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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | According to a reputable vintage guitar shop locally, Ovation Matrix' can not be refretted. They told me to contact ovation. Surprisingly the guy on the phone knew exactly what an ovation matrix was before I described it.
I've had my Matrix for 4 years or so and someone played the crap out of it (for an acoustic) before I got it and I play it just about every day. It's starting to buzz on the bottom strings because the frets are worn pretty well, especially with a capo on 2 or 3.
Is this true? Can these be refretted? I love this guitar, I'm not ready to retire it |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | If it's the most common Matrix the fingerboard and frets are a one-piece aluminum casting and they can not be refretted using standard techniques. I have seen attempts at re-fretting which have involved milling the frets flush, cutting slots and glueing in fretwire with epoxy but frankly it's more effort than it's worth. The idea was that when the frets wore out Ovation would replace the neck for the cost of a re-fret, but that didn't really work out. I'm pretty sure that replacement necks are long gone. There is a late-production version which has a rosewood fingerboard and conventional frets. They can be re-fretted like any other guitar. If yours is not one of those you now have the slide guitar you always wanted. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Interesting article HERE
Appears that they took a replacement neck route. I always imagined that any solution probably exceeded the guitars worth, when this dilemma presented itself. Your solution may only be a temporary fix depending upon the neck you can find. Reality is sometimes a harsh mistress.
Hey...it is always worth a shot to call Ovation. Good luck. |
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Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | You can tell bythe model number which neck you have. They are listed in the modle number listing. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | I've leveled and re-crowned the "frets" on a couple of my Applauses and they are fine. It does take a lot longer than a normal dressing but the results have been worth it. And since they weren't rounded very well from the factory, I ended up with a guitar that played better than it ever did, even if the frets are maginally lower.
I haven't tried grinding one down and slotting it yet. I'm willing to do it just for the challenge and knowing it's not a cost effective method. One day I'll pick up another AA-14 or similar and the frets will be toast. I'm not willing to chop up one that I know I can dress though. It'll have to be "beyond".
Send all unwanted/homeless/reprobate aluminum necks to me. This is an Applause safe house. I am the self appointed Saviour of Moosupium Laminate. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1118
Location: NW Washington State | Was there originally some harder material on the tops of the frets so that they would wear longer? If so, dressing them might shorten their remaining life. But if the edges are as sharp as the Academy I had, it might be worth it anyway.
-Steve W. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Yes, all except the earliest Applauses (and I assume Matrixes as well) had a chrome (?) plating on top. But if you look at the average "worn" Applause, the chrome is shot anyway, so you're really not doing any damage, just making the best of what you've got. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | Yes, it's a one piece and yes it appears the frets were chromed.
I love my guitar and I don't want to put a non aluminum fretboard on it. I'll just keep playing it until I find another I guess
Anyone want to sell me a Matrix? |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Just keep watching ebay for a basket case. When the plywood topped Matrixes and Applauses explode, most people don't want to bother fixing them. Sometimes the bridges pull up in a catastrophic manner, ripping a chunk of the top out in the process. I've repaired 3 or 4 like this but as stated, most people wouldn't bother. I do it because you can't talk sense to me when it comes to rescuing one of these. You might be able to score a good neck by getting a donor. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think the frets are aluminum, just like the fretboard. Unfortunately, they didn't make a huge supply of the replacement necks. It's tough to find one with a trashed body where the frets aren't also trashed. Most people are asking too much for a trashed Matrix and if the frets are gone they are useless, except maybe for slide.
Several years ago I read that someone came up with a way to repair the frets, but I have no clue where I read that. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | I like KSDaddy's approach. Skim it all down and epoxy in new frets. Not cost effective but for the Hobbyist, a worthy endevour.
Also a good opportunity to put some Brass, Copper, Silver and such inlays in the mix. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | If I had access to a milling machine, I'd be doing a fairly steady business of restoring those necks. They are really stable, and electric-guitar actions are imminently feasible. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13986
Location: Upper Left USA | You don't need a milling machine.
Just fight fire with fire...
Stewmac Radius Beams |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | There's a natural finish on ebay right now. I hope I'm not bidding against anyone. I hope I can pick it up pretty cheap. Not crazy about natural finishes but it looks like a nice guitar |
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November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Great idea, Mike! I was thinkin' with a milling machine, I could slot the leveled fretboard, too. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | Well looks like I won the Matrix on ebay for $132 including shipping. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 66
Location: Minnesota | There is a very nice Matrix on goodwill auctions right now |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Well, did anybody here get it? I had been bidding on it, but I was outbid at the last second. :mad: |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 92
Location: Northeast Ohio | The old US made aluminum fretboard Applause's are amazing instruments. I actually about 6 years ago refretted an AA15 12 stringer. Long , somewhat difficult and challenging, but oh so worth it. I love the neck on these so much that i now own 3 of these AA15's and converted one to a six string.And like seesquare said - electric guitar type action. Great guitars. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | Does these necks unbolt? Looking inside the sound hole I can see 2 bolts that appear to hold the neck on. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | Yes, they are removable and were intended to be replaceable. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 17
Location: San Marcos, Texas | Ok, I'm going to hand file some of my frets and hack saw slits in the fret board and put in reg frets.
Has anyone done it? I know there's been a lot of mention of it, even on other boards. I'm going to sacrifice one of mine and see how it goes |
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Matrix refret???
