Manson and Cort’s collaboration continues with the most faithful, affordable Matt Bellamy signature model to date. Time to check out a tech-loaded newborn
In 2015, Manson Guitar Works teamed up with Cort to deliver a muchrequested affordable guitar based on the Muse frontman’s stage instruments. The result was the MBC-1, which at the time was lavished with praise for being not only a great signature model but also an allround superlative £500 electric. With its HS pickup configuration, kill switch, stealthy matt black finish and satin neck, it was hard for Muse fans and guitarists wanting a versatile instrument to find fault.
A lot has changed since then. Hugh Manson has hung up his chisel and Matt Bellamy is now a co-owner of Manson Guitar Works, having released the revised dual-humbucker Meta MBM-1 in 2020. “The role of the Meta Series,” says Adrian Ashton, Manson Guitar Works’ MD, “is to give the Manson customer or potential new Manson customers the design ethos, the Matt Bellamy shape, and some of the interesting stuff we do, at a price that is more available to more people, basically.”
Which brings us to now, where we see the all-new Meta MBM-2 range. There’s a new base model, the MBM-2 with a P-90 in the neck position (in Dry Satin Black or Starlight Silver), and a Sustainiac-equipped version sporting either Dry Satin Black or the eye-catching Meta-Blue seen here.
This level of faithfulness to Matt Bellamy’s stage guitars has never been as accessible nor affordable
But there’s more because as well as offering these two models as listed, by the time you read this Manson will have unveiled another ace: the option of including a Z.Vex Fuzz Factory pedal circuit in either MBM-2 model. “The MBM-2 and MBM-2 Sustainiac will be from the factory, globally distributed,” says Adrian. “But then you’ll be able to buy an MBM-2 Sustainiac/ Fuzz Factory, and that’s going to be released by us here in the UK, in Ashburton, and available to order worldwide. Obviously, the guitar is the same guitar as the MBM-2. But we bring in that as a shell and do the modifications in-house.“
Feel & Sounds
As far as “shells” go, we think the MBM-2 is a pretty well-stocked starting point. All models feature a basswood body, and this latest version sees that MB shape undergo some additional contouring – plus, of course, there’s the brand-new finish that we’ve already mentioned. Constructionwise, it
