Similar coloration then and with the same feel and hardness as standard Rosewood. It is a native of West Africa and is a member of the Indian Rosewood family of trees. It has a satin finish, so movement up and down the neck feels smooth and quick. They have given it a soft ‘V’ neck styling, which makes it easy to hold and play. It is strong and straight and looks quite nice. As a neck material, it is more than adequate. It has similar attributes to Mahogany but without some of the finer nuances. This is a variant of Mahogany and is derived from the Mora tree. But well-made with good materials and great design. Not as crisp and clean as the high-end Ovations guitars, of course, which shows how good those models are. I would agree that they can feel strange to play at first.
OVATION APPLAUSE BASS FULL
There is a single-cutaway that gives full access to the neck, and the body is finished in a plain wood style with a vintage-looking varnish. I am not going to go into the technical acoustic details. It is called Ovations’ ‘multiport’ sound. There are, in fact, four laser-cut smaller soundholes towards the top at the neck end. Those looking for the wood body and side will also be surprised to find there is no traditional soundhole. Hard to find a word to describe the sound. There is a good powerful volume and balanced sound that is not too bass-heavy. It is a design that is voiced for a natural acoustic response. Together they combine with the spruce top to produce that Ovation sound. The round back shape is designed to give the guitar a deeper sound that will resonate.Įmphasizing not only the highs from the neck end but lower frequencies from the bridge end. The formation and structure have been manipulated a little to give it acoustic tendencies. This is a composite material that is essentially fiberglass. The rest of the body, of course, is a mid, not full, depth Lyrachord. Scalloped X-bracing, when well made and fitted, offers the chance for the Spruce top to do its job and sing. The exact amount of vibration of the spruce top wood is required to create the best tone. The bracing is also an important design feature for creating a great sound.
The soundboard is given a scalloped, quarter-sawn X-bracing. The top though, still has that resonant spruce sound that creates such an impact. The choice of layered spruce for the top is a good choice, especially for a guitar that will often be used by beginners and improvers. Layered woods are less likely to do that and are, therefore, a bit more hard-wearing. This can cause them to warp or become slightly misshapen. Solid wood tops for the soundboard can be subject to changes in weather conditions and humidity. Some will recognize that a laminated top may, in some circumstances, hinder the sound. Paired with our Ovation slim-line pickup, you won’t believe your ears when you hear the incredible voice and clarity found within this guitar.This guitar has a layered spruce top. To tie everything together, we’ve also updated the electronics to the new CE304T preamp. An Ovangkol fingerboard/bridge and mid depth bowl allow for effortless and comfortable playing. A sleeker headstock design creates an aesthetic that many others aspire to. Our new Applause Balladeer models include traditional Ovation appointments such as a spruce top, Scalloped-X bracing, and abalone inlaid rosette.
The new line of Applause guitars showcases Ovation’s forward thinking while retaining the high standard of performance expected from a quality instrument.