|
Applause may not be immediately familiar to the lips or ears of most guitar fans but the company behind the line, Ovation, most certainly evokes imagery of quality guitars on both the acoustic and electric side of things.
Like Gibson’s Epiphone line, Applause guitars can be seen as the “generic” version of Ovation’s most popular models. This isn’t to say that Applause guitars are inferior to Ovation’s “per se”, inasmuch that Sam’s Club soda isn’t inferior to Coca-Cola as far as high fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring are concerned; essentially, an Applause will cost you less because the Ovation name isn’t emblazoned on the body. It is still a guitar made by Ovation, only perhaps with a slightly less discerning eye at the inspection level.
Applause guitars, like their pater familias Ovation, are well known in the acoustic-electric guitar world because of the company’s unique “cutaway” bodies. The black, plastic, rounded scoop in the back of these models deliver a louder and more powerful acoustic sound and are easier to set up amplifiers inside of them without doing damage that might be inflicted on a less forgiving acoustic.
Applause also makes perfectly serviceable electric and bass guitars as well, but you’ll rarely see a model in either the acoustic, electric, or bass lines (pardon the pun, please) that top three-hundred dollars or so in price. The thing that truly sets the company apart, however, is their lineup of ukuleles and mandolins that come with both the roundback bodies and the single soundhole setups. While the dozen or so mandolins and ukes that Applause puts out don’t necessarily deliver stunning tone, they are for the most part very affordable. Ukuleles have never broken anybody’s wallets but mandolin pros will gladly attest to the fact that a decent mandolin can rarely be found for less than four hundred dollars.
The roundback body of both the Applause and the Ovation acoustic-electrics do garner widespread acclaim, though. While an Applause may never reach the rich tones and punchy kick of a real Ovation, a player with a bit of skill will be surprised to see how much resonance he or she can get from a shallowbowl acoustic. The electrics, too, can deliver surprisingly clean and rich sound if played right. This should come as no surprise to people familiar with Ovation’s reputation amongst speed and death metal bands. Phil Anselmo, front man of the unfortunately defunct band Pantera, is often seen with Ovation guitars that have their generic roots tied to Applause models. Anthrax’s Charlie Benante is another shredder who swears by Ovation. Clearly, these are examples worthy of Applause.
Related Links:
Buy Applause guitars
|
