via
this auction
More pics at the auction while up.
SN M51406
"This is a very well kept (see pics) COLLECTORS ITEM Oberheim Matrix 12 with some famous history/ownership/usage behind it. This EXACT Matrix 12 and sounds created by it was used by PRINCE on a album !!!, Mariah Carey's producers on 2 albums !!, Jefferson Starship, Journey,
Huey Lewis and The News on 2 albums, Toni Toni Toni, Too Short, and a lot more !!!
READ THIS DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THIS RARE BEAST.
This Matrix 12 has had 2 owners. Currently me (the second owner), and before me the original owner who bought it brand new in 1984.
This original owner whom I personally bought it from was Arne Frager the owner of world famous recording studio "
The Plant Studios"
(Link Here: THE PLANT STUDIOS ). Arne Frager is also a famous musician and producer. He did that song "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell at his studio (The Plant Studios) with producer Curtis Anthony Nolen. Great story how he met Michael Jackson (who sang the hook in his studio) and Berry Gordy (owner of Motown and Rockwells dad), etc..
Anyway, Arne Frager bought this Matrix 12 brand new in 1984 when they first were released for his studio's (The Plant Studios) "in house synth". It remained as The Plant Studios' main "in house synth" from 1984 till The Plant Studios went out of business in 2008. Thats when I bought it from him. Thats 24 years of usage in a worldwide known famous studio like that. That studio was visited by various famous people everyday, literally.
Now, Arne had plenty of great stories about this Matrix 12, and who used it over the time on their albums/singles while it was in use at The Plant Studios. But to make it short, just do the math = Most artists that recorded at The Plant Studios between 1984 and 2008 and ALSO recorded a synth sound on their song has used and personally touched this exact Matrix 12 you are bidding on. Not to mention this EXACT Matrix 12's sounds are heard on their famous songs that are/were all over the Billboard Charts. To get a rough idea of just a few artists/producers that have personally used this exact Matrix 12, just go to the discography page of The Plant Studios here:
THE PLANT STUDIOS DISCOGRAPHY , then look at every artist that recorded there between 1984 and 2008, and if they also had a synth sound in their song(s), then that synth sound on their album/single/Billboard hit is this EXACT Matrix 12 you are bidding on !!
According to Arnie, to name a few that for sure personally used this EXACT Matrix 12 in this listing (or their producers) for their famous song(s) or album(s) that you know of so well are:
MARIAH CAREY on 2 albums !!, PRINCE !!!, Jefferson Starship, Journey, Huey Lewis and The News on 2 albums, Toni Toni Toni,
Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Too Short, and many others. Those were just the main ones that stuck out.
I mean Prince's hands literally have touched and used this EXACT Matrix 12 in this listing !! Mariah Carey's producers literally touched and used this exact Matrix 12 in this listing for 2 albums of songs !!! Plus many others as you can see. Sounds this EXACT Matrix 12 has created are the ever so famous catchy synth sound you hear in the above mentioned artists Billboard hits of the time. When you hear their songs on the radio, them sounds are this EXACT synth ! This is what happens when a instrument is in such a world famous well known studio such as The Plant Studios. So this Matrix 12 is POURING over with Mojo, and historic history making vibes from the Stars !
On this page with all the other pictures of the unit, I have included a picture of the receipt Arne Frager gave me when I bought it, and will include that ORIGINAL receipt with the Matrix 12 as a "Certificate Of Authenticity". As you can see, it has The Plant Studios letter head, and Arne's signature (worth something in itself really !), and no, the blurred out marks on the picture of it are NOT on the original that you will be receiving. Between that and calculating the discography of that studio, you can piece the rest together."
via this auction
The built in loops are pretty standard for the era of organ accessory drum machines: Waltz, Latin, Foxtrot, Teen, & March.
This isn't a super easy drum machine to find, both in terms of general scarcity and because if you have one, you're playing it. Fresh from a local estate. It's about 4" tall, 7-1/2" wide and 9" deep. It is unique and different from the Roland, Univox, Maestro, Korg or other combo organ analog drum machines you'll find around.
It is a mono unit, single RCA output as well as an auxiliary input, and an external control that must be organ driven via single RCA. Great old drum machine with a great sound. Someone else wrote on Ebay awhile back but 'The subtle uniqueness of this machine truly stands out in a mix, and that is why rappers, hip-hop artists, and circuit-benders seek them out. Uniqueness is in and it can bend!'"
