Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac review: “a superbly set-up and put together instrument that’s ready for anything thrown at it”
[Editor’s Note: Meng Ru Kuok, Founder & CEO of Caldecott Music Group is a part owner of Manson Guitar Works. Guitar.com is part of Caldecott Music Group]
£899, mansonguitarworks.com
It’s been six years since Muse frontman Matt Bellamy purchased the long-time manufacturer of his signature guitars, Manson. Shortly after this acquisition they introduced Meta series MBM-1: an affordable variant of Matt’s signature model, built – as many budget brands are – by Cortek. It quickly garnered plaudits from the guitar community as a much-improved successor to 2015’s already rather good MBC-1.
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Manson soon expanded the Meta series in 2022 and released the MBM-2, marketed as being ‘more closely aligned to Bellamy’s stage guitars’ and included revised body contouring and a Fernandes Sustainer in the neck position.
Image: Adam Gasson
Of course, due to the sad demise of Fernandes Guitars, the Sustainer is no longer a viable option for anyone wanting an infinite-sustain pickup in their guitar, and so welcome then the latest MBM-2H, which retains much of the spec of the original guitar but with some newly revised body contours and the all-important presence of a Sustainiac pickup in the neck – the exact model Bellamy uses himself these days.
Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac – what is it?
As mentioned, this is broadly a very similar to the guitar it’s replaced – you get a basswood body, laurel fretboard, compound 12-16” radius, soft ‘V’ neck profile, kill switch, 3-way toggle switch, volume and tone controls, and staggered locking tuners.
The tweaked body contours are subtle enough that you’d probably not even notice, but the new finish options – the festive Red Sparkle or this more demure Satin Olive Green – are very much in the current Bellamy wheelhouse and represent a welcome change from the flat black that the original MBM guitar exclusively shipped in.
Image: Adam Gasson
It’s all made in Indonesia by Cortek, the makers of Cort, and the guitars are then shipped to Manson’s UK facility for final inspection before being sent out to yours truly.
Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac – build quality and playability
Though Matt’s guitars may look like industrially-vibed disproportionate Telecasters at first glance, the guitar is a surprisingly comfortable shape when strapped on. The new contouring probably helps this – the tummy contour in particular makes things instantly feel a little less agricultural than its slab-bodies inspiration.
It’s a shame that the concessions to player enjoyment don’t extend to the upper frets – the slanted bolt-on neck joint has little regard for those of us who want to reach the highest parts of the fretboard.
Image: Adam Gasson
Bellamy is no stranger to the dusty end of course, but it’s worth noting that the high-end Mansons that Matt tends to actually use himself usually have some element of sculpting on the heel – it’d be nice if the affordable options could follow suit someday.
The industrial aesthetic extends to its overall feel. The satin finished neck looks fresh off the CNC machine with its thin satin finish and lack of rolled fingerboard edges. This is understandable given the price point (though Fender have managed to work out how to affordably roll edges), but we feel most would prefer a slightly more comfortable finish on the fretboard edges.
But that is also the vibe with Matt’s guitars – they look and feel very utilitarian and this is further evidenced by the lack of amenities such as fretboard markers. Before I consider lamenting the lack of fretboard dots, I remind myself that Mr. Bellamy himself has provided ample evidence via his incredible live performances, that their omission is not an impediment to performance or accuracy. Consider myself scolded.
Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac – sounds
Plugged into my high-gain Diezel VH4, the MBM-2H’s bridge humbucker performs feels like a medium-high output voicing and delivers us a mid-rich crunch that’s pleasingly devoid of the brittle high end that you sometimes get with an alder body.
Image: Adam Gasson
Basswood is sometimes perceived as a more economical wood compared to say alder or ash, but it has an even frequency response which often makes it the preferred choice of rock and metal players with high output pickups, and in conjunction with the Manson bridge pickup pushes our preamp section enough to produce a real throaty rock tone that punches out palm muted riffs and chords.
Matt, along with Ed O’ Brien, are players who demonstrate the full potential of the sustaining pickup as a bona fide writing tool. For those who only view it as an opportunity to infinitely sustain bends as part of ostentatious live solos ala Steve Vai, you’re missing out on the sheer number of textural parts you can create by using the Sustainiac in conjunction with a wide variety of effects – such as the conveniently placed kill switch right underneath your nose.
The sustainer switches are sensibly located near the volume and tone pots and allow us to switch between fundamental, harmonic, and blend modes. What many don’t realise is that the neck pickup in non-sustainer mode is quite exceptional sounding in its own right, providing an extra little bit of punch and clarity that really shines on low to mid-gain sounds.
Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac – should I buy one?
Despite it’s place as the affordable signature model of one of the most high profile players in modern rock, the MBM-2 paradoxically continues to be something of an under-the-radar standard bearer for this sort of rock-focused T-type.
While the nature of the world right now means that it’s more expensive than it used to be, that’s true of every guitar really – and getting this level of guitar for this price is still not to be sniffed at.
Image: Adam Gasson
The sheer versatility and creative prowess the Sustainiac affords you means that irrespective of your preferred guitar styles, if you like experimenting with textures then this is an affordable way of trying one.
Cortek’s manufacturing process and quality control further cements their status as world-leader in affordable guitar manufacture. That means that while there’s undoubtedly a somewhat polarising industrial, unfinished feel to the MBM-2, it’s still a superbly set-up and put together instrument that’s ready for anything thrown at it.
Manson Meta Series MBM-2H Sustainiac – alternatives
Tele-based but with a little more 80s vibe is the Schecter PT Sun Valley Super Shredder (£989). Very much styled upon the Californian super Strat/Tele models of the 80s, Schecter, like Cort, are another huge manufacturer that continues to provide impressive specs for very reasonable prices. In this instance just under a grand gets you a twin humbucker, maple necked, Floyd rose loaded axe with onboard sustainer.
Another signature guitar with a sustainer loaded has now become somewhat a modern classic: the Ed O’Brien Fender Stratocaster. With JB mini-humbucker in the bridge and a Fernandes Sustainer in the neck, all the electronic accoutrements of Radiohead wizard have been distilled into a classic Strat format.
A slightly more left-field choice (for a very left-field player) is the Reverend Reeves Gabrels Signature RG-SUS (£1,399). Its unique body shape will invite comparisons to a Telecaster but with a Korina Body, ebony neck, and Sustainiac such comparisons begin to dissipate. A unique guitar worthy of further investigation.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
