Mini Maton Acoustic Guitars AP5 vs AP5 Pro Pickup Comparison (Australian Made)

Mini Maton Acoustic Guitars AP5 vs AP5 Pro Pickup Comparison. Maton guitars are made in Australia. This video features the Maton Mini EML-12 and the Maton Mini EMM6.
Thanks to Sky Music for letting me borrow these two acoustics.
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[@intheblues]

I had some requests for Australian stuff so here you go, guys! I hope you dig my little intro clip too. :-) Check out the guitars here: ►Sky Music - alnk.to/2jGmXxU ►Thomann - bit.ly/3urBfAK

[@samjack5448]

I have the ap5 pro in a maton 808 and I think it sounds great. The mic colours up the tone giving it a more natural feel (although the Pizo already does a good job of that itself). Playing with a feedback buster is a must when the mic is engaged. In the end it comes down to how the EQ is set on the pickup. I always like to have the mic up a 1/4 and the Pizo all the way.

[@dat219]

Thanks for your honesty on sound quality not plugged in to a amp .

[@10sassafras]

My Maton M325 was made in 1989 and for the first decade or so it was kind of raucous. These days it is such a sweet sounding guitar I couldn’t possibly sell it. I think Matons improve with a few miles on the clock. Thanks for the really useful pickup review.

[@johnroberts838]

Hey Shane, Merry Christmas, thank you for a great year of Video's, excellent advice and really enjoyable Live Streams!!! Melbourne, Aust.

[@biometr1c]

Thanks Shane, great comparison. You certainly are masterful at pulling good tone out of a product and I enjoy seeing you do some acoustic stuff now and then. For a challenge please consider doing a tone demo on the new patch Katana V2 Tonestudio with perhaps the 100W Head and new 212 cab (when Skymusic gets them in stock) to also demo the line out and cabinet resonance changes. Maybe your favourite acoustic on the Katana's acoustic preamp setting to ee if you can get similar finesse to that sweet Waves Masarati plugin :)

[@MirurImage]

Good demo. I’ve got a mini-maton and couldn’t agree more with regard to guitar unplugged. Once I plug it in through my PA it becomes a monster professional, rich acoustic. I’ve also had to sand down the bottom of the saddle considerably as the action was way high. Yes, also adjusted the truss rod accordingly, It’s good now. BTW, it does sound better than any other mini or travel guitar unplugged. Plugged in the AP5 original is dynamite and richer than any other full bodied I own.

[@az499]

Hi friends and ‘in the blues’, did we see the AP5 original guitar played without power as was done with the AP5 Pro guitar? Did we veiwers see the turning of the levels and the master sound for both guitar setting for the viewer to verify? Something to consider 🕊️🧸

[@shindongmun4640]

My Maton EM-6 uses the original AP5 pickup. When I connected to the amp, there was a hum noise, and when I touched the connection jack, the noise disappeared. My amp is completely normal when connected to other guitars. I sent the product to Maton, but the company said it was normal, so the company is not responsible for warranty. The hum noise from the pick-up made me uncomfortable when I was performing live. I looked into the internery to find a way to overcome it myself and found that there were many people who were in similar situations to me. They taught me to overcome the following: “My problem was ground problem. Some power sockets had no proper wiring or no pro ground, and that's why I had this problem. So, get your own ground fault tester and check power sockets. If that is all OK, then you can try tightening or losening the screws at the bridge pick.” Does this affect the sound of the pickup? I'm worried about your reply. Sorry, I use Google Translation. a fan of Maton from Korea

[@katiimoshe]

Great video Shane! I think the AP5 pro sounds amazing (and bigger) with the Compressor, why is that? Thanks!

[@leighdavies2034]

Without compressor engaged: The ap5 pro sounded brighter and a bit thinner and as Shane said lacked volume when compared to the ap5 which sounded louder and fuller. Compressor engaged: the ap5 pro then immediately becomes louder and fuller due to the compressor doing what a compressor does. The compressor did not make much difference to the ap5 as the source level was already quite full.

[@robertfalconer5054]

I have the Maton Mini Mahogany Acoustic. I boost it with a MXR 6 Band EQ. Amp is a Roland Cube Street EX. Sounds full & open.

[@vk3fbab]

I've only ever sold one guitar my Maton em325c. Like you said didn't stack up acoustic. Then one good thing was it cost me 1500 new and got 1450 for it 5 years later. So no complaints on resale. They're also easy to get rid of in Australia.

[@intheblues]

I totally agree. I managed to get a decent resale price on mine too. Not quite as good as you did but I was still happy with what I sold it for.

[@benchan32]

Hey mate thanks for putting which plug in you use! (Thumbs up). Also really great to see some acoustic stuff. I used to hate how my Cole Clark sounded with a condenser in front of it, tried everything to get what I was hearing acoustically to come across, one day I thought id try something different and put the condenser next to my ear while playing and Voila great natural tone that was basically exactly the same as what I was hearing!

[@thenarrowgate1645]

Great video Shane. I know you prefer electric guitars but I'd encourage you to consider some acoustic stuff as even this little snippet was really good, and I reckon you've got more in you :) Have a great Christmas!

[@bretleversha]

The lighter guitar with ap5 sounded more rich & pleasant. The other sounded faded.

[@jeffbateman2339]

Just curious what your total signal chain was. I realize this is 5 years old. I have a Maton Joe Robinson signature model with the AP5Pro pickup… I LOVE the way it sounds plugged in, but I rarely find myself using the mic blended in… I think the piezo alone sounds better than any other acoustic pickup system I’ve played… (and I think I’ve tried just about all of them) Thanks Shane

[@intheblues]

Hi Jeff, I think it was just plugged into my audio interface at the time which was a UR22 MKII.

[@stevewhiteley9249]

Thought they both sounded a bit tinny but the sapele guitar with the mic did sound a lot better plugged in. Still, I won't be ordering either of those...

[@LewWelchThePoet]

Hi Shane. Great demo thanks. Noted you used the Cali compressor. Have you tried the LR Baggs Session pedal and if so what are your views? Would love to see a demo of that.

[@sectorrottation]

I tried Mini Maton, Taylor baby and a couple of others and was happy with mini M and Taylor baby knowing that they should sound better plugged in. I was happy until I tried Taylor GS mini. Couldn't go back. GS mini sounds like a full size acoustic guitar. I was thinking of fitting an AP5 on to a GS mini. No one has discussed this before. Wonder it it's possible..

[@traviesohombre5145]

Trade2 Win I have to try the GS Mini, possibly the reason Taylor & Maton started working together on guitars & pickups. I’m not sure on whether a Maton pickup would go well inside your Taylor, because 1) Maton won’t help at all if the guitar is not a Maton (probably wouldn’t even sell you an AP5) and 2) Might need all new electrics inside if they’re very different by design. Best to chat with a good luthier close to you and gauge it from him/her whether the task is worth doing. Good luck!

[@spectorfriend]

I agree ;)

[@52TeleGuy]

I dont like acoustic pickups of any kind, but these were not bad sounding with the pickups engaged. Acoustically not great, i will stick with my martin. Shane you should do a review of a martin, taylor, and gibson acoustic. I would suggest the martin m36, taylor 600 series, and a gibson humming bird pro.

[@MirurImage]

I’ve got a mini M with the AP5 standard. With regard to its acoustic sound, well it’s not anywhere near good as my Takamine EAN in playability or acoustics. I guess that’s to be expected. As far as the AP5 system goes, it’s unmatched by any guitar I’ve played or heard. The pickups/Electronics bring this little guitar to life. By far superior to other guitars plugged in. Would I spend $1600 or even $1000 for one, no. There are other great guitars for far less.

[@rowley5784]

Ap5 was head and shoulders better

[@martylofberg]

I have the EMD6 and it actually sounds pretty good unplugged, too boxy to record with but still nice. IMO the whole point of the mini is playability (similar size to playing an electric) and playing live (which unless your playing to your family in the living room or something will be plugged in). It's just a different tool - people are always amazed at the sound it gets thru a PA :) What I want to know is why every other piezo pickup system I've heard sounds like absolute garbage compared to the AP5? Is there anything aftermarket that comes close to it? I'm still not sold on mic systems, especially cutting thru a band and the feedback issue.

[@albertlee4036]

Hi Shane, do you think you can to a comparison of EM6(Ap5) vs Tommy Emmanuel's EMTE (Ap5 Pro)? they share closer specs in terms of tone wood. Cheers

[@guitarocd9984]

Jesus now I want one of those little things

[@jgsheehan8810]

The pale one with the ap5

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

Shane, you should play acoustic guitars more often - sounded great!!

[@intheblues]

Thanks mate. I don't even own one anymore. I think I would end up with the GS1 Mini if I was to get one. :-)

[@gerryloughran1676]

Cool - darker one of those got nylon strings ?...always great to have one at home

[@georgeallison6228]

Sweet sounding acoustics...I swear though....if I cut a fart...Shane would review it and tell you exactly what I ate for breakfast!!! :)

[@IgnoresTrolls]

Do you find this worse than other travel size guitars unplugged? I tried the little Martin recently and wasn't impressed.

[@intheblues]

I think these sound amazing plugged in but "meh" unplugged. The only small guitar I have found that sounds great is the GS1 mini

[@cleftturnip7774]

Neither. I would just mic it up

[@BoudreauGuitars]

Do they make any full size Guitars?

[@intheblues]

Yep, they have a huge amount of guitars in their range of all types. :-)

[@7884golfguru]

Boudreau Guitars about to buy a Maton srs808 $1850 aus dollars absolutely beautiful sounding guitar

[@antman2826]

That compressor sounded awful

[@tdtom1376]

Shane, slow down on the uploads eh? you've got us seeing double!

[@davidozab2753]

Shane and Wayne (the right-handed evil twin) in a rare duet.

[@intheblues]

haha :-)

[@nevillegreg1]

I have a full size Maton Blackwood 808. It sounds fantastic plugged into an acoustic amp/PA. It's not worth the money if you play unamplified, there are better and cheaper alternatives, even from Artist Guitars. And BTW, unlike a similar guitar my friend bought from Artist Guitars, the Maton was effectively unplayable from the music shop, the action was so high, just hopeless. And the Maton doesn't even come with a truss rod adjustment tool, so I had to buy one to fix the relief/action in order to make it playable.

[@imransiddiqui761]

Wowww Amazing

[@paramediccpo]

Nice tone can you review a pedal for me?

[@intheblues]

shoot me an email from my about page on KZbin and I'd be happy to help as long as its something within my skillset. :-)

[@jojolapraline]

There's too much volume différence beetween the 2 guitars,it's not fair.

[@intheblues]

Thank the pickups for that.

[@guitarocd9984]

Some how you get everything to sound good LOL

[@ashtonduley8739]

An acoustic guitar that doesn’t sound great unplugged? Hmm 🤨

[@intheblues]

Yeah I don't know what it is but I am being honest. They sound really small and not very lively. Once you plug the in though they sound great.

[@TheEthug]

That's Matons, they are literally the best acoustics plugged in but acoustically they are weak.

[@traviesohombre5145]

The brand new guitars do sound tinny until they get played a bit over several years and really open up. My first Maton was purchased 2001 and now the tone has matured it gives other newer guitars a real run for their money, tone wise

[@LewWelchThePoet]

👍🏿🤘

[@mikenorris6769]

Did it not occur to you to tell us what you were playing thru, such basic stuff mate. Also the kelly compressor sounded terrible with both guitars, if you're going to try reviewing guitars please get someone who knows what they're doing, that 'reveiw' told me stuff all

[@lukecarvill7721]

Have you never been taught that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Manners are free so you may as well use them. Basic stuff mate.