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99/108/1 Guitar with case, semi-acoustic, Sapphire 302/12, wood / metal / plastic / mother-of-pearl / cardboard / fabric, made by Maton Guitars Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1964-1966, used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats', Australia, 1964-1969. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 2, 99/108/1 Guitar with case, semi-acoustic, Sapphire 302/12, wood / metal / plastic / mother-of-pearl / cardboard / fabric, made by Maton Guitars Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1964-1966, used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats', Australia, 1964-1969. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 2, 99/108/1 Guitar with case, semi-acoustic, Sapphire 302/12, wood / metal / plastic / mother-of-pearl / cardboard / fabric, made by Maton Guitars Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1964-1966, used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats', Australia, 1964-1969. Click to enlarge

Semi-acoustic guitar and case used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats'

Widely regarded as Australia's greatest pop group in the mid 1960s, the Easybeats had their beginnings in the rough environment of Sydney's Villawood Migrant Hostel. They took to writing their own songs and their first No 1, 'She's So Fine', came out in June 1965. A stack of memorable hits followed and soon Australia was in the grip of 'Easyfever'.

In 1966 the band went to England where they recorded their classic working-class anthem 'Friday on my Mind'. A massive No 1 hit at home, it …

Parts of this object

99/108/1-2 Guitar case, wood / metal / felt / fabric, made by Maton Guitars Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1964-1966, used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats', Australia, 1964-1969
Guitar case used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats'
1964-1966

Summary

Object No.

99/108/1

Object Statement

Guitar with case, semi-acoustic, Sapphire 302/12, wood / metal / plastic / mother-of-pearl / cardboard / fabric, made by Maton Guitars Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1964-1966, used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats', Australia, 1964-1969

Physical Description

(-1) Semi-acoustic guitar with two 'f' holes and two pick-ups, red body and black neck. 'Maton' in gold lettering on black headstock. Metal tailpiece in the shape of a stylised 'M' for 'Maton'. Three volume knobs, two treble knobs, one toggle switch with three positions. Black plastic scratchplate. Adjustable [ebony] bridge with mother-of-pearl inlay on bridge feet. Reinforced neck attached to body with four screws. Scratches on the back from the player's belt buckle. Some of the finish has come off the back in small patches. One of the two top E strings is broken. This is a semi-acoustic electric guitar in a style similar to the Gibson ES-335.
(-2) Guitar case in plywood covered in yellow and black fabric in a pattern of small checks. Fastened with four metal buckles, one broken and one lockable. The interior is lined with green felt with removable foam supports.

Marks

Manufacturer's trademark on black headstock, transfer gold lettering, "Maton"

Short URL

https://ma.as/166402

Dimensions

Width

380 mm

Depth

65 mm

Source

Credit Line

Gift of Harry Vanda, 1999

Acquisition Date

29 September 1999

Cite this Object

Harvard

Semi-acoustic guitar and case used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats' 2022, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 25 March 2023, <https://ma.as/166402>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/166402 |title=Semi-acoustic guitar and case used by Harry Vanda of the 'Easybeats' |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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