Mattos Custom Guitars

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Portland, ME
Mattos Custom Guitars

My guitars evoke a vintage spirit & character. Comfortable & familiar from the first note! At the height of the British Invasion this was flat out not cool!

Mattos Custom Guitars: Unique, made one at a time by one person

I began my love affair with guitars when I was nine, on a nylon string Silvertone playing endless classical Études. Like countless other kids of the day I was entranced by Eric and Jeff and Keith and lusted after Fenders, Gibsons, and Gretschs I couldn’t possibly afford. Fast forward to 2011 and I’m still lusting after guitars I wil

l never afford. But now, equipped with skills and knowledge acquired after years in music stores, metal fabrication & woodworking shops I’m able to build guitars I truly love. Most are an amalgam of vintage & modern features inspired by iconic instruments of the 50′s and early 60′s or by unique instruments used by favorite players. All offer outstanding playability and remarkable tone. Each Mattos Custom Guitar is unique, made one at a time by one person. They convey the mark of the hand that made them and feel comfortable and familiar from the first note. Every guitar I make is an instrument I’m proud to put my name on.

11/14/2022

Here’s a really fun-to-play variation on my Studio Standard Barncaster model. Light weight (7 lbs.) distressed 100+ year old reclaimed pine body with a flamed “Torchburst” and varnish oil finish, maple “C” profile neck, and great sounding Alnico V pickups. Additional details include light patina nickel hardware, non-compensated 3 saddle top-load bridge, and custom Baltic birch pickguard, A rough & ready, hard luck cousin to a classic design!

For sale now on Reverb, store link in my profile and below.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

09/06/2022

If you were a fan of the TV series M.A.S.H. you’ll recall Radar O’Reilly’s affinity for Nehi grape soda. An unusual and distinctive choice. Making a custom guitar involves similar choices and this one is tour d’ force. Vintage style pine body with a Transtint dyed sunburst matched with a black pearl pickguard and a bird’s eye maple neck with ebony compound fretboard. All driven by a Seymour Duncan Antiquity humbucker matched with a Seymour Duncan Hot Stack for Tele. Plus a reversed control plate, Mastery bridge, and Bigsby vibrato. And it’s the color of Nehi, Radar would be so pleased!

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

05/17/2022

For Tele Tuesday here’s the same guitar as the previous post but a different look with a slightly more traditional pick guard. Un-embellished Baltic birch finished with matching amber shellac and protective Polycrylic.

For sale now on Reverb, store link in my profile and below.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

05/13/2022

Lots of great Tele tone in an unusual package. This one-piece body is made from a slab of very stable 200 year old rough cut fir finished to emphasize the great rustic look. Salvaged from a building that originally served as a stagecoach stop on the Boston to Portland Maine run. DiMarzio pickups provide a full range of Tele tones. Custom hand burned pyrographic art Baltic birch pick guard complements the body for an overall look that accentuates the wood. Great vintage sound and feel. Light weight and comfortable; a really sweet sounding guitar that’s loads of fun to play.

For sale now on Reverb, store link in my profile and below.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

01/24/2022

Pushing all the “classic 50’s” buttons here. Comfortable chunky D maple neck, semi-opaque Blond finish, Bakelite guard, nickel hardware showing just a hint of patina, 3 brass saddle bridge, and twangy lap-steel inspired tone. A bit less obvious is the contouring of the super light weight pine body and the noise suppressing qualities of the DiMarzio Area T pickup set. Been installing them for years and continue to be impressed with the excellent 50’s era tone from an exceptionally effective noise reducing pickup. If you hate the hum they’re worth a look!

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

01/04/2022

Exploring the multitude of mods possible with a Tele is certainly fun but there is something very satisfying about a no frills, no mods version. And it’s always a reminder of just how brilliant the original design is. Aside from the custom mix Sherwood green milk paint the basics are all here. Light and resonant reclaimed pine body, fat & chunky neck, twangy, chimey Broadcaster style pickups. A versatile instrument that can cover everything from TV themes to jazz, country, or alt- rock.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

12/21/2021

Haven’t done a Tele Tuesday post in a while so I guess I can squeeze in a few! And really, the black one is actually an Esquire. All with light weight pine bodies, low VOC finishes, and silky smooth maple necks. Classic styling, great playability, and a boatload of versatile tones!

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

12/13/2021

Joining the ranks of the handful of left-handed guitars I’ve done. All decked out in an airbrushed poppies & rhinestone Nudie suit inspired birch pickguard and sporting a particularly nice combination of O. C. Duff Plankster bridge pickup and T. V. Jones Classic neck pickup. Now creating some classic tones in beautiful San Francisco.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

12/02/2021

Parts and supplies flowing again, happy to be completing projects! This beautiful celebration of wood tones features semi-opaque milk paint on light weight pine, a roasted maple neck, birch pick guard, and Prisma Skate Stagger Swagger (recycled skateboard face) plus Duel Blade McNelly pickups. Sounds as good as it looks!

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

04/23/2021

Today is all about wood. Rosewood and maple neck, birch pickguard, and a beautiful one-piece fir body. Approximately 200 year old wood from a stagecoach stop in Maine. Amazing grain & color with cracks, knots, nail holes, and tales to tell! Fantastic O.C. Duff pickups help create airy, vintage tones. Magic!

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

03/09/2021

I love every project and always look forward to my next build but I can definitely say that this 1950-spec Esquire, my No.1, is still a favorite.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

03/04/2021

Super light weight Rat Rod in Bright Red milk paint. This reclaimed pine beauty weighs in at just under 6 pounds and with fast & comfy all-maple C neck is really fun to play. Haven’t done pinstripes in ages but this just called out for a little flourish on the chopped Bakelite guard. Nice Alnico P90 pickup is not super twangy but offers a great range of clarity and growl. Ready to rock, more details at my Reverb store.

Most of my work is by custom order but I occasionally list instruments, accessories, and other items of interest to the guitar obsessed for direct sale. Check out my Reverb store https://reverb.com/shop/mattos-custom-guitars (link in profile ) for great Direct Retail pricing on currently available items.

Address

Portland, ME
04101

Telephone

+12074090165

Website

http://www.mattoscustomguitars.com/

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