Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $534
Standard/Professional
$200
$1001+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Ovation Balladeer". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 7, 2026.
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Description
The Ovation Balladeer is more than just an acoustic guitar—it's a well-crafted masterpiece that caters to both aspiring and seasoned musicians. With over three decades of meticulous enhancement, the Balladeer stands as a testament to Ovation's commitment to exceptional sound and playability. This steel-string acoustic guitar features a super-shallow cutaway bowl, giving you easy access to higher frets while maximizing comfort. Its solid spruce top delivers a full-bodied, balanced tone, making it a go-to choice for versatile music styles.
The guitar's scalloped LX-bracing finely tunes its acoustic response, providing rich sustain and clarity. Complementing its sound, the bound rosewood fretboard and rosewood bridge not only contribute to its tonal excellence but also add a touch of elegance. A unique oak leaf rosette design gives this guitar a distinctive look that stands out on any stage.
At the heart of the Balladeer is the OP-Pro preamp system, co-designed with renowned artists Al DiMeola and Melissa Etheridge. It delivers stellar audio quality and intuitive controls, ensuring that your performance is always top-notch. Ideal for gigs, studio recordings, or casual jam sessions, this guitar blends tradition with modern innovation, making it a staple in any guitarist's collection.
Key Features:
- Super-shallow cutaway bowl design
- Solid spruce top for balanced tone
- Scalloped LX-bracing for enhanced sound
- Bound rosewood fretboard and bridge
- Unique oak leaf rosette design
- OP-Pro preamp system for superior audio quality
Product specs
| Brand | Ovation |
| Model | 1111 Balladeer |
| Finish | Black, Natural, Sunburst |
| Year | 1971 - 1986 |
| Active Preamp | No |
| Back Material | Composite |
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Natural |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony |
| Fretboard Radius | 10" |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Number of Frets | 14 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" |
| Pickup | None |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Sides Material | Composite |
| String Type | Steel |
| Top Material | Spruce |
FAQs
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What materials are used in the construction of the Ovation Balladeer?
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The Ovation Balladeer features a solid spruce top, composite back and sides, and an ebony fretboard. This combination offers a unique blend of durability and tonal quality.
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How does the composite back affect the sound of the Ovation Balladeer?
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The composite back provides enhanced projection and clarity, resulting in a balanced tone with a strong midrange presence, which is distinct from traditional wood-backed guitars.
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Is the Ovation Balladeer suitable for live performances?
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While the Ovation Balladeer does not have a built-in preamp or pickup, its robust acoustic projection makes it suitable for mic'd live performances. For amplified sound, external pickups can be added.
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What is the neck profile of the Ovation Balladeer like?
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The Ovation Balladeer features a mahogany neck with a comfortable 10" fretboard radius, making it easy to play for both strumming and fingerstyle techniques.
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What string type is recommended for the Ovation Balladeer?
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The Ovation Balladeer is designed for steel-string use, which complements its dreadnought body shape and enhances its bright, resonant sound.
Videos
Bottleship Captain
The Ovation Balladeer: How an aerospace engineer created one of the best acoustic guitars ever made.
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ovation Balladeer.
Build quality
User experience
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Many players note difficulty playing seated due to the round back, especially for those with larger midsections.
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It's noted that Ovation necks vary significantly, with some preferring the slimmer necks for faster playability despite initial discomfort.
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Many users find Ovation necks closer to electric guitars, with thin profiles and low action, appealing to those transitioning from electrics.
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Features and functionality
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Ovation guitars, particularly older models, are praised for their durability, surviving significant impacts without going out of tune.
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Use cases and applications
Mods and upgrades
Setup and maintenance
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Ovations often come with high action from the factory, but owners note that shims under the bridge pickup allow for easy action adjustments.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 6 Ratings
166
Easy to play. Sounds fantastic.
Over the 43 years (seriously) that I have owned my Ovation Balladeer I have taken no end of s**t about my "plastic guitar." Frankly, I don't care. It's the easiest playing and best recording axe I've ever known. The money they saved by substituting the fiberglass bowl for wooden back and sides went right in to the quality of the spruce top. It's seriously the best spruce I've ever seen...and it rings! It was my first big boy guitar and I'll never let it go.
Different, cool guitar
My first "higher end" guitar I purchased in High School, has a unique sound and has held up for 15 years and counting. Plugged in sounds better than many guitars 2x it's price. Solid Geet.
Artist usage
Add artist
Lindsey playing his Ovation Balladeer, i think it's a 1621-4, it was used for Landslide for the White Album Tour 75-76, might even be the same guitar Ray Lindsey (his tech) used for Go Your Own Way, Gypsy, Second Hand News from 79-82
Steve Winwood can be seen playing an Ovation Balladeer with Traffic's live performance set under the German music television program "Musikladen" in 1973.
In the YouTube video titled "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows (Brand New) Cover," Rusty Cage is seen playing an Ovation Balladeer, which he frequently used in his early videos.
Aztec Camera's Slow Build from Musician, November 1990 by Scott Isler
On Stray's title cut he played an Ovation stereo six-string,
His Ovation Guitars are also mentioned here:
In a photograph from 1973, David Gates is clearly seen playing an Ovation Balladeer guitar.
Alison Shaw and Jim Shaw's performance guitar for most of the Cranes' heyday. [1997]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Z3Rya4uLU#t=19m45s ;
Jim and Alison Shaw's acoustic performance guitar for much of the Cranes' heyday. [1997] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaqny4p3Eyo#t=37m05s ;
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ovation Balladeer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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