Maton 80th Anniversary CW808 Acoustic Electric Guitar

The CW80 returns to mark 80 years of Maton guitar making.

The CW80 80th Anniversary edition is a tribute to a guitar that has been part of Australia's musical landscape for as long as any of us can remember. From its humble beginnings in 1967, this quality workhorse has probably been behind more great songs and performances than any other Australian acoustic guitar — in the recording studio, on the road, at an open mic, or at home after a hard day's work.

For the 80th Anniversary, the CW80 has been built in Maton's much-loved 808 body shape for the first time ever — pairing the character of the original with the balance and comfort that has made the 808 a favourite of fingerstyle and studio players alike.

It carries a figured Queensland Maple neck, Fijian Mahogany back and sides, an Engelmann Spruce soundboard and an Indian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge — the classic CW80 timbers used from the late 1970s through to the mid-1990s. The binding is rock maple, a departure from the original plastic bindings, and the guitar is finished in polished nitrocellulose, stained in the traditional Maton colours of the CW80's golden era from 1978 to 2000. It is equipped with Maton's excellent AP5 Pro pickup system and supplied in a standard Maton hard case.

The 808 body gives a focused, punchy midrange and excellent projection, with the clear top-end presence today's players expect. Premium appointments including the herringbone rosette, rock maple binding and a rosewood headstock veneer with vintage Maton decal honour the original CW80 design, while the AP5 Pro pickup system delivers Maton's renowned amplified tone. A modern interpretation of an Australian classic.