Product: Ovation 1632-1 Matrix
Price Paid: US $250
Submitted
12/19/2004
at
08:19am
by
Ray
Email: raybcrna at adelphia<dot>net
Features
:
8
This acoustic / electtric is aprox. 27 years old. I purchased it used over 25 years ago. What can you say about the constuction of this instrument...it's a bomb shelter. Laminated spruce top, Ovation rosen curved back, rosen neck with a solid aluminum fretboard and a pezio-electric pick-up. No audio controls here. That must be controlled at the amp. This guitar has a sunburst glossy finish that still looks good (except for two significant cracks in the varnish).
Sound
:
10
You know, I'm still amazed. Every time I put a new set of light strings on this baby it sings like an angel. It has a rich full sound (like a jumbo). I currently own a low end Alvarez solid wood guitar and a high end Takamine Steve Wariner signature series. I skipped right over all of the medium priced guitars because I just couldn't find anything that could match the sound that this ovation puts out. I guess you could say this guitar has saved me a lot of money through the years.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
This was Ovation's guitar of the future in the mid 70's. A guitar that sounded great but was impervious to the constant environmental assaults on a guitar (humidity, temperature change, etc...). Well, it worked. This is my "lake" guitar. I leave it at the lake all the time in a minimally temperature controlled house. I take it to the dock, on the porch, where ever the mood stikes. Through the years the guitar surface has cracked and ther is significant fret wear. I can't fix either problem without significant cost...but to date, 25 years later, it hasn't effected the sound.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
BOMB PROOF!
Very dependable with solid strap buttons.
If you can find one, this would be a great travel/outdoors guitar. Impervious to snow or camp fire heat.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've performed touchups myself.
Overall Rating
:
9
I've been playing for over 30 years. Tone and ease of action are top priorities. This guitar provides both....especially with regular string changes.
I suppose a Matrix would be hard to find but would be worth considering if you did. I have no idea as to it's worth.
Interesting note: This style was abandoned by Ovation...at least as far as I know. They still have the senthetic back but have gone to soild wood tops and necks
