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Location: North Texas | Are there other guitar companies that use the Matrix brand name? I found a roundback guitar on ebay which is called a Matrix. It kinda looks similar to an O, but I doubt it is. Most likely it's a cheapo asian knockoff. Anybody heard of a brand X Matrix? Thanx, Buckaroo |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Matrix was an innovative guitar that Ovation made right here in the Good Ole. Aluminum fretboard and all that. Lots of people have good things to say about them. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | I've seen pix of the Ovation Matrix, but this other guitar looks different. I'm wondering if there is a knockoff using the same name. I'll see if I can post a photo. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Here is that mystery Matrix. Looks like it could be a nice project. I'm not sure what it is, but it's a roundback. Anybody seen one of these?   |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Looks like a standard matrix to me. Dave
PS - There is an Acadamy on ebay right now. That's one you could have some fun with. Plastic top AND back. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Is that "MAH-tricks" or "MAY-tricks"? |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | That's what I'd like to know.
There was an Academy on the bay, as Dave pointed out, but it did not look like a project. $199. This "matrix" went for $31.00, + shipping |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | That looks like my Matrix, except mine is natural. The Ovation serial number code says mine is made in 1976, but I bought it new in July 1977. Aluminum fretboard, plywood spruce top and urethane neck. Still sounds and plays good. USA made. They had a similar Applause guitar. Later they went to rosewood fretboards. If the "project" involves refretting the aluminum fretboard, it may be hopeless, since you can't get them anymore. It sounded like a good idea that just didn't sell. The nice thing is if they aren't played a lot they are pretty indestructible. The only flaw on mine is a cracked rosette. Not bad with a few moves, couple kids, dogs and cats. Only one wife, though. |
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Location: Tennessee | More than one wife and the guitar would likely be broken from the El Kabong delivered upside your head by one or both. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | I'm getting the idea that this is an Ovation product. Is that the consensus of the group? If so, that's cool. Whatever problems exist, I believe I can fix them. We have the technology. Thanks for the inputs. Buck |
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Location: Tennessee | Go for it. If it doesn't work, you've got a pretty trendy soup tureen for next to nothing. |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think it's an Ovation. Mine says Ovation on the headstock, but I think they did put Matrix on some of them. I wouldn't spend too much on one, but then I already have one. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | YES, it IS an Ovation. I have the Applause equivalent, an AA-14, from 1976 as well.
Roger |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | They also put Medallion on the headstock when they got in trouble using the name Matrix. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | I bought it for 31 dollars. With shipping, it came to $47 total. I won't know if it's the real deal until arrival. I still have some doubts, but at that cost....
It'll make a great take along guitar. I won't have to worry about messing it up, and if I'm ever up the creek I'll be prepared. |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Mr. O, I think you got it backwards. They switched from Medallion to Matrix. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | The rosette on this guitar looks nearly gone. Marks' is cracked. I've seen several Matrix guitars with damaged rosettes also. Can these parts be purchased? I might end up refinishing the top completely, and leave the rosette off. If the parts are availible, though, I'd be tempted to replace it. Do the rosettes serve a purpose beyond appearance? |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Rossettes were initially not only decorative, but served to reinforce the edges of the soundhole. I many guitars today, they are largely decorative you can tell by looking underneath the sound hole to see if there is any reinforcement. If not..you might want to restore/replace the old one. |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | In 1969-70 when Ovation went to the stick-on rosette the literature claimed it acted as a "pickguard". We all know now that's a lot of BS and it was just a way to save a buck on the inlaid ones which were a quality nightmare. Now 40 years later they finally figured out how to do the inlaid ones without peeling, blistering and clouding over and now they charge you EXTRA if you want the stick-on kind. Cheap bastards, but I still love 'em. Dave |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | They think of everything. That reminds me of the gasoline companies charging extra money for additives like Boron. In other areas they would charge more for gasoline because it was additive free. Anything to squeeze a few pennies from the hapless consumer. Back to topic, (please excuse my free associative nature) but can the stick on rossettes be purchased aftermarket? Thanks, Buck |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yes, you can buy them from the service department. If you can wait until next Monday when I get home from this god aweful business trip I think I may have one. Dave |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | I can wait Dave. It might be a week, or more, before the guitar arrives. Thanks, Buck |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | The rosettes on the Matrix are fairly narrow. Mine cracked when my daughter was showing my guitar to her friend, who dropped it. I was glad that was the only thing that cracked. The same duo knocked over our grandfather clock and broke it in pieces. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | at less than 100 it's a deal. |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Buck, I think mine sounds a little more twangy than my others, although when it was my only guitar for 25 years, I never noticed. I don't know if you really have any comparables, either, but I'd be interested in your thoughts. I don't have a deep bowl, center-hole, steel string to compare it to, except the Applause 12 string. Lots of volume off that deep bowl, though. I still have the receipt. $245 in July 1977. I guess we got $4 off list price and a cheap case thrown in. What a deal! |
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