What's the Manson MBM-2 really like?

The Manson Meta MBM-2, brought to you from Manson Guitar Works and Cort.

Pitched as the lower price point instrument that delivers a whole new playing and ownership experience for the Manson Guitar Works player, how is it as a guitar? More importantly, is it any good?

What would you get this guitar for? Want to sound like Matt Bellamy? Or do you want a guitar that you just don't see elsewhere?

Join me as I review this Matt Bellamy signature guitar and look at its suitability as a guitar and compare it to two proper Manson guitars and see how it stacks up against them.

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#review #mansonguitars #muse

[dg]

Guy finds that £500 guitar is not as good as £2000 guitar. There saved you watching it.

[taal]

Woah. This review was far more substantial than I anticipated. Those negatives.... Seems like I dodged a bullet. Feels like I can be patient until I save up and can play a proper Manson. Thanks

[bgp_sammy]

Loved your sense of humour… you made me smile more than I realised I would watching a review video

[greggorylee]

Great video and production on this video!
I bought a MBM-1 when it came out and got my local luthier to set it up and installed
a Mbk-2 bridge and a Seymore Duncan Antiquity P-90 neck, as well as Gotoh tuners, alumium knobs, phase switch and a series/coil split/parallel switch.
I might have been really lucky with mine, but mine plays like a dream, no issues so far.

I've owned a fair amount of guitar over the years, including a Strat. The one I got and modded stands on it's on really well.
Granted, I spend the same amount of money as the guitar itself on mods.... But hey! It gave me an idea of what a Meta series would play like if it had better components
It's my go to axe for almost everything now, but I still want to get a MA at some point. See for myself how big of a difference there is between my Mbm-1 and a Ma.
Thank you for opinion and video as always, Harry!

Cheer!

[scottrowan]

I have a Cort MBC1 with sustainer and fuzz factory and I really think it sounds great

[SauchieSandwich]

I've got both an MBM1 and MA so I'll add my 2 cents: The MA will always win.

But if you love Muse and can't get an MA then it's a really fun plan B. It's unfortunate that people are having quality issues as my MBM1 has been great.

Completely agree about the hot pick ups though. That bridge humbucker hits hard and loud but the neck humbucker can sound pretty murky unless clean. Glad they changed it to a P90.

[Jon]

I have the MBN1 as my first and only guitar which I’ve had for two years no issues at all with it thankfully. I do think that because you have had the experience of much better guitars from Manson already at 3 times the price minimum, that a £500 guitar is always going to be disappointing for you to be honest. It would be like driving a Audi for a few years to then swap down to a fiesta. There has to be compromises to get them at such a lower price point :)

[samuelbutler]

I just sold mine recently. The paint on the headstock was peeling off mine. Had it a few months but wasn't heavily played. I was disappointed in the quality of mine. The tailpiece poles weren't straight and the paint had blemishes on the body. I get it's a budget guitar but other guitars in that range have been flawless. Just my 2 cents.

[Jmh_]

I think it's expected that a cheap mass produced guitar won't sound as good, and I suspect a pickup swap would improve it.

But the broken strap button is unacceptable. As for the neck profile, I think I may have forgiven it if it was just meant to be a generic Manson style guitar, but as a signature guitar it should stay true to what the artist's real instrument is like.

[thomasrobertson]

Was eagerly awaiting your thoughts on this one. I have to agree with the build quality being an issue. I pre ordered the Manson mbc 1 and when it arrived the toggle switch was completely snapped off. I sent it back and ordered another one and it had the exact same issue. I’ve had it for just over a year now and I’m slowly falling out of love for it when I’ve had the chance to play other guitars. In your opinion what would you choose, a fender American telecaster or a proper Manson with the fuzz factory/ sustainer ect? Would love to hear you thoughts mate!

[MichaelEMJAYARE]

Really dig the sound of the pickups. Could be a whole lot worse.
I much prefer the knob layout of the true Manson. Nice and out of the way.
That black Manson is sexy, though. I think the Cort should come in some more color options, all I see is the aluminum lookin’ one and for whatever reason it looks “cheap” to me, you’d think they’d want to attract a lot of perspective buyers with some more unique finishes.


I have a Schecter Sun Valley with a sustainiac, if anyone is looking for a “cheaper” guitar with one, it ran me $850. Floyd rose equipped. About the same as the MBM-2 w/sustaniac.

Just looked at Mansons site: that MA EVO with sustaniac, fuzz factory, and floyd is just gorgeous. Wish I had the extra cash!

[kieranmc]

I bought an mbm1 a couple of years ago brand new. They must of skipped quantity control with that one. Didnt work from day one. Had a local guitar tech look at it and found it wired incorrectly. The selector switch was also faulty so had to send it back for a refund. I bought a PRS SE Tremonti for the same money and it is twice the guitar and still playing it every night

[pixelpix]

I have cort mbc1. great guitar, I use it regularly, never had a problem.
I had an MBM1, good quality, nothing to say, the humbucker on the handle a bit disappointing otherwise it's very good.
I sold it for a blue MBM2 with surstainiac.
many quality defects. Non-functional potentiometer, paintwork with defects... after 2 exchanges, I gave up.
the quality has deteriorated since the MBC1

[sarahbasso]

Interesting way to plug and play. It's very important to wash your hand before a little roasting 🔥🎸🔥🤏😎

[thibauddubreuil]

Hey ! Thank you for the review. I have another question about Manson: is the MB-1 signature guitar as good as the MA-EVO ? Or better? Why have you chosen the MA-EVO ? Thanks !

[Patrick]

Crazy how the massive difference just vanishes once you use distortion or fuzz xD

[robbiesguitarcovers]

That was a really cool video Harry! Love the green screen. Just wondering why you didn't go for the Sustainiac in the neck?

[DojoManic]

I bought the mb1 when it came out. The guitar kept buzzing so I took it to a guitar tech. He told me that the neck was warped. Cort didn’t want to give me a refund or an exchange.

[kaeidh]

Soft v neck imho, is the most versatile neck that it’s somewhere in the middle of baseball bat and a plank of wood. The wood is all good imho, though I don’t want the wood that witnessed louie the nth or some other snobbery. Regarding pickups, well I am pretty far from UK and I still order bkp’s and if you try and stick some of those in you’ll see that the construction of the guitar is at least good otherwise wouldn’t have sounded that good. Give it a try if you want! Now about the issues of manufacturing of some models, you can always relace them right? I hope that someday I’ll justify 3k on a ‘proper’ Manson but I tend to support these initiatives of companies making affordable guitars not for the poor but for people that are not living out of playing guitar(or at least yet for some) All considered my mbm-2 is working just fine and I love it. It does the job right, and it’s fun to play. 🍻 Cheers!

[njayapani]

Great review! Just wondering if you've ever tried the Cort MBC-1? If so I'm curious how that compares to the MBM-2