Features of the Ovation Applause AE127 Acoustic Guitar:
Tuners - Ovation branded sealed mini-tuners with large knobs. These work well.
Headstock - Trademark offset Ovation shape bearing the Applause logo.
Nut - A clean and tidy white plastic nut.
Neck - Slightly chunky profile which has a satisfying presence in the hand. The finish on the neck is silky and smooth.
Fretboard - Medium dark rosewood fretboard with white dot markers and white binding.
Frets - Thin frets with a well-polished finish.
Action - In all budget acoustics the savings are generally made in general build quality (in budget electric guitars the savings are made in the areas of pickups and hardware). The most noticeable effect of this on all budget acoustic guitars is the slightly robust action. There is always some scope to shave the saddle, but I think the whole feel of guitars in this price range is greatly improved by the addition of a high quality set of strings. Having said all that, the action is only going to matter to those players who want to make high, fast runs or make fast and complicated chord changes in high positions. If your playing rarely takes you above the seventh fret then a higher action is a positive advantage as it allows for more string oscillation giving higher acoustic volume and better tone.
Body - Another Ovation trademark in its shape and styling. The Lyrachord bowl-shaped back defines the acoustic sound of the Ovation and underpins its good performance in difficult amplified environments. The cutaway gives good high fret access if needed. The body has white binding around the spruce top and the decoration around the sound-hole is in the form of a pre-formed plastic ring which is attached to the top of the soundboard.
Bridge - This rosewood bridge has a compensated (staggered) saddle to improve intonation and the clever stop-tail design eliminates the need for bridge-pins.
Pickups and Controls - The thin-line pickups under the bridge run to a small preamp that is controlled via a panel on the topside of the bowl just below the guitar's waist. There's one slider for gain and one for tone.
Pickguard - None fitted.
Strap-buttons - Adequately large buttons are fitted, one at the bottom and one behind the upper bout.
Output Jack - Situated conveniently on the back at the bottom of the bowl.
Finish - This guitar is well finished throughout.
