Arch Top,another long job...

[Taffy Evans]

Hi, here is another Arch Top job a long time coming, but there is a story.
Are you sitting comfortably?
This is a Maton EG90 archtop dated 1957; I received it for repair 30 years ago. The guitar was salvaged from the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy and had significant damage but was all complete and original. One side was smashed in, laminations in the neck and peghead were compromised, the finish was badly weather-affected, and the back was smashed in one place. I also had to replace the bindings which I had to make up myself as Maton did not have the same laminations anymore. And of course a refret.
At that time the customer also ordered a solid-body guitar. I started the new build before the repairs on this guitar and waited for the customer to return to discuss the next steps. He never did.
Long story short, I finished the guitar for myself and stored the Maton away for another time.
That time came in 2000 when I contacted Maton for info and some materials. It has been a slow-rolling train since then. Getting a case to fit the over 18” body was a task, but as can be seen, I obtained one. Tuning machines were also a problem as the peghead was thicker than usual, so the hole in the post was hardly visible.

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Thanks for looking
Taff

[56nortondomy]

That's come up really nice Taffy. Well done.
Wayne

[ozziebluesman]

Hi Taffy,
Great story. What a beautiful instrument and it was in the right hands to become such a stunner. Beautiful work.
Is this project only been finished recently?
Thanks for sharing the pics.
Cheers
Alan

[Mark McLean]

She is a stunner Taffy.
Are they original pickups or did you need to source new ones?
And how did you get around the problem of the thick headstock? Thin the timber, or replace the tuner posts with longer ones?

[Taffy Evans]

Hi, thanks for the comments, guys.
Alan, I have just finished the guitar and strung it up last week. After 50 years of not being strung up or played I thought I would let it settle in before doing a final setup. But I must say after two weeks it has stayed how I first set it. Very playable, it makes me want to play jazz, but I can't. Haha.

Mark, the pickups are originals and surprisingly small under those plastic covers. I did rewire the electrics with cloth-covered braided wire as per the original, but the monster-size pots are original also. If I was going to use the guitar seriously, I would probably swap them.

I have hundreds of old tuners, possibly ten ice cream containers full. I found a set of vintage Gibson enclosed tuners that would have been perfect, but the posts were too short. I did not find this out until after I had removed all the gold plating so that they matched the rest of the hardware. Then I found a set of vintage Klusons that were perfect [but some faulty] I ordered the reissued modern version, only to find that the new models also have posts that are too short.
Then I found that a set of tuners I often use and had on the shelf that would do the job, just, a Waverly open-back copy. Now I have found tuners that have adjustable posts. Shit happens.
Taff

[Deano2]

Great story and re work Taffy! That burst looks neat. Which stains did you use? And how'd you make the bindings?

[Taffy Evans]

Hi, the photos should tell the story. There are three laminations on the back of different thicknesses to the five laminations making the binding on the front. Then there was the fingerboard binding that was different again.

I acquired some plastic binding from Maton twenty-odd years ago the remainder from Stewmac. I had to get the nearest thicknesses, and then take them down as shown in the photos. The laminations were then run through the gluing jig, also shown, using the appropriate plastic adhesive. Then the whole assembly was taken to its final dimensions and glued into their rebates on the body and neck.

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I used ColorTone stains that got from Stewmac many years ago. I recently saw the cost to buy it in Australia now, crazy price. The photos were just set up to better inform.
Appreciate your interest,
Taff

[Deano2]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing. Clever use of that makita trimmer guide!