Manson Guitars
Matthew Bellamy owns more than 50 Manson guitars, of which all were built by Hugh Manson (before 2009) except the Mirror Kaoss, Doubleneck, Keytar and Matt Black II and many more, which were built by Tim Stark. Hugh still makes guitars for Matt, but nowadays, most of the work is done by head luthier at Manson Guitar Works, Tim Stark. The vast majority of the gfuitars built for Matt have a shape that he designed alongside Hugh Manson in 2001, dubbed Mattocaster or MB shape. The Mattocaster shape resulted from Matt wanting a guitar with "the body of a Fender Telecaster and the sound of a Gibson Les Paul".[source?] Ron Joyce, Hugh's friend and electronic designer/engineer, also plays a big role in achieving the sound, as he designs, engineers and builds all the tech found in Matt's custom guitars.
In June 2019, Matt became the majority shareholder of Manson Guitar Works.[1] He outlined that him and the Manson team would actively investigate new products for heavier music genres (incl. 7 string guitars) and explore enchanced electronic features to evolve the guitar into the modern era of sound. He also mentioned the release of lower cost Manson guitars, the then named "M-Series" (now named MBM-1 Meta Series), to lower the barrier of entry for new customers. (see below).[2]
Guitars
| Model | Also known as | Period used live | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Willtar, WOTPcaster | 2023- | In use |
| MB-S (Prototype) | Verona Sky, Manson Strat, Manson S-Style | 2023- | In use |
| MB-1 Blue #1/#2 | Blue Steel, Blue Beast | 2023- | In use |
| Chrome FR 2.0 | - | 2022- | In use |
| Chrome Fuzz | New PiB Manson | 2022- | In use |
| Fire Red | - | 2022- | In use |
| Oryx #1/#2/#3 | - | 2022- | In use |
| Matt Black 3.0 #1/#2/#3 | - | 2019- | In use |
| Red Alert | - | 2017- | In use |
| Matt Black FR | Matt Black Whammy, Black Knight | 2017- | In use |
| Chrome FR #1/#2 | Chrome Whammy | 2017- | In use |
| Holoflake #1/#2/#3 | - | 2015- | In use |
| M1D1 Stealth #1/#2/#3 | - | 2015- | In use |
| Mirror 2.0 | New Mirror | 2015- | In use |
| Black 7 String 2.0 | - | 2015-2016, 2022- | In use |
| Black 7 String | - | 2012-2015, 2022- | In use |
| MA EVO Sustainiac Satin Fire Red | - | 2022 | Retired |
| Matt Black Stealth 2.0 #1/#2/#3 | - | 2019-2023 | Retired/Given away |
| M1D1 Blue | Bluebell | 2019-2022 | Retired |
| Prophet Stealth 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 | - | 2019 | Retired |
| TronCaster | Matt Black LED 2.0 | 2018-2019, 2023 | Retired |
| Acoustic | Black Acoustic Manson | 2017-2019 | Retired |
| Matt Black Stealth LED | - | 2017-2018 | Retired |
| Stealth Bomber | Fuzzbomber | 2016 | Retired |
| DR-1 #00/#01/#02/#03 | - | 2016 | Retired/In studio use |
| Xenokroma Bomber | - | 2016 | Retired |
| Matt Black Stealth #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6/#7 | Stealth Matt | 2015-2023 | Retired/Given away |
| Matt Black 2.0 #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6/#7 | - | 2015-2022 | Retired |
| CE-7 | - | 2015-2016 | Retired |
| Silver Glitter Holes 2.0 | - | 2015 | Retired |
| Metal Bomber | - | 2015-2016 | Retired |
| Copper Bomber 2.0 | - | 2015-2016 | Retired |
| M1D1 Gloss Black 2.0 | - | 2015-2018 | Retired |
| Silver Glitter Holes | Sagrada | 2015-2016 | Retired |
| Copper Bomber | Steampunk Lozenge | 2015 | Retired/Display |
| Matt Black II/III/IV/V/VI/VII/VIII | - | 2013-2014 | Retired/Given away |
| Red Carbon | - | 2012-2015 | Retired |
| M1D1 Gloss Black | - | 2012-2015 | Retired |
| Matt Black I | - | 2012-2015 | Retired |
| Carbon | Olympic Manson | 2012-2014 | Retired |
| DL-1 Delorean | Trasher [note 1] | 2011 | Retired |
| Red Glitter 2.0 [note 2] | New Glitterati, Santa 2.0 | 2010-2013 | Retired |
| MB-1 Red Glitter | Son of Santa | 2010, 2015 | Retired |
| Keytar | Neoncaster, Light Keytar, Troncaster | 2010-2011 | Retired |
| Mirror Doubleneck | Casinocaster | 2010 | Retired |
| Mirror Kaoss | Hybrid Jools Manson, Chrome Kaoss | 2009-2010 | Retired |
| Keytarcaster [note 2] | - | 2009-2010 | Retired |
| Black Midi | Seattle, Auto[note 1] | 2007-2011 | Retired |
| Red Glitter | Glitterati, Red Sparkle, Santa[note 1] | 2007-2010 | Retired |
| Ali Top | Son of Delorean, New Delorean, Delorean Bender [note 1] | 2007-2014 | Retired |
| M1D1 Mirror [note 3] | M One D One, M1D1 | 2006-2007 | Retired |
| M1D1 Black | Kaoss, Invincible[note 1] | 2006-2011 | Retired/In studio use |
| Chrome Bomber | Silver Bomber, Lozenge [note 1] | 2006-2015 | Retired |
| Mirror | Earls Court | 2004-2013, 2013-2023 (rebuilt) | Retired |
| Bomber | 1945 | 2003-2006 | Retired |
| Laser | Lazer | 2002-2007 | Retired |
| 007 | Black Manson, Blackie, Black Ed[note 1] | 2001-2011 | Retired/In studio use |
| E-Series 7 String | - | 2001-2015, 2017-2018 | Display/In studio use |
| Delorean | Industrial Disease, Silver | 2001-2005 | Retired |
| Alloy 7 String | - | Never | In studio use (2012) |
| Acoustic (No Hole) | - | Never | Never used |
| M1D1 Blue Whammy | Bluebell | Never | Never used |
| Nebula | - | Never | Never used |
| The Sheep Guitar | - | Never | Never used (Sold) |
| Delorean 3.0 [note 2] | - | Never | Never used (Sold) |
| Rust Relic | - | Never | Never used (Sold) |
Signature Guitars
| Model |
|---|
| Manson MB-1 |
| Manson MB-1S |
| Manson DL-1 |
| Manson SDL-1 |
| Manson DR-1 |
| Manson MB-1RA |
| Manson MB-1T |
| Manson MB-1S2.0 |
| Cort MBC-1 |
| Manson MBM-1 |
| Manson DL-OR |
| Manson MBM-2 |
| Manson MB-1 Nebula |
| Manson MB GEO Mask |
Notes
References
- ↑ a b c d e f g These names are what Matt Bellamy calls his guitars by
- ↑ a b c These names are not official, but fan dubs. These guitars have not been added to the Muse gallery on the Manson Guitar website and thus their official names are unknown.
- ↑ Now displayed inside the Manson Guitars shop, Exeter.