Manson Matt Black (batch)
This page contains all Manson Matt Black guitars that followed the Manson Matt Black, as all of the guitars seem to be from the same batch. In contrast to their name giver, these do not have custom hardware, but some of them have the same uncovered humbucker (III, IV, V) and some feature a covered Manson MBK-2 (II, from V onward).
Matt mainly uses these guitars for smashing around. Tim said that 4 were made, but multiple ones have been seen live. It can be assumed that 4 guitars were used, but necks and bodies were replaced.
It's also been theorised that the bodies and necks (with Manson headstock logo rather than Cort) were sort of prototypes for the Cort/Manson MB signature model. This would be an ideal scenario for Matt to road-test what the models would be like, however with upgraded electronics and hardware to his touring specs.
Manson Matt Black II
| Manson Matt Black II | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-03-05—2013-03-17 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently unknown Neck: Maple Fingerboard: Rosewood (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Gotoh Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way toggle pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Manson MBK-2 |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar was built by Tim Stark of Manson Guitars in February 2013 an debuted at the March 5th, 2013 Columbus gig. It was very similar to the Manson Matt Black except with standard (not custom) hardware and a standard Manson MBK-2 Bridge Pickup instead of the uncovered Humbucker.
Touring
At the second gig Matt used this guitar, he slided it over the LED-panels while playing the Freedom outro and finally threw it out between the slots of the pyramid. Most likely the neck received heavy damgage, because the next show the Matt Black II wasn't used until it returned at the Tulsa gig with a new neck. This neck seemed similar to the DL-1 neck that the Manson Red Glitter 2.0 got after a damage.
At the Las Vegas gig Matt threw it out through the slots again, this time the guitar nearly flew into the crowd. With the beginning of the Uprising outro riff he smashed it four times very heavily and and finally threw this guitar into the audience. On a video ([watch]) can be seen, that the audience starts a fight over the guitar, whereupon the security confiscated the guitar. A tweet from Dominic Anderson says that the guys catching the guitar were allowed to keep the guitar after the concert. tweet
Footage of the action can be seen here. [watch][watch][watch]
Some more pictures of the damaged guitar can be seen here.
Apparantly someone from the crowd was slightly injured because of the throw and/or the fight for the guitar.
Songs used for
Manson Matt Black III
| Manson Matt Black III | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-04-09—2013-04-09 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Presumably Manson MBK-2 (Uncovered) |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar appeared at April 9, 2013 Toronto gig. It was the successor of the destroyed Manson Matt Black II. This guitar had a uncovered humbucker unlike its predecessor (II).
Touring
It was only used for one song. At the outro of Uprising Matt threw it in the air and its body split into two pieces because of the hard landing. [watch]
Songs used for
Picture of the Manson Matt Black III at the Mansons guitar shop [1].
Manson Matt Black IV
| Manson Matt Black IV | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-04-12—2013-04-15 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Presumably Manson MBK-2 (Uncovered) |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar appeared at April 12, 2013 Boston gig. It was the successor of the destroyed Manson Matt Black III and had exactly the same specs.
Touring
At the April 15, 2013 New York gig Matt threw this guitar to the Dickinson amp. The neck together with a small part from the body were broken off from the guitar.
Songs used for
Manson Matt Black V
| Manson Matt Black V | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-04-16—2013-04-26 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Presumably Manson MBK-2 (Uncovered) |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar appeared at April 16th, 2013 New York gig. It was the successor of the destroyed Manson Matt Black IV and had exactly the same specs.
Touring
At the debut gig of this guitar Matt threw it out of the pyramid at the Freedom outro. At the April, 19th East Rutherford gig and at the April, 23rd Montréal gig Matt threw this guitar around. Presumably it was repaired after the April, 23rd Montréal gig an used again for the April 26th, Québec gig or replaced with a Matt Black VI for this gig.
Songs used for
Manson Matt Black VI
| Manson Matt Black VI | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-05-22—2013-05-26 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Manson MBK-2 |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
Presuambly this guitar made it's first appearence at May 22nd, 2013 Coventry gig. It was the successor of the Manson Matt Black V. This guitar had a covered humbucker unlike its 3 predecessors (III, IV & V), so that it had the same specs as the Manson Matt Black II.
Touring
It was tossed once at its debut after the Freedom outro. It was thrown around several times at the end of Uprising at the May 25th Emirates gig where it did not appear to be damaged and then was thrown again at the end of Stockholm Syndrome at the May 26th, Emirates gig where the body split in half and the guitar was destroyed.
Songs used for
Manson Matt Black VII
| Manson Matt Black VII | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-06-01 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Manson MBK-2 |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar appeared at the June 1st Manchester Etihad Stadium gig. It was the successor of the destroyed Manson Matt Black VI and had exactly the same specs.
Touring
The guitar was only used for Stockholm Syndrome at its debut. At the end of the Freedom outro, Matt threw the Matt Black VII into the air and the impact of it landing on the stage smashed the guitar's body in half.
Picture from Morgan Nichols probably showing the damaged guitar: FB link
Songs used for
Manson Matt Black VIII
| Manson Matt Black VIII | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Manson Guitars |
| Used | 2013-06-04-unknown |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body covering | Matt Black paint |
| Wood | Body: Currently Unknown Neck: Baked Birds-Eye Maple Fingerboard: ? (22 frets) |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Electronics | One volume, one tone, 3-way pickup selector |
| Pickup(s) | Neck: Fernandes Sustainer FSK-401 Bridge: Manson MBK-2 |
| Special circuits | – |
Background
This guitar appeared at the June 4th, Amsterdam ArenA Stadium gig. It was the successor of the destroyed Manson Matt Black VII and had exactly the same specs.
Touring
From this guitar onward it's unclear when the Matt Blacks were destroyed, respectively at which gig he acquired a new one.
Following special events of the Manson Matt Black (batch) guitars
- At the Tokyo Zepp gig Matt gave this guitar to a fan in the first row. tweet, tweet