Customer Reviews

Applause by Ovation AE128-HB Acoustic Electric Guitar

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This instrument might actually be in a class of its own. That is, it would be extremely difficult to find a guitar in this price band that comes even remotely close in terms of quality; not only with regard to craftsmanship, but certainly the sound it produces. The Applause exceeds expectation whether it is unplugged, amplified, or even run directly through a mixer. Beyond sounding comparatively spectacular, it is far more durable than perhaps any other hollow-bodied instrument on the market due to its components and design. The electronics are reliable and the instrument is accessible, or playable, to even the most novice of musicians. This guitar is the ideal instrument for a beginner or a younger musician, simply because it is cost efficient, durable, and as easy to play for the price as one might be able to find anywhere. Even experienced guitarists will almost certainly appreciate its action, sound and durability if not only for the purposes of practice and travel. This is an exceptional value and an excellent instrument.

Just what I expected. I ordered the natural color one, and I'm satisfied.
It is a beautiful designed, ultra-light, low-action, and great-sounding instrument. Acoustic or electrically. You can't miss. For the price, it is a great bargain. Great for recording.

Of course, if you expect something to beat $1000+ guitars, then you will be dissapointed. But if you want an easy-carry, great sounding and nice looking guitar, this is the one.

During my first lesson, my guitar teacher allowed me to practice with his Ovation Applause. I loved the sound and how it snugly fit in my lap. I purchased this model after my first lesson and have never been disappointed. The sound quality is smooth and even. The look and feel is not cheap, but sturdy and attractive.

If you're starting out, don't buy one of those $100 Guitar Packages but spend a few extra dollars and purchase this one. You won't regret it.

I simply love this guitar. I had never played a guitar(not even held in my hand) I went to a friends house who was crazy about guitars. He had 3 guitars. Just out of curiosity I tried all three. I liked this one the most. Its shape is such that you can hold it comfortably. It makes melodious sounds. Since I liked it, I bought it from amazon. All my friends who come to my house play this guitar. They all like it. I can play some songs on it now. Its almost 5 months and the guitar is still as new.

I have been playing guitars since I was 16 -- I'm now 64. I have always admired the Ovation line of guitars, but they are more expensive than I am willing to lay out for another guitar. I own several Yamaha guitars and an assortment of banjos, a ukelele, a mandolin and an off-brand classical guitar. I purchased this Applause on a whim using a couple of gift cards I received for father's day. This not as good as the high-end Ovations, but for the money it can't be beat! It is extremely durable and very easy to play. It has good volume unplugged and sounds even better using the included electric option. The neck is easily adjusted using the included wrench. The frets are accurate and it stays in tune with out frequent adjustments. I would recommend this guitar for anyone that needs a sturdy, well designed guitar, at a very low price.

I've been playing bass casually for about ten years now, and although I'm passionate about it, a while back I decided it would be nice to add a guitar to my collection of instruments. I was looking for something that was portable, durable enough to take camping, and inexpensive enough that I could always let a guest jam on it without worrying too much about it getting damaged.

I had seen Ovation guitars before and thought they had a good sound for a small guitar and that the synthetic back looked cool and helped meet the durability requirement. The $200 price of this model was also in the right range for an instrument that needed to be of reasonably good quality.

My guitar arrived from Sam Ash without incident. Once I had tuned it, I was able to put my bass skills to some use and pluck out some notes. The guitar has a nice, but very bright sound. I have started the process of learning some basic chords. I am pleasantly surprised with how loud this instrument can get. It feels like there it a lot of room for getting a good dynamic range out of the guitar. The cutaway of the body give good access to the higher notes of the fretboard which have a nice, somewhat jazzy, sound to them.

I do not have a dedicated guitar amp, but when I plugged it into a very small practice bass amp that has "high" and "low" inputs, it produced reasonably good results. The electronics seem to be in good working order at least. I have yet to try and play the guitar through an actual guitar amp, or though any amp that isn't a piece of junk for that matter, so have not come to any more detailed conclusions.

In general, my impression of this guitar is good after a week of ownership. There are a few things, though that I don't like, and they are generally drawn from my experience playing a slightly higher-end Ibanez acoustic-electric bass guitar. The first obvious deficiency is the lack on an integrated tuner. I'm sure leaving that feature out helped keep the price low, but for an otherwise portable instrument, it would have been a very convenient thing to have. I also find that the rounded back is not as ergonomic as I had hoped. Although the exterior of the back is treated with a rough finish, the instrument tends to rotate too easily. Ovation's Web site describes the rounded back as allowing the player to curve around the instrument. This is probably truer for people with less padding than myself, but I find it difficult to keep the body of the guitar flush with my torso at times. Personally, I find the conventional shape of my bass easier to hold onto in a sitting position. Finally, the placement of the output in the back of the instrument strikes me as somewhat odd, though given the shape of the back, this may not be a big deal.

Overall, my impression is that this is a great guitar for the price, and I look forward to playing if for many years to come.

This has been a great first guitar. If it didn't have an Applause logo I think I could pass it off for an actual Ovation! I've had it for a good 6 months and it still smells new. The guitar fits nicely on your lap due to the curved back, the color is great (fretboard, headstock, body), and the sound is amazing. The guitar also has a nice feel on the back of the neck. You have been warned though that the body and tuning pegs are fingerprint magnets so if you want it looking good be sure to give it a wipe down every now and then. The B string broke after about 4 months of playing casually everyday and there is an ever so slight buzz when you do play. I'd stick with using light strings after the stock strings pop because the thicker you go, the more apparent the buzz is. But again, the buzz is slight. Also be warned that this product is for the guitar and the guitar alone. You WILL have to buy your own strap and I would recommend buying a case. Overall, for a beginner, this guitar is great. It's comfortable, feels good, and most importantly sounds and smells great.

I am very disappointed. The guitar was packed with its strings tensioned and the top detachment partially from the guitar body.
It is unusable until repaired.
Update: It has been several days after writing and attach photographs to the seller (Amazon), and have not received any communication.

This is my first guitar and I have never played before. I'm a medium size female. I find this very easy to hold compared to the full size acoustics I have tried in the past. It is very very easy to play, meaning the strings are very responsive and the unit is lite. As far as sound goes....I like it. The tones are well balanced with nice depth and distinctness. (I played the violin in the past so I have some musical savvy.) I saw one review that states it has a rounded plastic back. That is true and makes it very comfortable. I don't find this to compromise the quality of the sound in any way. Additionally, I have only played it acoustically and probably always will. My only complaint is on the back it says "Made in China".....I'm gonna keep it anyway.

For the money, this is very good value. Looks excellent and sounds good.
Well made and not too heavy. Electrics sound good.
Very pleased with this purchase.