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Maton Fyrbyrd

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Description

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The Maton Fyrbyrd is a striking addition to the world of solid body electric guitars, merging heritage craftsmanship with modern playability. This guitar is crafted by the renowned Australian company, Maton, known for their dedication to quality and innovation. The Fyrbyrd stands out with its unique design and premium components, appealing to both collectors and performing musicians seeking a versatile instrument that doesn't compromise on sound or style.

Featuring a unique pickup configuration, the Fyrbyrd offers an impressive range of tonal possibilities, suitable for a variety of musical genres. The pickups are meticulously calibrated to deliver exceptional clarity and depth, allowing guitarists to express their creativity with precision. The guitar's solid body construction ensures durability, while its smooth neck profile caters to fast, comfortable playing for extended sessions.

With its sleek aesthetics and attention to detail, the Fyrbyrd is both visually captivating and sonically rich. The controls are intuitively placed, providing easy access to volume and tone adjustments on the fly. Whether you're laying down tracks in the studio or performing live on stage, this guitar is engineered to deliver a robust and reliable performance every time.

Key Features:

Solid body construction for enhanced durability and sustain
Unique pickup configuration for a wide range of tonal options
Smooth neck profile for comfortable playability
Intuitive controls for easy volume and tone adjustments
Designed and crafted by Maton in Australia, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship and materials

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BlackDotArmidale

Maton Fyrbyrd 1963

BlackDotArmidale

My Maton “1960’s” FyrByrd

Jasper Cruel

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Maton Fyrbyrd.

Features and functionality

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Custom wiring includes a 5-way rotary switch for bridge, middle, neck, all series, and all parallel settings.
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Includes a momentary killswitch for creative sound manipulation during performances.
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A 25.5" scale neck from Baguley with a brass nut and locking tuners provides stability and improved tuning accuracy.
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The Fyrbyrd's pickups can be mistaken for humbuckers due to their appearance, but earlier models actually feature large single-coils, which contribute to their distinctive sound.
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For a 25" scale length with 22 frets, precise fret placement is crucial, using a formula to determine exact increments from the nut.
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Mods and upgrades

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Curtis Novak Thunderbird pickups are used with a custom wound middle position for enhanced tonal versatility.
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Scatter wound, unpotted Alnico pole P90 pickups are recommended to replicate the Fyrbyrd's unique sound.
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Setup and maintenance

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Guitar is tuned to C standard and set up with heavy gauge 13-56 strings for a deeper tonal range.
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Adjust bridge position to ensure the high E string saddle is exactly at the scale length for accurate intonation.
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Build quality

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Mahogany body is ebonized and finished with a satin poly for a smooth, non-glossy appearance.
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The original 'Magnametle' pickups are hand woven and magnetized, contributing to their microphonic nature and distinctive sound.
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Comparisons

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The Maton Fyrbyrd's pickups are described as loud, resembling a cross between a P90 and a Dearmond, indicating a unique tonal character not easily found in other guitars.
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Use cases and applications

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Owners appreciate the loudness of the Fyrbyrd pickups, making them suitable for genres that benefit from robust and dynamic tones, such as rock and blues.
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User experience

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Owners note the Fyrbyrd's pickups are remarkably loud, with a lot of twang and boom, suitable for styles needing pronounced dynamics.
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Critic Reviews

Is the Maton Fyrbyrd the greatest Australian guitar?

mixdownmag.com.au

The Maton Fyrbyrd is a vintage gem, appreciated for its unique aesthetic and distinctively bright, twangy sound. With a cult following, its Australian charm and historical significance shine. However, the guitar's quirky design elements, like the prone-to-breakage tone switches and occasional neck issues, highlight its impracticality for some players. Despite efforts to improve these flaws in later models, the Fyrbyrd's allure lies in its rarity and iconic status rather than its functionality. While not the most user-friendly, the Fyrbyrd remains a cherished piece among collectors and vintage enthusiasts.

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Artist usage

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Ryan Adams

Singer, Guitarist

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Verified via Instagram

Here's a photo from Adams' Instagram where he shows his 60's Maton Fyrbyrd. He used this guitar on the first Australia tour with the Cardinals.

Hugo Race

Guitarist

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Verified via YouTube

In this Youtube video of Plays With Marionettes at around 0:50 and onward, Hugo is seen playing a cut down Maton Fyrbyrd. Hugo mentions this guitar in his book "Road Series" commenting "I’ve got my eye on a cut-down Maton Firebird at the Chapel Street Pawnbrokers. $120 dollars and it’s mine".