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Joined:
July 2013
Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | I discovered later that my very first "Ovation" guitar was a Matrix. At the time I thought it was just a cheap knock-off/copy. It was a vintage one, too. It was a model 1738 12-string and it said, Matrix on the headstock not Ovation.
According to Ovation's archive data this model number (1132) is a Matrix guitar, so why does it say Ovation on the headstock and on the label inside the sound hole? By the serial number and it being USA-made, then it's a pretty old guitar, so maybe I missed something. Any help identifying and/or clarifying the Matrix vs. Ovation would be appreciated. 
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3615
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | It is a nice specimen. but no, I don't know why it doesn't have a Matrix headstock & label. Maybe, some kind of "transitional" thing, before the new name was attached.
Hopefully, an archivist will be along, shortly.... |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yes, that is a Matrix.
No, not all Matrices say "Matrix" on the headstock (or label).
Quick way to tell...
If it has that little ridge thing on the headstock, it is a Matrix.
I believe that the headstock and neck are made out of "Urelite" like some Ultra's and Academy's.
But I believe that only the Matrix have that little doodad on the headstock.
The labels may change, and the logo... But since it is a 1132 it is a Matrix.
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Some of them have aluminum necks like Applauses and some have aluminum necks with rosewood boards. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I have the same guitar. Made in USA in 1976. The serial number list should tell you the date. That one has the aluminum fretboard. You can see the black finish on the cowboy chord frets worn through and the aluminum showing through. If I remember correctly, the original ones were called Medallions, but that name was taken, so they put the Ovation name on and then put Matrix up there. Wish I could have afforded the original brown case when I got mine in 76. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | As an owner of a Medallion and having researched this, I can confirm what OMA, Ksdaddy and Mark have added. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Hurrah for the matrix, academy, applause and ultra. Some of those Ovations use way too much wood |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | I'm up to 45 aluminum necks now. My one Matrix is an 1142 with a WEIRD paint job:
My gripe about the 1142 is that the neck is aluminum and the board is rosewood. SOUNDS like a good idea but it's quite limber. The 1132 had an all loonium neck like an Applause but with the Matrix headstock. Not everyone's cup of tea but definitely more rigid. |
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Is this a Matrix guitar?
