Manson Guitar Works

Last updated

Manson Guitar Works is a British guitar and bass manufacturer based in Devon, England. Initially focussed on one-off, customised instruments, Manson Guitar Works has since extended its range of products into bass guitars, accessories, and, after forming a relationship with Cort, has recently launched more affordable ranges.

Contents

History

The company was started by Hugh Manson after following in his brother's footsteps in the guitar building scene, specialising in electric guitars. After moving from Crowborough to Exeter, Manson set up Mansons Guitar Shop alongside Adrian Ashton and Jay Henson. The company separated from the guitar shop in to avoid confusion. [1] In 2019, long-time Manson player Matt Bellamy of Muse bought a majority share in the company. [2]

In 2023, Bellamy revealed that the company is working on a line of pedals as well as more affordable instruments and more integrated effects, hinting at potential collaborations with DigiTech. [3]

Matt Bellamy

Since the early 2000s, Matt Bellamy of Muse has worked with Manson Guitar Works to create his electric guitars. They have released several "M-series" signature models. [4]

The early years Muse were based in their hometown of Teignmouth, and the band sourced much of their equipment from Mansons Guitar Shop in Exeter. After the release of Showbiz in 1999, Bellamy had the funds to purchase his first Manson guitar — a 7-string that is most notably played in the song "Citizen Erased" [5] —and ordered a customised guitar known as the 'De Lorean', after the time machine in Back to the Future. The guitar's shape was inspired by a Fender Telecaster and Bellamy's previous Yamaha Pacifica, featuring custom electronics which allowed for the integration of a ZVEX Fuzz Factory and MXR Phase 90 and a custom aluminium finish. [6]

MIDI integration is the next phase of Manson and Bellamy's innovation with the instrument, first seen in the guitar dubbed the "Manson 007" in 2001, which Bellamy still uses in studio recordings. [7]

After the formation of the Beatles tribute the Jaded Hearts Club, Bellamy purchased a Höfner bass. By the time the group extended their repertoire and released the singles from the debut cover album, Bellamy had acquired a custom Manson violin bass with integrated LEDs. [8] Bellamy's signature models have also been manufactured by Cort, first as the MBC model [9] and now as the MBM. [10]

The newly dubbed "Verona Sky" - an S-type guitar - debuted on the Will of the People tour and is used in the performance of the song Verona. [11]

Related Research Articles

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass-produce the seven-string guitar and eight-string guitar. Ibanez manufactures effects, accessories, amps, and instruments in Japan, China, Indonesia, and the United States. As of 2017 they marketed nearly 165 models of bass guitar, 130 acoustic guitars, and more than 300 electric guitars. After Gibson and Fender, Ibanez is considered the third biggest guitar brand.

Warwick is a German bass guitar manufacturing company. Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods. The company also produces valve and FET amplifiers, speaker cabinets, bass guitar strings, and is the owner of the Framus trademark. Their headquarters and custom shops are located in Markneukirchen, Shanghai, and Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven-string guitar</span> Fretted string instrument

The seven-string guitar adds one additional string to the more common six-string guitar, commonly used to extend the bass range or also to extend the treble range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wolstenholme</span> British bassist

Christopher Tony Wolstenholme is an English musician. He is the bassist and backing vocalist for the rock band Muse. He combines bass guitar with effects and synthesisers to create overdriven fuzz bass tones, a motif of many Muse songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Guitars</span> American electric guitar manufacterer

Dean Guitars, commonly referred to simply as Dean, is an American importer and maker of stringed instruments and musical products with its headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

Fernandes Guitars is a guitar brand of Japanese marketing company Fernandes Co. Ltd. It is one of two guitar brands belonging to the company, the other being Burny Guitars which are Gibson guitar replicas. It's parent company originated in 1969 as Saito Musical Instruments before changing its name to Fernandes in 1972. The company started as a distributor of flamenco guitars sub-contracting to Japanese factories to build them. As the company grew, it expanded production to include electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become one of the biggest guitar producers in Japan. Early manufacturing was done by Kawai Gakki whom had guitar building experience from their acquisition of Teisco in 1967. Other major Japanese manufacturers have built guitars for Fernandes under original equipment manufacturer (OEM) arrangements, including Matsumoku, Dyna Gakki, and Tōkai Gakki. From the late 1980s, lower-spec guitars have also been built in Korea and more recently China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-neck guitar</span> Guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks

A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Although multi-neck guitars are quite common today, they are not a modern invention. Examples of multi-neck guitars and lutes go back at least to the Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DigiTech Whammy</span> Pitch-shifting effect pedal

The DigiTechWhammy is a pitch shifter pedal manufactured by DigiTech. It was the first widely used effects pedal with foot-controlled pitch shifting effects. The pedal emulates sounds that a guitarist normally makes using the vibrato ("whammy") bar on the guitar, but with a greatly enhanced pitch range and without the tuning problems associated with traditional vibrato bars.

"Citizen Erased" is a song by English rock band Muse. It is the sixth track on their second studio album, Origin of Symmetry (2001). Written by singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy, it is a grandiose, multi-section progressive rock and space rock song that serves as the centrepiece of Origin of Symmetry. Despite having not been released as a single at first, it charted at No. 122 on the UK Singles Chart in 2007 and became a fan favourite. It was later given a new mix as part of Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX in 2021 and was released as that album's lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cort Guitars</span> South Korean guitar manufacturer

Cort Guitars is a South Korean guitar manufacturing company located in Seoul. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies. It also has factories in Indonesia and China.

Bare Knuckle Pickups is a privately-owned business based in the South West of England, UK, specialising in hand-wound electric guitar pickups. The pickups are wound and made entirely by hand from high quality parts which are made in-house, and come with a lifetime warranty. The company was founded in 2003 by Tim Mills, who had previously worked with Elkie Brooks and Iced Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JHS Pedals</span> Guitar effects pedals manufacturer

JHS Pedals is a guitar effects pedals manufacturer with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Bellamy</span> English musician (born 1978)

Matthew James Bellamy is an English singer, songwriter and producer. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter for the English rock band Muse. He is recognised for his eccentric stage persona, wide tenor vocal range and musicianship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cort MBC-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature</span>

Cort MBC-1 is the signature guitar of Matthew Bellamy, lead singer and guitarist of the English rock band Muse, launched in 2015 in Indonesia. It was designed by Bellamy and Hugh Manson in collaboration with Cort Guitars, and based on Manson MB Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage Guitars</span> British guitar manufacturer

Vintage Guitars is a British manufacturer of electric and acoustic guitars and bass guitars founded in 1995. The Vintage brand is owned by UK musical instrument distributors John Hornby Skewes and Co. Ltd. (JHS), and is based in Garforth, Leeds.

References

  1. "History of MGW". www.mansonguitarworks.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  2. "Muse's Matt Bellamy buys (most of) Manson Guitar Works". NME . 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  3. updated, Stuart Williams last (2020-05-14). "Matt Bellamy reveals plans for Manson Guitar Works pedals, plus a Whammy-loaded guitar". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  4. "Muse's Matt Bellamy plans to make his signature Manson guitars more affordable". NME. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  5. Williamspublished, Stuart (2015-07-14). "Matt Bellamy's custom Manson guitars - in pictures". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  6. Meadpublished, David (2019-02-22). "The workshop: Manson Guitar Works". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  7. Williamspublished, Stuart (2015-07-14). "Matt Bellamy's custom Manson guitars - in pictures". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  8. updated, Michael Astley-Brown last (2020-07-29). "Manson just made Matt Bellamy a bonkers LED-equipped violin bass". guitarworld. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  9. Burrluckpublished, Dave (2015-02-25). "Cort Manson MBC-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature review". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  10. "Review: Manson Meta Series MBM-1 Signature". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  11. "Matt Bellamy showcases new S-type Manson guitar onstage with Muse". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 2023-03-10.