Applause AE-35 12-String

Korean made by Kaman, laminated spruce top, passive electronics, narrow maple neck, especially for a 12-string, and deep-bowl Ovation styling. I've had this guitar about 2 weeks now and think it is great. Used to play a Hagstrom electric 12 and loved it's action, but this action is even better. I bought an Ovation deep-bowl hard case with it and it works perfectly. I give it an 8 on features only because it is an acoustic-electric that would probably benefit from an active 3-band equalizer rather than the passive electronics with only a single gain and a single tone slide switch for controls when plugged in. Of course, passive means no battery to forget about, so I like that. It came only with a truss rod allen wrench and a very generic book, so don't expect a detailed manual on this guitar from the factory.

The sound is good, loud when I want it to be, or soft when called for. I have seldom seen 12-strings that sound good played softly and played hard, but this seems to be the best of both worlds. Not nearly as "jangly" as some 12-strings, so works good on leads and as rhythm in the older rock and country that I play mostly. It does stay in tune very well, even when played hard, with the D'Addario strings it came with.

The action was great right from the factory. My dealer was out of stock so had this one drop-shipped to me. I have a slight amount of buzz on the low E and A strings if I play it fairly hard, and will look at that after a month or so for things to stabilize. I'm not really bothered by this, because I think it shows they tried to set it up as near perfect as they could get it from the factory. The only flaw I found was the self-adhesive wire holder inside, that holds the wires from the piezo crystals and to the jack, came loose. As I read in another review, I'll stick that back on when I change strings next. I looked it over very closely and could not find any flaws in the finish or anything else negative in this category.

It's been many years since I played live gigs, but I would not be afraid to rely on this without a backup for it. Finish, buttons, appearance are all great. I always clean and treat my guitars with a non-wax polish, and I think this finish will last as long as the guitar itself when treated properly. If you play hard most of the time, you might want to consider adding a pick-guard to it to protect the finish as it does not come with one.

Only direct dealing with them was their notification when the guitar was drop-shipped to me. The 5-year warranty is impressive, even though I think this guitar is high quality enough where they could cover it with the limited lifetime warranty like the regular Ovation line.

I've been playing for about 40 years, mostly just as a pasttime for myself now. If this one was destroyed or lost, I'd replace it with the exact same model. For the money, I don't think it can be beat. I compared it to Fenders and others in similar price ranges, but this one beats them all hands-down in my opinion. Better action, more classy looks (I like the maple neck), and I think it has a much better sound, probably due to the deep bowl back. Like I said, a 3-band equalizer would probably help it plugged in, but unplugged, I don't think it can be beat for double the price. Between me and others in my household, we have Peaveys, Ibanezes, a Fender, a Montana, and one Epiphone in guitars and amps by Crate and Line6.

2003 AE-35 twelve string, passive electronics, spruce top, nato neck and natural finish. Came in a cardboard box with a 'Applause' by *OVATION* tag.

This guitar is astounding. I was expecting much less for my money. Huge acoustic tone but absolutely unbelievable when plugged directly into a medium powered PA system. Not bad in a garden-variety Fender solid-state amp either. Full twelve string jangle without the usual (although distinctive and rather pleasant)'shallow' Ovation sound usually associated with the shallow and super shallow Lyrachord backs. I give this instrument a "10" compared with anything that I have ever heard or played.

I bought this new instrument 'sight-unseen' because a buddy of mine owned an Ovation twelve-string years ago and the one thing that I never forgot was the slim neck and the action and I didn't want to lay out the cash for an Ovation. This and the fact that there weren't a great abundance of twelve strings in my area with which to make a comparison.(one Takamine that had a huge sound but a neck like a two-by-four) I was reluctant, however to purchase one because the neck had snapped off at the body joint on my buddy's Ovation under normal wear and tear conditions. Since developing mild arthritis in my hands however,I had to sell another twelve string I owned because the action was just too brutal. This was sort of a last ditch attempt at playing a twelve string at all, and I just took a chance that it would be a playable 'campfire' axe. My expectations were greatly exceeded. Low smooth action and a 'satiny' smooth, skinny-ass neck have made this the most playable twelve string that I've ever laid my hands on.
Cosmetically it's a little funky. The 'natural' finish is clear and clean but looks a little thick (like glass) but seems to have no apparent effect on the sound. The rosette around the soundhole looks a little too clunky and prefabricated. The head looks like it was carefully carved with a buck knife but all of the tuning keys, although slightly askew when seen from the rear of the headstock, are evenly spaced and the string pull is almost direct.
Last, but certainly not least, is the neck. I understand that Nato (I'd never heard of it previously)is much like mahogany. What is so impressive is the satin-like finish. It's like sprinkling baby powder on the palm of your fretting hand. I don't know how this is accomplished but I wish that I could slide my left hand up and down the neck of my old '58 Tele this easily. Frets are neatly polished and no little "grabbers" at the ends.
Cosmetically awkward but unbelievably playable !

Stays in tune (thank God- after all, it's a twelve string).
Willie Nelson couldn't wear the finish off of this one. (with sandpaper)
Can I depend on it??? No Batteries to wear out, ballistic plastic body and bulletproof finish. I'd tear the top off of it and row it across the lake if I had to.
I'll rate it at "7" only because I'm anticipating something going wrong as I've only had it for a year and a half and due to the problems my buddy had with his Ovation.

No dealings with Applause/Ovation yet.
However,this instrument was ordered on a Monday and reached my dealer in Northern Ontario (Canada)on Friday. Not bad by our standards.
The most frustrating thing was having to wait a day to find out where to put the battery. To my surprise.....no Battery. Apparently the pre-amp was changed from active to passive electronics but it was too expensive to change the design so the battery compartment is still there and absolutely no indication anywhere in the packaging or accompanying literature that the electronics are, indeed, passive. I found this out when my tech told me that he didn't know where the battery was supposed to go but it sure sounded good when he had it plugged in the previous day !?!?!?

Playing recreationally for forty years (not well, but consistently)
Gear list, past and present, is substantial.
This instrument - dislike - nothing
- like - everything.
My playing style has never been particularly focused on twelve string and that's why I didn't want to lay out big bucks for one but I will say that I'm playing a lot more twelve string than I'd ever anticipated and it's primarily because of this axe.
Sounds as good as anything I've ever heard that was built on this continent

New 2002/2003 Korean made 12-string transparent ruby red color very pretty for a lower priced guitar. Bridge pickup passive OP2 preamp with a gain and tone channel. Setup is excellent, DiAddario EXP strings, frets seem to be about medium, 20 frets no cutaway, Lyrachord body. Spruce top looks like solid but unsure for this price the grain is very close so at least AA possibly AAA. Mahogany Neck, Rosewood finger board, Applause tuners. 25 1/4" scale

This really has great sound both plugged and natural, The deep lyrachord body helps I am sure, Projects very well. I play a little of everything Folk, rock, blues.

Action was set near perfect right from the factory so I am not touching it right now! The interior cables/wires for the preamp to pickup had a tape mount that has come loose in transit. Make no nois but can look sloppy. I will reattach when I change strings next. The finish is nearly perfect, the only thing I would mention is the rosette is a plastic style it looks nice but would have preferred inlay or decal. This guitar plays really well!

It is too new to say. I am not a pro and take very good care of all my 7 guitars. Many of my Guitars are vintage and I treat them like art not as a tool. I think this would be fine for church gigs playing with friends and even campfires but if on the road everyday it would be hard to say.

unknown

I have been playing off and on for 26 years, I own Epiphone FT350BL bought new in 1976, A 1976 Kramer450G, 1983 AriaProII TA70, Almansa 413 custom, 2000 Taylor Baby, 2002 Epiphone LP100, Behringer Ultrarock GX110, Line 6 POD, Dunlop Fasel Crybaby wah pedal, Big Muff Fuzz box.

Entry level Ovation 12 string. Deep bowl, laminated top, passive electronics, natural finish, standard round hole, chrome Ovation tuners. No case/bag.

Used only acoustically. I was very pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded. I had heard all the horror stories about poor unplugged Ovation sound but this one sounded really quite lovely. I think the deep bowl has a lot to do with it. You do get a much more decent low end than with the shallow ones.

Perfectly setup. I did not have to do anything. Very nice low action.

Two minor complaints on the finish: The strings looked like they were used with what looked like oxidation marks. And there what a crack in one of the first coats of the clear coat. The subsequent coats smoothed it out so I could not feel it but one could definitely see it.

No problems at all.

n/a

Been playing for a bit over a year. I also own a Fender Jazzmaster and a Princeton Reverb. I spent a lot of time at the various music stores trying all kinds of 12's. I ended up with this one because it is so "friendly" to the player thanks to its round back, excellent neck and its great price.

This is a really nice and affordable 12 strings. Very comfortable, none of the Ovation slipping problems, great setup, very decent sound. The only thing I wish it had was a cutaway but that is only for a few songs I Play.