If you’re wondering whether Ovation guitars are worth it or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s review, we’re going to take a close look on that famous guitar brand to see what’s so special about them. Undoubtedly, some of their guitars are really affordable, but are they actually worth it?
Yes! Ovation guitars offer a great quality and they’re suitable for all-level guitarists. Most of their guitars are really affordable and versatile. Although they’re not as popular as other major guitar brands, they still manage to produce excellent instruments that are perfect for a lot of various genres.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out more about Ovation guitars and their approach to making guitars. Hopefully, this article will help you to understand whether this brand will be good for you or not. There will also be a few sound demos too, so you’ll be able to hear their guitars too!
About Ovation Guitars
Ovation Guitar Company is one of the most interesting guitar brands in the world. The company was founded in 1960s, so they have a really long history and a lot of experience within the music industry.
The company specializes in manufacturing six and 12-string guitars. What’s interesting, their approach to making guitars is really interesting, because their guitars are incomparable with any other brand. The design of their instruments is really innovative and that’s why a lot of guitarists either love them or hate them.
If you’d like to read more about their story, make sure to visit their official website.
Best Ovation Guitars
If you’re thinking about getting one of their guitars, here’s the list of five popular and most affordable models.
1. | Ovation CE44P-8TQ | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
2. | Ovation CS28P-RG | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
3. | Ovation CS24-4 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
4. | Ovation Celebrity CE4412-5 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
5. | Ovation Mod TX 1868TX-5 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
1. Ovation CE44P-8TQ
A beautifully looking and sounding guitar suitable for both beginners and more advanced players. The guitar features a quilt maple top with a unique lyrachord body. Thanks to these materials, this model sounds really balanced – it offers very clear highs and balanced bass tones.
What’s important, it’s an acoustic-electric guitar, so it’s equipped with a preamp system that allows you to easily plug in this guitar into an amp. If you’re a gigging musician, you’ll find that very useful!
Although it’s not a cheap guitar, it’s definitely one of the best Ovation guitars out there. I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the demo.
2. Ovation CS28P-RG
Another really cool guitar by Ovation which will be great even for the most demanding guitar players out there! In comparison with the previous model, the CS28P-RG is more like a regular acoustic-electric guitar.
The guitar is really easy to play and it features a very comfortable V-shaped neck. When it comes to sound, it’s really balanced and mellow. Personally, I think that it will be a great choice for all beginners out there.
In addition, the CS28P model is available in three different versions: Caribbean Blue Burst (visible above), Koa Burst and Tiger Eye Brown Quilt.
Here’s the demo – feel free to check it out.
3. Ovation CS24-4
This is one of the cheapest acoustic guitars on today’s list. Still, it features a really good quality and in fact, it’s one of the most popular guitars offered by Ovation. Relatively low price and unique sound make it one of the most interesting acoustic-electric guitars available on the market right now.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with a composite body. As a result, the guitar is really resonant. Similarly as most of other Ovation guitars, this model is equipped with a preamp system that allows you to easily tune in your guitar and start playing live on stage.
Overall, Ovation CS24-4 looks like a traditional acoustic-electric guitar, but in fact – it’s way more modern. The thin and comfortable neck used in this model makes it really easy to play, so it will be a great choice for amateurs.
I highly recommend checking out the demo below.
4. Ovation Celebrity CE4412-5
This is a 12-string guitar, so it’s a bit different than the rest of guitars on today’s list. Still, in my opinion it’s one of the best twelve-string guitars and what’s important, it’s not overly expensive.
The guitar features a classic Ovation design. The multi-soundhole used in this model offers a really balanced and resonant tone, which seems to be way more interesting than a regular acoustic tone. Similarly as before, this is an acoustic-electric guitar, so it features a preamp system with a built-in tuner.
If you’re looking for a reliable and modern-looking 12-string guitar, you should definitely give this guitar a chance.
5. Ovation Mod TX 1868TX-5
This is the most expensive guitar on today’s list, but at the same time, it’s seems to be the most interesting choice. The guitar looks absolutely exceptional and it features a really high quality.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with the lyrachord synthetic body. In addition, it has a really comfortable satin maple neck, which almost feels like a neck of an electric guitar. As you are aware, the necks used in electric guitars are way thinner, so having that kind of comfort while playing an acoustic guitar is a game-changer.
Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best Ovation guitars out there. Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced player, I highly recommend checking it out.
Here’s the official demo.
FAQ
Why did Ovation guitars lose their popularity?
Ovation guitars are really innovative, so they’re not for everyone. Some guitarists don’t like guitars that look and sound differently than they’re used to. So that’s why the popularity of these innovative guitars started to slightly decrease.
The truth is that instruments by Ovation didn’t entirely lose their popularity – there are still thousands of people who love their gear. But of course, there are other major guitar brands (like Takamine, Martin or Taylor), which are way more popular.
Are Ovation guitars good for beginners?
Yes! The vast majority of Ovation guitars feature really thin necks which are really comfortable to play. So if you’re a beginner, you’ll definitely enjoy their quality.
Who plays on Ovation guitars?
There are a lot of great artists who use Ovation guitars for live performances and studio recordings. That includes such musicians as Richie Sambora, Rachel Platten, Benjamin Burnley (Breaking Benjamin), Dave Amato (Reo Speedwagen) and many, many more!
If you’d like to see the full list of Ovation players, have a look on their official website.
Where are Ovation guitars made?
The most expensive custom Ovation guitars are manufactured in the United States, although the vast majority of their guitars is made in China or Indonesia.
Summary
As you can see, Ovation is a really interesting guitar brand. Their approach to making guitars is really interesting and out of my experience, they really care about the quality of their products. Personally, I think it’s one of the most underrated manufacturers of acoustic guitars in the world.
What do you think about Ovation guitars? Have you ever used their gear on your own? Let me know in the comments below, I’m really interested to hear what you think!
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