Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $199

Budget/Beginner

$200

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Ovation Applause". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 3, 2026.

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Description

Experience the harmonious blend of innovation and tradition with the Ovation Applause acoustic guitar. Designed for musicians who demand both quality and style, this guitar boasts Ovation’s award-winning multi-soundhole technology. The meticulously crafted spruce top, combined with precision bracing, delivers a rich and balanced sound that resonates beautifully across genres. Complementing this is the Lyrachord body, which not only enhances sound projection but also ensures durability without the weight of reinforcements.

Whether you're strumming gentle melodies or rocking out with power chords, the slim contoured neck offers a fast, effortless playing experience, perfect for any style. At its heart, the Applause features a Slimline pickup that captures the true essence of acoustic tones, ensuring every note is delivered with clarity and power. The OP-4B active preamp further allows for customized sound shaping, with a suite of controls including a gain knob and independent EQ sliders for bass, mid, and treble adjustments.

This guitar is not just an instrument; it's a canvas for your musical expression, ready to accompany you on every stage of your journey.

Key Features:

  • Award-winning multi-soundhole technology
  • Calibrated spruce top with fine-tuned bracing
  • Lyrachord body for enhanced sound projection
  • Slim contoured neck for fast and effortless playing
  • Slimline pickup for true acoustic tone capture
  • OP-4B active preamp with gain knob and EQ sliders for bass, mid, and treble adjustments

FAQs

What type of wood is used for the top of the Ovation Applause guitar?

The Ovation Applause guitar features a laminated spruce top, which offers a bright and clear tone, making it suitable for various music styles.

Is the Ovation Applause guitar suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Ovation Applause is an acoustic-electric guitar equipped with an Ovation Slimline pickup and OP4Ba electronics, making it well-suited for live performances.

What is the neck profile of the Ovation Applause guitar?

The Ovation Applause guitar has a 3-piece Nato neck with a satin finish and a nut width of 1-11/16", providing a comfortable playing experience for most hand sizes.

How does the body design of the Ovation Applause affect its sound?

The super-shallow depth cutaway body of the Ovation Applause enhances playability while delivering a balanced sound with good projection, ideal for both strumming and fingerpicking.

What kind of bracing does the Ovation Applause guitar use?

The Ovation Applause guitar features modified Quintad bracing, which helps maintain structural integrity while enhancing the guitar's tonal response.

Can the Ovation Applause guitar be used with a strap?

Yes, the Ovation Applause guitar is equipped with strap buttons, allowing you to easily attach a guitar strap for comfortable standing play.

Reviews

PROS

  • Unique sound with a blend of acoustic and electric qualities

  • Comfortable mid-depth bowl design

  • Beautiful design with stunning colors

  • Great action and easy playability

  • Versatile for various playing styles and environments

  • Built-in gain and volume control for amplified use

  • Durable construction, withstands long-term use

  • Cost-effective for a stage-ready electric acoustic guitar

  • Clean, crisp sound with a warm tone

  • Frets and neck provide smooth playability

CONS

  • Built-in tuner is unreliable

  • Molded plastic back may not appeal to traditionalists

  • Deep bowl design might be larger than expected

  • Finish can scratch easily

  • Pattern around the sound hole may seem mismatched

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ovation Applause.

Build quality

  • The round back design can cause the guitar to slide downward, making it uncomfortable for some users to play without a strap.

    Source
  • The nut width is narrower at 1.69 inches, easing chord stretches but potentially challenging for players with larger fingers.

    Source

User experience

  • A 16-year-old user finds the rounded back more comfortable than traditional flat backs, indicating the design may suit younger or differently experienced players.

    Source
  • Some players find the sound quality acceptable for the price, though not exceptional, suggesting it may suffice for beginner to intermediate use.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The saddle allows minimal adjustment via a single removable spacer, limiting action lowering options without altering the nut, which also has limited room for adjustments.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The pinless bridge design is appreciated by players for its ease of use.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Yamaha FG 700S and FH 730S are compared with the Applause, with the 730 offering a richer tone due to rosewood back and sides compared to the 700's nato wood.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Quick Hit: Ovation Applause Elite AE44II-VV Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Ovation Applause Elite AE44II-VV is a budget-friendly acoustic that challenges preconceptions with its solid build and excellent intonation. The spruce top's vintage varnish finish and comfortable neck are standout features, while its electronics are user-friendly, albeit producing slightly nasal tones that can be adjusted for better output. The roundback design, though comfortable, may slip during play. Despite its bass not rivaling larger guitars, it offers great value at $299, with balanced sound for strumming and fingerpicking. However, the piezo system can sound "quacky" under heavy attack. Overall, it's a commendable choice for its price.

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 6 Ratings

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albinoguitman

1st Acoustic

This was my first acoustic. Mine has the sparkly green top. Its a very verstile guitar i have used and abused this guitar for 27 years. only thing wrong with it is the finish scratch on the top other than that it is in suppurate condition.

Genres:
tonyfrescoandthedreammachine

Not too shabby. Only cost me £60.

Recorded a few songs with it and it has a gain and volume control on the side. The bowl back is easy to get used to and is fairly slimline. Nice to play but the pattern around the sound hole looks slightly out of place.

kaisegall

Great sound and playability.

This is a cheap acoustic, but I like it a lot. It sounds great and feels great to play too. While it may not sound AMAZING, it sounds good enough for me.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Neal Casal uses Ovation Applause

Neal Casal

Singer, Guitarist

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

...
Verified via Premierguitar

In an interview with Premier Guitar, Casal remembers this guitar, a black Ovation Applause, to be his first. His dad gave it to him when he was 12.

See how Alex Davies uses Ovation Applause

Alex Davies

Singer, Guitarist

Elliot Minor

...
Verified via Photo

Alex Davies uses an Ovation Applause AE127 acoustic guitar, as highlighted in a Tumblr post by fuckyeahalexdavies-blog-blog.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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