Before ever actually witnessing the spectacle of watching Muse guitarist Matt Bellamy play the guitar, I assumed that all of the hype about how the British musician was comparable to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix was just that––hype. Pure rubbish, as Bellamy and his fellow countrymen would say. And I felt somewhat vindicated in my assumption when I had gotten word that Bellamy uses a sort of “super-guitar” to aid him in his playing. Seriously, I thought, who does this guy think he is to be put up on a pedestal next to Hendrix when he has to rely on a bunch of fancy gizmos and gadgets to cover up his playing ability? Little did I know that Muse would go on to become the biggest band in the world or that Bellamy would be named the guitarist of the decade by Total Guitar Magazine. It’s true that you need more than a tricked-out axe to garner such praise, but Bellamy’s custom made Manson guitars are part of what makes Bellamy and his style so unique.

Appropriately dubbed “Mattocasters,” Bellamy has had as many as 13 custom hand made guitars built for him by builder Hugh Manson. Ranging from a variety of different colors and technical specifications, the “Mattocasters” received their trademark name at Bellemy’s request for a custom made guitar that had the feel of a Fender Telecaster but the sound of a Gibson Les-Paul. But one glance at any of Bellamy’s guitars will tell you that they aren’t anything like like your father’s antique six-stringed instrument. Designed in a style that is comparable to Matt’s on stage presence––ostentatious, unique, out-of-this-world––the “Mattocasters” have gained renowned notoriety for their technical innovations by Muse fans and guitar enthusiasts around the world.

The 007 Manson, one of Bellamy’s first guitars to built by Manson, is a sight to behold, and a bit of a conundrum if you’re not a total music gear nerd. Having more onboard technology than a NASA spaceship, the 007 (or, “Black Manson,” as fans refer to it) was an unprecedented piece of design ingenuity when it was built back in 2001. It’s most impressive feature is it’s ability to control MIDI data via a MIDI strip controller (the black rectangle next to the main toggle switch, upper left). This touch sensitive strip allows Bellamy to control a Whammy pitch-bending pedal with the swipe of his picking finger. The 007 also has a set of custom red LED’s that light up the fret inlays down the neck as well as a fuzz pedal built right inside of the guitar itself, which Bellamy uses for those incredible high-pitched squeals of feedback. And that shiny gold piece isn’t there just for looks; it’s actually a proximity wah probe that emulates a wah-wah sound through the guitar (think Peter Frampton) depending on the motion and position of Bellamy’s hand when it moves across it.

The guitar world was blown away when the 007 Manson was unveiled, but nobody knew what to make of the Kaoss Manson when it first came out in 2006. What catches most people’s attention right away is the bright glowing light in the center of the guitar. More than just mere eye candy, this MIDI touch screen can be used to control and send messages to other midi capable pedals and programs. Bellamy uses the screen to control his Korg Kaoss Pad (hence, the name), a dynamic effects sampler that is commonly used by DJs. Like the MIDI strip on the 007, the touchscreen can also be used to control a synthesizer, a keyboard, or even various aspects of digital recording by just the touch of a finger. The Kaoss Manson not only revolutionized the future of guitar design, it inspired guitar players with absolutely no building experience to make their own.

In fact, I was one of those who thought it would be cool to construct my own version of a “Mattocaster.” But after doing a quick Google search of “Kaoss pad guitar mod” and witnessing a number of images that would bring guitar traditionalists to tears––perfectly good Stratocasters and Les Pauls with huge, gaping holes cut through their bodies––I was a little nervous at the idea of defiling one of my own guitars. After tons of research and having to order parts from several different countries, I enlisted the help of a friend to help me put a MIDI touch screen into the body of my guitar. The cutting was a little nerve-racking, but once all of the wires were connected, I was surprised that we pulled it off.

Due to popular demand––and for those who weren’t daring enough to make their own––Hugh Manson has recently made “Mattocasters” available to everyone. Modeled after the Kaoss Manson, the MB-1 is Matt Bellamy’s signature model. It is built with the exact same modifications as Bellamy’s own guitar, but if you want to play like a rock star, you have to pay like a rock star. Depending on color, hardware, and additional built-in effects, one of these could cost you anywhere from $5,000-$6,000. The costly price is due in large part to the fact that Manson currently has the market cornered on “Mattocasters.” But the rest of the guitar world isn’t too far behind. Just as more and more bands seem to be tapping into the captivating sounds that Bellamy and his Muse band mates have created, so too will more guitar companies gravitate towards the technical innovation and design of Manson guitars.

>Written by d/visible contributor Ben Millikan.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Culture, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.