necks of both my Starlines appear to be twisted when one looks at them end on from the head, and yet both sides of the fretboard are dead straight! It makes them easy to play, but surely they weren’t made that way?! I thought that perhaps the fact that they are over fifty years old and have had the strings at full tension for most of their lives, that the heavy strings on one side and light on the other may have caused it. I was just wondering if other owners of these guitars have noticed the same thing.
Yes, I remember them. I had heavy-duty flatwound electrics on my Maton Starline S.A. 70 for 38 years. They certainly were the best available at the time. Whilst in the Philippines in ’69, 70, I couldn’t get flatwound Black Diamonds and was introduced to Hoffner. I bought a set. They were half as thick again as the Black Diamonds. I play a walking bass with hillbilly runs. Boy, they were the ultimate for that sort of style. I haven’t come accross Hoffner in Australia, but I always ask for them. I got a lead on a possible supplier in Canberra the other day out of a casual conversation. Who knows? I may yet land some. Today, I run D’ adario 012 accoustics as most of my playing is no longer solo. One can have too much bass. These strings highlight the clarity of sound which my guitar produces.
