Guitar World Verdict
The Manson Meta MBM-2H is perhaps not best suited to the traditional classic rock and blues thing, but excels at glassy cleans, high gain, and outlandish fuzz. A well-built guitar with excellent playability, up-to-date features, and at a reasonable price, it’s obviously perfect for a Muse fan, but also fits the bill for anyone looking for a modern powerhouse
Pros
- +
Exellent modern sounds.
- +
Reasonably priced considering Sustainiac.
- +
Plays like a dream.
Cons
- -
There are better choices for more traditional guitar sounds.
- -
Small kill switch.
- -
Soft V carve may not be for everyone.
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What is it?
With a lineage dating all the way back to the 60s and born from the luthiery of Hugh and Andy Manson, Manson Guitars have a storied history and a well-earned reputation in building quality instruments. A British company building custom guitars alongside a production-based line, Manson expanded from its humble beginnings, capturing the attention of a number of well-known artists along the way.
One of which is the one and only Matt Bellamy, eventually leading to the Muse frontman purchasing a majority share in the company in 2019. Out of this, we now have the Manson Meta MBM-2H - the latest version of Matt Bellamy’s signature guitar in an affordable guise, full of modern tones and the Muse-associated bells and whistles. For the latest 2025 run, Manson has brought back the distinctive Red Sparkle finish, along with Satin Olive Green, the latter coming with contrasting black hardware.
More of a refinement than an overhaul, the MBM-2H builds on the MBM-1 with a body shape more akin to the guitars Matt Bellamy plays on stage, additional pickup options, and a left-handed version available with no extra upcharge. As with the MBM-1, we have a kill switch built into the top shoulder and options for Sustainiac pickup and a built-in Zvex Fuzz Factory effect. Manson sent a test model of the Sustainiac iteration in the rather fetching Red Sparkle.
Produced by Cort in Indonesia under license from Manson, on paper, the Meta Series MBM-2H looks to be an exciting proposition, potentially providing modern tones and plenty of fun, quirky extras at a reasonable price.
Specs
- Launch price: £899/€998
- Made: Indonesia
- Type: Six-string electric guitar
- Body: Basswood
- Neck: Hard maple, soft V
- Fingerboard: Indian laurel
- Scale length: 25.5"/648mm
- Nut width: 1.6"/42mm
- Frets: 22 medium jumbo, nickel silver
- Hardware: Cort staggered locking tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge
- String spacing at bridge: 1.9"/49mm
- Electrics: Manson Humbucker, Sustainiac Stealth Pro, 3-way switch, tone, and volume
- Options: HH model (without Sustainiac) and Z.Vex Fuzz Factory upgrade
- Left-handed options: Yes - Dry Satin Black, Satin Olive Green
- Finishes: Meta Blue, Red Sparkle (as reviewed), Starlight Silver, Dry Satin Black, Satin Olive Green (w/black hardware),
- Cases: No
- Contact: Manson Guitar Works
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
To put it bluntly, the build is superb for the price. The guitar sports sturdy locking tuners that do their job well and flawlessly finished nickel silver medium jumbo frets, sat atop an Indian laurel fretboard.
The Red Sparkle finish that adorns the basswood body is a choice that is a little divisive in conversations around the office; however, it will certainly turn a few heads either way. Personally, I very much approve of it. The headstock matches the finish, and here we find just a slight blemish on this test model.
An added bonus is a two-way adjustable spoke nut at the base of the neck for truss rod adjustment, saving a ton of hassle when it comes to getting that neck relief in the sweet spot. The setup in general is a little bit buzzy on this model, but nothing that can’t be solved by raising the guitar's action slightly.
I always appreciate a satisfying clunk when operating a switch, and I am pleased to find said clunk present in the two mini-switches for the Sustainiac. The pickup selector falls a little short of this, as there's a bit of play in its movement, but nothing overly worrisome.
The changes to the body are very subtle compared to the MBM-1, but it is comfortable to play around. The heel joint is a standard bolt-on design with no contours for access, but it is well put together.
We have tone and volume controls that rotate with a little resistance, just enough to make them feel as if they are built to last and solidify the impression of the MBM-2H being a well-built instrument, especially considering its budget-pleasing credentials.
Playability
Playability rating: ★★★★½
Playing the Manson Meta MBM2, it’s easy to forget that it is the relatively affordable version of Matt Bellamy's stage guitars
Playing the Manson Meta MBM-2H, it’s easy to forget that it is the relatively affordable version of Matt Bellamy's stage guitars. The Sustainiac on this test model adds a fair amount to the price, but the standard HH iteration is available for just £569 from Manson Guitar Works at the time of writing.
Perhaps what helps the guitar along the most in this sense is the beautifully finished neck. It’s a smooth satin with a soft V carve that may not be for everyone, but if you like this shape, the MBM-2 will feel every bit as comfortable in the hand as a more expensive model.
A 12-16” compound radius fretboard makes flashy legato runs a breeze at the higher end of the neck, whilst not being too uncomfortable for open chord playing by the nut. Adding to the smooth feel are the well-finished medium jumbo frets - a good middle ground in terms of size if you're someone who doesn’t have a strong preference either way.
The only small inconveniences are the Sustainiac pickup that is set, understandably, quite close to the strings, requiring some extra precision so as not to strike it with my pick. I also find the kill switch to be on the small side, meaning it’s tricky to hit in a hurry if you're right hand is quickly dancing between the strings and the switch.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
We all remember the big moment that is our first live gig experience, and Muse was mine. So I had high hopes as I blasted through my repertoire of Muse riffs that the Manson MBM-2H Sustainiac would allow me to recreate the sounds that played such a big part in my formative years of guitar. However, being aware that the Meta series is designed to be more budget-friendly compared to the full-blown model, I was prepared for the eventuality that it might not make the mark. Happily, it nails it.
The bridge is clear with plenty of punch and is surprisingly dynamic for a pickup of a relatively high output. Harmonics are keen to jump out, making passages like the speedy Stockholm Syndrome riff with that awkward harmonic feel relatively easy.
Switch to the neck without the Sustainiac turned on, and it becomes an active single coil. It’s a modern sound that has that single coil spank, but also the compression expected from the active nature of the pickup. Not as dynamic as its passive cousins, but perfect for modern cleans.
The Manson is clearly built to excel at modern tones, and excel it truly does
High gain on the neck pickup in this mode is warmer than the bridge, but maintains a surprising amount of clarity, which is great for this use. It does not have the wooliness of more traditional guitars, so although it does the crunchy classic rock and bluesy stuff well, you might want to stick with something akin to a Les Paul or Stratocaster for that. The Manson is clearly built to excel at modern tones, and excel it truly does.
We can’t test a Muse-centric guitar without running it through some fuzz. A Z.Vex Fuzz Factory effect is available built in as an option on the MBM-2H, but it’s not installed on this test model. Instead, I reach for the comparatively aggressive Z.Vex Probe. What follows is just a ton of fun, with both pickups handling everything from spitty fuzz sounds to ridiculous over-the-top gain, without collapsing as some might. My rendition of Plug In Baby has never sounded so good.
Out of curiosity, I set up a more traditional sound via my Hendrix Band Of Gypsys mini fuzz, which didn’t seem to get on with the pickups as it immediately starts to over-compress and collapse, even at lower gain settings. So best stick with fuzz of the modern kind here.
On to the more outlandish features in the Sustainiac Stealth Pro. In short, it does exactly as promised in creating infinite sustain and natural-sounding feedback. The most fun is found within gainier settings, which is arguably the more canonical way to use it, but it performs well clean too.
With some gain, it is a huge tone, and there is something very visceral about feeling the strings vibrate under the fingers via the Sustainiac
It has three modes: Fundamental, Mix, and Harmonic, with Mix causing the pickup to produce a combination of the fundamental and a harmonic that changes depending on where you are on the fretboard. My favourite way to use it is in Fundamental mode and switching to Harmonic when I want to nudge the note into a different type of feedback.
With some gain, it is a huge tone, and there is something very visceral about feeling the strings vibrate under the fingers via the Sustainiac. It manages to sound other-worldly whilst staying natural to the guitar, making it easy to create soundscapes that I could happily spend hours within.
Lastly, we have the kill switch. A simple function that just works. There is a little bit of popping every now and again that seems to dissipate with use, so perhaps a little static to deal with, but not enough that is a deal breaker.
Verdict
It feels like a more expensive guitar
In terms of pricing, the MBM-2H sits at the beginning of the mid-range market, with the prices increasing as the extra features like the Sustaniac present here and Fuzz Factory are added. But in the hands, it feels like a more expensive guitar. It plays well, has a solid build and a striking finish with the extras just adding a ton of fun, making it something that’s a joy to spend time with.
Although it is certainly capable of more typical guitar sounds, it’s not going to be the one if you are inspired by tones of an old school nature. But as a modern machine with a side of quirkiness to boot, it’s a perfect choice.
Guitar World verdict: The Manson Meta MBM-2H Sustainiac is perhaps not best suited to the traditional classic rock and bluesy thing, but excels at glassy cleans, high gain, and outlandish fuzz. A well-built guitar with excellent playability, up-to-date features and at a reasonable price, it’s obviously perfect for a Muse fan, but also fits the bill for anyone looking for a modern powerhouse.
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | A build that is hard to fault, especially considering the relatively affordable price. | ★★★★½ |
Playability | The soft V may not be for everyone, but those who like it are in for a comfortable experience. | ★★★★½ |
Sounds | Excels at modern sounds and outlandish fun, but perhaps not for classic rock and blues. | ★★★★½ |
Overall | A great guitar at a reasonable price, geared towards the modern player. | ★★★★★½ |
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