Ovation Applause

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edi

New member
Hi
i want to buy me a guitar, and i found a
12 string Ovation Applause (acoustc/electric) new for 300$
is this a good deal ?
Bthx
edi
 
NO!!

I speak from experience. Not only did I get my Ovation for cheaper, they aren't good guitars!!! YMMV! I am going to avoid the whole "nothing good under $XXX" debate. You need to find a guitar that sounds good, not that has a good brand name. Case in point... I walked into a music store with $3400 about a month ago, with every intention of buying the top of the line, a Taylor. I walked out with $3000 in my pocket, an Ibanez AEF18 with Fishman Sonicore pickup and case, and it is beautiful. Obviously it is not a Taylor, but the sound was remarkably close. I played every guitar in the place, and this one sounded better than all but about 5 (4 Taylors and a Martin) but I couldn't justify spending that much for a subtle difference in sound. I had always hated Ibanez before. Bottom line... buy what sounds good, but do keep in mind some brands have reputations for a reason. Ovation is one of those. I would stay away (plus you can find 'em new for $199 depending on the model). IMHO.

Pete
 
No it isnt, run, run as fast as you can. Look around and you can find a guild fro the same money probably. Ovation and applause suck, every one I have ever seen sucks.
 
hmmm...

3 negative responses all within 1 minute of eachother.
Vely intelesting.

:D
Pete
 
Applauses aren't too bad. Seagulls are popular for cheap guitars. If you want a really nice guitar you should look at Martin, Larivee, or Taylor and expect to spend around $6-700. I would rather have a guitar that would last a lifetime.

Check out www.musiciansfriend.com to compare prices and see if that is a decent deal. www.harmonycentral.com has user reviews and what they paid also.
 
I have had some experiance with applause. Back in the mid 80's I had an applause 6 string acoustic. One major flaw in their design of those guitars. The neck is all aluminum...frets and all...kind of like they pour hot aluminun in a mold for the neck.

The guitar fell over and the front of the neck hit the corner of the table and caused the E string to break a spot off of one of the frets. It blew me away when i found out that the neck and frets were all one aluminum mold and a chiped fret was basically the end of the guitar...cause there was no way to repair it. for 50 or 60 bucks an applause would be okay...but for 300 bucks you can at least get a guitar that could be refreted.
my 2 cents
 
I've had one of those all aluminum neck 12 string applause guitars since the early 80's...bought new for around $275 incl case....never had a problem with it...but then, I haven't dropped it either:p Not a great guitar as far as superior sound, but as an extra, extra acoustic, and as a 12 string, it has been all I needed. I'm no Leo Kotkee (sp?) However, I still have never got used to the round back....and standing and a strap isn't much better either.
 
There's a very unique sound associated with Ovation guitars. If you want that unique sound, get the Applause - the only difference between the two is where it's built.

If you aren't after that specific sound, look elsewhere. Seagull 12 strings are a better buy in the same price range, and you can get a used Takaminem 12-string for about that price and get a MUCH better guitar for both miked and plugged-in sound.

Oh - and Leo's last name is Kotke
 
dragonworks

I own a bunch of collector acoustic guitars yet the best and most reliable recording guitar I have is a '71 Ovation balladeer.

That said I'd say don't buy that Applause, you can do better. I'd look in the used market for '70's Japanese 12 string (Alvarez, Yamaha, etc.), they're well made with good wood and have settled in as far as any warping is concerned.
 
There are several important differences between Applause and Celebrity model "Ovations" and the US made ones,not the least of which is that almost all the offshore models use laminates (plywood) for the all important soundboard,which to me is especially noticeable on the 12 string models. I like US Ovations a lot,I have 3 of them,but at the price point of an Applause,I'd look first at a Canadian guitar with a solid wood top such as Seagull or Simon&Patrick.
 
I've had other Ovation Balladeers that were junk too, well not really junk as they were good for stage use but not much acoustically. But this one is different. It's 1111-4 (dot inlay) and no pickup. Using an Oktava MC 012 or C-1, I can record and mix it pretty much flat.
 
WHOA!!

There's a very unique sound associated with Ovation guitars. If you want that unique sound, get the Applause - the only difference between the two is where it's built.
Click to expand...

I don't want to start something here, but Griffinator's observation is closer to the truth when comparing a Celebrity and a regular Ovation; it becomes a laminated / solid top thing, care of assembly, what price point you are at and so forth. It does NOT hold true with the Applause, which is more toy than guitar.

The problem is, if an Applause is straight, it will sound tinky. If it is bent, it will probably never be straight again, because of the way these things are made. In a nutshell, I like Ovations, and will probably end up owning an Adamis carbon top some day. I skip over the Celebrities when I see them because few will have a solid top and that's something I'm picky about. Some do (the Elite, for instance, can come with a solid top) and so play them and see what you think. But I shudder when I encounter an Applause. I'd look at almost anything else first...

--------------------
Maybe that's why I never get any applause...
 
I don't want to start something here, but Griffinator's observation is closer to the truth when comparing a Celebrity and a regular Ovation; it becomes a laminated / solid top thing, care of assembly, what price point you are at and so forth. It does NOT hold true with the Applause, which is more toy than guitar.
Click to expand...

You may be right. I'm a bit biased because I hate the sound of an Ovation anyway. Those plastic backs just don't substitute for good wood to me...
 
Its just all the Ovation and applause guitars I have seen or played have something wrong with them. The fretboard is peeling off, the body cracked,
the bridge coming off, action way to high cause the neck is warped. Allways something, never saw a good one except a new one. Give them a few years and there worthless.
 
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