Applause AA-14-1

This is an Aluminum fretboard model that I found at a flea market and have had the hardest time trying to get info on, I only say its an AA-14-1 becausae I see thats what its listed as here and its exactly the same as others have described. Its a sunburst top, composite neck, and the familiar ovation rounded back. The aluminum fretboard is painted black and has lost its inlays somewhere along the way.

This was my very first guitar and I really didn't know what I was looking for or what it SHOULD sound like, but I thought right away that I hadn't heard much better. The aluminun fretboard makes you work, but this guitar explodes with a bright, twangy punch along with a deep resonant bass and great harmonics. Anyone who has ever played it has been floored and jealous. Great for alternative country. Can be easily amplified with something like a dean markley and it sounds perfect, but on its own it still puts out a huge sound.

Though the action is high, it never really bothered me much. The finish is cracked as others have commented on, but I have always thought it gave the guitar character. The sunburst (almost tobaccoburst) stain job is beautiful. The roundback is a fantasticly comfortable fit.

This has got to be the toughest guitar on the planet. I have taken it camping, hiking , and through multiple roadtrips and it has always been very reliable and taken a beating. The sound and playability just seenmt o get better.

IMy only comment is that it is a pain to find any info on these guitars, especially on the net.

Like I said this was my first guitar and I think in being so it spoiled me. Yeah, you can find them dirt cheap, but I'd stack my applause up against any other. It has a great fit, amazing sound quality and production, and the aluminum fretboard is too cool.

Round back with alluminum fretboard, sunburst laminated top coated with some kind of poly. neck seems to be composit not wood higher than average action 20 frets good not great tuners made in ct U.S.A very durrable.

better suited to layed back playing if I get to radical it will buzz some however the volume is such that extream is unnessesary. The sound is great I would put it against guitars at ten times the price. the tone is crisp but not boxy it sustains realy well.

seems to be put together as well as any of the round backs I have looked at. It is a pretty much a what you get is what you get instrument not alot of room for action of tone modification. the neck is permanant. The action is high and looks like there is very little room for reduction. generaly a well put together guitar that is very durrable. The finish seems to crack with age.

This guitar was made in the early seventies and has been played alot it will still be arround another 20+ years probably playing just about the some. the finish is cracked and I would expect that most of thes have the same problem because of the thick poly coat, but it still looks ok. I would never expect anything to give out on me it is realy tough. You could put this on your back and hike cross country without a fancy case. Would never think of needing a back up just strings.

been arround guitars about 20 years but this is only the second guitar I have owned. I bought it because it sounded great and looked durrable. I wish I had realized that the frets were non replacable and that the neck was permanantly attached. I doint think that I would buy another if it were stolen just because they are hard to find and the action is high. I have looked at dozens and chose this one becouse of the sound. It would be nice if it were more upgradable.

This is the mysterious aluminum fretboard model. It has a 20 frets, deep bowl, and U.S.A. made. It has a sunburst top and a round soundhole. The neck and headstock are coated with some sort of plastic material. I picked it up at a flea market and don't know how old it is. It is an acoustic guitar and appears to be all original except for the strings.

I have played a variety of Applause and Ovation guitars but haven't found one yet that matches this one in sound. For an acoustic guitar, it has more volume and and sustain than some costing ten times more.

The action is a little higher than I like, but still plays well without any buzzing. I bought it used, so I don't know how the top got cracked. It has four hairline cracks that run from the bottom of the bridge all the way to where the top meets the binding. This does not affect the sound or playability. It does not have any of the dot fret markers left. Apparently the don't stick well to aluminum and fell off. It still seems solid. I have seen a few other guitars of this model in the same condition. I don't know what's up with that. If you want to develop calouses on your fingers, this is the guitar to do it with.

This guitar is defineatly roadworthy. I've had it about 3 years, and it's the same as when I bought it. It's my "knock around" guitar.
If I were playing a gig, this would not be my guitar of choice due to the slightly high action.

Never dealt with them. Don't know.

Overall, this is not a bad guitar. If it were lost or stolen, I probably wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it. I have never been a big fan of the roundback guitars because of the way they slide out of your lap when you are playing sitting down. The next time I change strings, I may file the bridge saddle and try to get the action down.
This guitar has a lot of punch and the sound is it's best feature.