Applause AE48 Super-Shallow Acoustic-Electric Guitar

OJ2 electronics. Super-shallow depth.

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Applause AE128 Super-Shallow Bowl Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

    • New from $199.00
    • List: $349.50
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    • In stock
    • 50 people rate: 7 out of 10

The Applause AE128 offers classic Ovation design and styling at a fantastic low price. Designed for superb sound quality and easy playability, the affordable AE128 acoustic-electric guitar features the famous super-shallow roundback body, calibrated Spruce top, slim neck for fast and effortless action, built-in pickup/electronics system, and cutaway neck access. Learn More...

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Applause AE48 Super-Shallow Acoustic-Electric Guitar reviews

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58 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

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* * * * * * * * * * 7 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"A nice, affordable acoustic-electric guitar suited more for amplification than acoustic tones."

Feature:
There are two major drawbacks in the AE48. First, the tone and gain control is located on top of the guitar directly under your armpit. A long sleeve shirt can catch on the control housing as you move around. Secondly, the input jack is in the bottom back of the guitar, so the guitar cord is almost perpendicular to the guitar body. Gotta be carefull not to drag the guitar across anything or you could break the jack. The guitar has nice Ovations grover-style tuners. The bridge-taipiece is string through, often preferred to pins.

Quality:
The headstock and neck have a natural, 'satin' finish: that is, unlaquered. This doesn't pose a problem with playability but bears mentioning. I've noticed a slight 'hump' in the neck between the 3rd and 5th frets. Again, playability is unhindered, but I've never found this in a guitar before. The rosewood fretboard has a nice subtle convex shape. The frets are thin and could use a bit of rounding. Fit and finish is what you would expect for a guitar in this price range. The physical fits are fine, but are poor cosmetically; uneven paint lines where the neck joins the body and a blemish or two in the multiply binding.

Value:
Not a bad guitar for its price. I don't imagine any of Ovations competitors are offering guitars of better quality for the same price.

Desirability:
It would be a very nice acoustic-electric guitar for a novice, and a practical, inexpensive and useful acoustic-guitar for the experienced player.

Sound:
The Applause AE48 is an acoustic-electric guitar, which generally means the guitar will not sound its best unless plugged in. This is true for the AE48. The unpugged tone is not bad, but the guitar wuld have to be miked if you wanted to play to even a small audience.

Support:
n/a

Overall:
I expect to play this guitar regularly during the course of my career. It has nice ease of playability. Of course I will buy more expensive instruments in the future, but I will continue to purchase import instruments like the Applause because of their affordability.

Submitted: 4/12/2004

Style of Music: Classic Rock

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About This Product!
Description
Now the popular Ovation multiple soundhole design is available on an even more affordable Applause model that looks fantastic. Ovation pioneered the acoustic/electric guitar in 1971 so no other builder has more experience with this revolutionary design. Multiple soundholes in the upper bout allow for more efficient bracing and tone contouring. This technique has been perfected over the last 2 decades on guitars ten times as expensive. Now everyone can own one! The AE48 also features built-in OJ2 electronics with volume and EQ adjustments for shaping your tone.

Why the round back?
When Charlie Kaman set about to build a better guitar 35 years ago, he had no preconceived notions about instrument design. After much analysis and experimentation, a parabolic "bowl" shape proved to give the best projection, volume and tone. Ovation gained its fame with its round back and today makes roundbacks in 3 body sizes
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