If you’re looking for some of the best Ovation guitars for the money, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth guide, I’m going to highlight some of the coolest and most affordable guitars made by this brand.
Choosing a brand new Ovation guitar is quite challenging. This brand manufactures a lot of fantastic and affordable instruments, so it’s really easy to get lost. Thankfully, there’s a few models that particularly deserve a lot of attention.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 10 best Ovation guitars for the money! Feel free to check it out below and scroll down to the next section if you want to find out more about each one of them. Hopefully, this guide will help you find out your next guitar made by this famous brand.
10 Best Ovation Guitars – List
| Ovation CE44-5 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation CS24-1 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation Applause AE44-4S | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation Elite TX 1778TX-5 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation CE44P-SM | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation CS28P-TGE | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation Applause Balladeer | See on Amazon | – |
| Ovation Applause AEB4II-VV Bass | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation 2751AX 12-string | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ovation CS24-RR | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
Ovation CE44-5
Ovation CE44-5 is a really popular acoustic-electric guitar designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. It has everything you need and it’s relatively affordable, so it’s not surprising that so many guitar players use it on a daily basis.
What makes it so cool? Well, the CE44-5 model features a solid spruce top with lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a really comfortable Nato neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. It’s a big advantage of that axe, because it allows you to play for several hours without getting tired.
The sound of this guitar can be described as full, rich and balanced. It also has a really good preamp (Onboard OP-4BT) which makes it sound really good on stage. On top of that, there’s a built-in tuner which is an another huge advantage.
It is also worth mentioning that Ovation CE44-5 looks fantastic from the outside too. It’s available in two colors – Black and Ruby Red. And the truth is that both of them look awesome!
Overall, this is definitely one of the best and most affordable Ovation guitars for the money. It won’t be easy to find something better at this price level.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation CS24-1
Ovation CS24-1 is an another fantastic and inexpensive acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. This model proves that a good and reliable guitar of this type doesn’t have to be overly expensive.
The guitar features a spruce top with lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a comfortable Nato neck with a bound rosewood fingerboard, which is very easy on the fingers. The overall playability and comfortability of that guitar is amazing!
Just like the CE44-5, the CS24-1 has the same preamp – Onboard OP-4BT. It allows you to efficiently use that guitar on stage and it makes you sound really natural and balanced. This is crucial for any performing artist.
Undoubtedly, this innovative instrument deserves a lot of attention. No matter how advanced you are, there’s a high chance that you’ll absolutely fall in love with that model.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation Applause AE44-4S
Ovation Applause AE44-4S is an another affordable and great sounding mid-depth acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and professional players. In fact, this is one of the cheapest models mentioned on today’s list!
What makes it so special? Well, the AE44-4S model features a spruce top with lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a really comfortable Nato neck with an easy-playing Ovangkol fingerboard.
What’s important, it also has the Applause CE304T active preamp with a 3-band EQ and an integrated tuner. This is a huge advantage for all musicians who need a versatile and a reliable instrument to use on stage.
It is also worth mentioning that the AE44-4S model looks absolutely beautiful too. There’s something really unique about that simple and natural design. I’m sure that a lot of you will immediately fall in love with it.
Here’s the sound demo.
Ovation Elite TX 1778TX-5
Ovation Elite TX 1778TX-5 is an another really special acoustic-electric guitar designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. In comparison with a few of the previous model, this model is significantly more expensive. However, it’s definitely worth the money!
What makes it so special? Well, the 1778TX-5 model features a solid spruce top with an innovative lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a very comfortable maple neck with an easy-playing Wenge fingerboard. This is a huge advantage, because it guarantees an enjoyable playing experience.
It is also worth mentioning that Ovation equipped this model with the OP-Pro preamp and the OCP-1K pickup. These things allows you to not only use that guitar effectively on stage, but they also make you sound really good. You can be sure that your amplified tone will sound really balanced and natural.
Undoubtedly, Ovation 1778TX-5 is one of the best Ovation guitars for the money. It has everything – the looks, the feel and the sound. You have to admit that it looks spectacular! That’s why I highly recommend checking it out.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation CE44P-SM
Ovation CE44P-SM is an another fantastic acoustic-electric guitar available at a relatively low price. This is actually one of my favorite guitars on today’s list, so I’m sure that a lot of you will love it too.
The guitar features a spalted maple top with a mid-depth bowl body. There’s also a comfortable Nato neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. This is a huge advantage, because it allows you to practice for many hours without getting tired.
The manufacturer also equipped that model with the OP-4CT Preamp with Ovation Slimline Pickup. This means that the CE44P-SM model can be efficiently used on stage. What’s more, it’s suitable for a lot of different music styles, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re into country, blues, folk or rock.
Undoubtedly, Ovation CE44P-SM is one of the best Ovation guitars for the money. I have no hesitation in recommending this model for everyone who’s looking for an exceptional mid-range guitar of this type.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation CS28P-TGE
Ovation CS28P-TGE is an another excellent acoustic-electric guitar that exceeds all the expectations. Again, this guitar isn’t overly expensive and it offers a fantastic value for the money.
The CS28P model has a spruce top with a super shallow lyrachord composite body. There’s also a really comfortable neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. It has a very smooth feel which increases the overall comfort and playability. In addition, the Scalloped X-bracing significantly improves the sustain of that guitar.
The manufacturer also equipped this model with the OP-4BT preamp with onboard EQ. This allows you to effectively use that guitar on stage and what’s more, it gives you a lot of control over your final tone. Surely, a lot of guitarists will appreciate that feature!
In my opinion Ovation CS28P-TGE is one of the best looking Ovation guitars mentioned on today’s list. There’s something really unique about that Tiger Eye version! Considering how affordable and versatile it is, it’s definitely worth the money.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation Applause Balladeer
Ovation Applause Balladeer is an affordable acoustic-electric guitar with nylon strings. This guitar looks and sounds like a classical guitar, but it’s definitely way more comfortable to play.
Just like the vast majority of previous guitar, this particular model also features a spruce top with a lyrachord body. It also has a really comfortable neck made of nato & mahogany wood. There’s also an easy-playing Ovangkol fingerboard which guarantees an enjoyable playing experience.
Of course, this model also has the Onboard CE304T Preamp. So as you can imagine, it’s perfect for gigs and studio sessions.
Who is it for? Well, if you’re looking for a great sounding and reliable acoustic-electric classical guitar for your own live performances, this model will be a fantastic fit for you. It has everything you need to sound amazing on stage.
Here’s the demo.
Ovation Applause AEB4II-VV Bass
Ovation Applause AEB4II-VV is an affordable acoustic-electric bass guitar available at a relatively low price. In my opinion, this is one of the best guitars of this type that you can currently find on the market at this price level.
What makes it so cool? Well, the guitar features a layered spruce top with the lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a comfortable neck with a smooth rosewood fingerboard which makes playing really enjoyable.
What’s important, the Elite Multi-Port soundhole design makes it sound really unique. What’s more, it can get pretty loud when it’s unplugged, so it allows you to practice even without an amp. However, the AEB4II-VV shows its full potential when its plugged in into a good amp.
Overall, this is definitely one of the best Ovation guitars for the money. It won’t be easy to find a better guitar of this type if you’re on a tight budget!
Here’s a quick video that highlights the tone of the acoustic bass by Ovation.
Ovation Balladeer 2751AX 12-string
Ovation Balladeer 2751AX is a high quality acoustic-electric 12-string guitar designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. This is one of the most expensive guitars on today’s list, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention.
The 2751AX model features a solid spruce top with lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a 5-piece Mahogany/Maple Neck with an easy-playing ebony fretboard. The quality of these materials is really high, so it guarantees a superb playing experience.
The sound of the 2751AX model can be described as big, full, chimey and resonant. No matter whether you’re using an amp or playing unplugged, this guitar sounds absolutely amazing. However, it’s a particularly good choice for all the working musicians out there.
I have no hesitation in recommending the Ovation Balladeer 2751AX to all guitarists who are searching for a high quality 12-string acoustic-electric guitar. There’s a really high chance that you’re going to fall in love with that model!
Here’s the demo.
Ovation CS24-RR
Ovation CS24-RR is an another affordable acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. This is a really versatile instrument which can be used either in a bedroom for practice or in front of hundreds of people during a live gig.
What makes it so cool? The guitar features a spruce top with lyrachord back and sides. There’s also a really comfortable neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard which guarantees a fantastic playing experience.
Just like the vast majority of other guitars on today’s list, the CS24-RR is also equipped with the OP-4BT preamp system. This feature allows you to efficiently use that guitar on stage. There’s also a built-in tuner and a 3-band EQ, so that’s an another huge advantage of that guitar.
Undoubtedly, Ovation CS24-RR has everything that you potentially need from a mid-level acoustic-electric guitar. It sounds, looks and feels really good. On top of that, it isn’t that expensive. Isn’t it all that really matters in the end?
Here’s the official video by Ovation – feel free to check it out below.
My Thoughts
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Ovation guitars. I haven’t tried all of them, but I’ve had quite a lot of them in my hands and they always seemed very special.
I know that they tend to be quite expensive, but trust me – that investment is worth it.
As I said before, I’d probably choose the CE44P-SM model. It’s not as expensive as some of the other models and at the same time it’s absolutely unique.
But you don’t have to make the same choice – you can choose whatever you want. And that’s the beauty of it!
FAQ
Where are Ovation guitars made?
The vast majority of Ovation guitars are manufactured in China and Indonesia, although their best and most expensive axes are made in the United States.
Who plays on Ovation guitars?
Not many people are aware of how many professional guitarists use Ovation guitars on a daily basis. That includes such musicians as Richie Sambora, Rachel Platten, Benjamin Burnley (Breaking Benjamin), Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon) and many, many more!
Where can I find out more about Ovation guitars?
If you want to find out more about the guitars made by this brand, check out the official website of Ovation.
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of fantastic guitars made by this brand. I’m positive that the list above consists of some of the best Ovation guitars that you can potentially find on the market right now. No matter which model you decide to choose, trust me – you won’t be disappointed!
Which Ovation guitar is your favorite and why? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
