The Powerhouse today unveiled Maton: Australia’s Guitar, the largest retrospective of Australia’s leading guitar manufacturer Maton.

Melbourne-born jazz musician, woodwork teacher and luthier Bill May founded Maton in 1946 and became a pioneer of Australian guitar manufacturing. Starting in a small workshop in May’s garage, Maton became a success against the odds, and has since created over 200 guitar models. The manufacturer has gained recognition across Australia and the world for creating instruments of the highest quality.

Australian musicians who play Maton guitars include ARIA award-winning artists Archie Roach AM and Tommy Emmanuel AM, New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter Keith Urban AO, Australian singer-songwriter Gordi (Sophie Payten), Australian Rock Legend Tex Perkins, former frontman of Men at Work Colin Hay and jazz guitarist George Golla, and Australia’s rock pioneers The Easybeats. International performers have included Elvis Presley, Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and the Beatles’ George Harrison, Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).

Photo credit: Zan Wimberley