Geni Swing Guitars

Applause Ovation

The Ovation guitar was a revolution in the history of guitar making. Its innovations include the use of synthetic materials in guitar construction, the mathematically designed "bowl back", the use of onboard preamps and piezoelectric pickups, and the offset soundholes of the Adamas series. This article provides a glimpse into the origins of this American original, and its lower priced cousin the Applause guitar.

Charles Kaman, an aeronautical engineer and amateur guitar player, was born in 1917. He played the guitar from an early age, and studied aeronautical engineering in college. After college he worked in helicopter design. At some point, Charlie entered a national guitar competition and made it to the finals. As a result, he got the opportunity to play guitar with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra. Dorsey offered him a job in the band, but Kaman was committed to aeronautics and turned it down.

In 1945, Charlie founded his own helicopter design company, Kaman Aircraft. The company was quite successful and grew steadily until the early 1960s, when the commercial flight division failed. As a result, Kaman was looking to diversify outside of the aircraft and defense related business.

At around this time, Charlie took his warped Martin guitar to the Martin factory for repair. He toured the plant, and was shocked that Martin was building guitars by hand with hammers, animal glue, and clothespins. He offered to buy the company and modernize their manufacturing, but C.F. Martin refused, wanting to keep Martin a family business.

Kaman decided to start his own guitar manufacturing business. He assembled a team of aeronautics engineers to design the ideal acoustic guitar. The result was the Ovation "bowlback", a rounded back made of a fiberglass composite similar to materials used in aircraft construction. The unique shape of the back as designed to focus the soundwaves inside the guitar to maximize the sound transmission.

The first Ovation guitar, the Balladeer, was introduced in 1967. In 1971, Ovation pioneered the acoustic-electric guitar, adding piezo-electric pickups, onboard preamps, and equalizers to some of their guitars. By the 1980s, Ovations had caught on with professional guitar players and were used onstage extensively. Guitarists using Ovations onstage included Glen Campbell, Al DiMeola, Jimmy Page, and many others.

If Charlie Kaman hadn't played the guitar, or hadn't studied aeronautics, or if his Martin hadn't needed a repair at the same time that Kaman Industries needed to diversify, we wouldn't have the Ovation guitar or the Applause guitar today.

To learn more about the Ovation guitar, visit http://BobsGuitarPracticeTips.com.

Used Ovation Applause Aa21 $209.99 In Store Used USED OVATION APPLAUSE AA21

Used Ovation Applause Nat $179.99 In Store Used USED OVATION APPLAUSE NAT

Used Ovation Applause Ae3 $169.99 In Store Used USED OVATION APPLAUSE AE3

Used Ovation Applause Acous/Elect $139.99 In Store Used USED OVATION APPLAUSE ACOUS/ELECT

Ovation Applause Series AE35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $299.99 Ovation Applause Series AE35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural

Used Ovation Applause Aa13 34 Acoustic Gtr Nc $99.99 In Store Used USED OVATION APPLAUSE AA13 34 ACOUSTIC GTR NC

Ovation Applause Series Ae35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $299.99 Ovation Applause Series AE35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural

Applause $17.99 Applause

Ovation Applause Series Ae148 Super Shallow Cutaway A/E Guitar $249.95 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black $279.99 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $249.95 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Red Ruby Burst $249.95 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Red Ruby Burst

Ovation Applause Series Ae148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black $217.46 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

Ovation Applause Series Ae148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $249.95 Ovation Applause Series AE148 Super Shallow Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Applause Applause AE140-4 Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar Natural $299.99 The Ovation Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass guitar that is all about big bottom end sound. It was almost 40 years ago that Ovation first rocked the acoustic guitar world with their round back body design. Today, that same design and many other technical advancements are available in the affordable spruce top Applause AE140-4 Bass. With pro features like an onboard preamp, pinless bridge, and detailed fretwork, the Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass that outshines many other bass guitars in its class.4-string bassDeep bodyAcoustic/Electric bassCutawaySpruce topScale: 34" (864 mm)1-1116" (42 mm)Frets: 21

Applause Applause AE140-4 Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar Honeyburst $299.99 The Ovation Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass guitar that is all about big bottom end sound. It was almost 40 years ago that Ovation first rocked the acoustic guitar world with their round back body design. Today, that same design and many other technical advancements are available in the affordable spruce top Applause AE140-4 Bass. With pro features like an onboard preamp, pinless bridge, and detailed fretwork, the Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass that outshines many other bass guitars in its class.4-string bassDeep bodyAcoustic/Electric bassCutawaySpruce topScale: 34" (864 mm)1-1116" (42 mm)Frets: 21

Applause Applause Ae140-4 Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar Honeyburst $299.99 The Ovation Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass guitar that is all about big bottom end sound. It was almost 40 years ago that Ovation first rocked the acoustic guitar world with their round back body design. Today, that same design and many other technical advancements are available in the affordable spruce top Applause AE140-4 Bass. With pro features like an onboard preamp, pinless bridge, and detailed fretwork, the Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass that outshines many other bass guitars in its class.4-string bassDeep bodyAcoustic/Electric bassCutawaySpruce topScale: 34" (864 mm)1-1116" (42 mm)Frets: 21

Applause Applause Ae140-4 Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar Natural $299.99 The Ovation Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass guitar that is all about big bottom end sound. It was almost 40 years ago that Ovation first rocked the acoustic guitar world with their round back body design. Today, that same design and many other technical advancements are available in the affordable spruce top Applause AE140-4 Bass. With pro features like an onboard preamp, pinless bridge, and detailed fretwork, the Applause AE140-4 is an acoustic-electric bass that outshines many other bass guitars in its class.4-string bassDeep bodyAcoustic/Electric bassCutawaySpruce topScale: 34" (864 mm)1-1116" (42 mm)Frets: 21

Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar Natural $149.99 Made by Ovation, the Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar features the composite body with deep bowl back that gives Ovations their unique look and full sound. Spruce top provides resonant tone. The Applause AA21 has a 25-1/4" scale with 20 frets. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.Deep bowl backSpruce top25-1/4" scale20 fretsRosewood fretboard and bridgeDot markers

Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar Black $149.99 Made by Ovation, the Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar features the composite body with deep bowl back that gives Ovations their unique look and full sound. Spruce top provides resonant tone. The Applause AA21 has a 25-1/4" scale with 20 frets. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.Deep bowl backSpruce top25-1/4" scale20 fretsRosewood fretboard and bridgeDot markers

Applause Aa21 Acoustic Guitar Natural $149.99 Made by Ovation, the Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar features the composite body with deep bowl back that gives Ovations their unique look and full sound. Spruce top provides resonant tone. The Applause AA21 has a 25-1/4" scale with 20 frets. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.Deep bowl backSpruce top25-1/4" scale20 fretsRosewood fretboard and bridgeDot markers

Applause Aa21 Acoustic Guitar Black $149.99 Made by Ovation, the Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar features the composite body with deep bowl back that gives Ovations their unique look and full sound. Spruce top provides resonant tone. The Applause AA21 has a 25-1/4" scale with 20 frets. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.Deep bowl backSpruce top25-1/4" scale20 fretsRosewood fretboard and bridgeDot markers

Applause Applause AE13 3/4 Size Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $179.99 The Applause 3/4 size, steel-string acoustic-electric features Ovation's award winning built-in pickup. This guitar is great for younger students, as a travel guitar for pros, or as an alternately tuned stage guitar for creative experimentation. The Ovation preamp offers EQ but no built-in pickup.Body type: mini cutawayColor: naturalTop material: spruceScale length: 23-5/8" (600 mm)Nut width: 1-11/16" (42 mm)Number of frets: 20Description: 6-string acoustic-electric

Applause Applause Ae13 3/4 Size Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $179.99 The Applause 3/4 size, steel-string acoustic-electric features Ovation's award winning built-in pickup. This guitar is great for younger students, as a travel guitar for pros, or as an alternately tuned stage guitar for creative experimentation. The Ovation preamp offers EQ but no built-in pickup.Body type: mini cutawayColor: naturalTop material: spruceScale length: 23-5/8" (600 mm)Nut width: 1-11/16" (42 mm)Number of frets: 20Description: 6-string acoustic-electric

Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar Natural 886830341298 $119.99 Made by Ovation, the Applause AA21 Acoustic Guitar features the composite body with deep bowl back that gives Ovations their unique look and full sound. Spruce top provides resonant tone. The Applause AA21 has a 25-1/4" scale with 20 frets. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.Deep bowl backSpruce top25-1/4" scale20 fretsRosewood fretboard and bridgeDot markers