Ovation CS24P-NBM Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Ovation CS24P-NBM is an acoustic-electric guitar from Ovation, whose innovative design and use of man-made materials set it apart from conventional acoustic guitars. Ovation guitars feature composite backs and tops called Lyrachord, a synthetic substitute for spruce and mahogany, which allows for greater projection while reducing feedback.

The CS24P-NBM is part of Ovation's Celebrity Standard Plus series of mid-priced guitars. It has a rounded shallow "Lyrachord" bowl back paired with a solid spruce top, delivering bright and balanced acoustic tones. The soundhole is in the upper bout near the neck joint rather than the center, allowing more vibration of the top. A 3-band EQ preamp powered by a 9V battery provides plugged-in tones suitable for stage use.

With its distinctive ellipsoid body and pickguard-mounted electronics, the CS24P-NBM embodies Ovation's hallmark modern style. This review covers its construction, sound, playability and more, to help guitarists determine if it merits consideration alongside all-wood instruments.

Body Style and Design

The Ovation CS24P-NBM features a unique cutaway dreadnought body for optimal playability and comfort. While traditional dreadnoughts offer booming projection, their larger lower bouts can feel bulky. Ovation addresses this with a sculpted cutaway design that contours the guitar body to the player. The curving outline hugs your torso for close-fitting comfort. It also facilitates easy upper fret access, enabling you to rip solos and reach intricate chords. Despite the cutaway, the CS24P-NBM still produces the balanced, robust tone expected from a dreadnought. So you get a guitar built for performance, with a shape made for playing ease. This innovative body style allows for rhythmic strumming and intricate fingerpicking alike.

The cutaway design is not the only unique aspect of the Ovation CS24P-NBM's body style and build. It also features Ovation's proprietary Lyrachord body, which consists of a finely crafted, solid spruce top paired with a contoured Lyrachord bowl back. The bowl back maximizes projection while remaining comfortable against your body. Together, these body components produce clear, balanced acoustic tones. The body shape allows easy access to upper frets while promoting playing comfort. For another unique take on acoustic-electric guitar design, consider the Gretsch G9201 2717013000. This hollow body guitar has a single-cutaway design that facilitates fretting across the neck. Its comfortable contours also permit ease of playing while seated or standing. The hollow body construction provides the warmth and resonance expected from an acoustic guitar. At the same time, it has the punchy tones often associated with semi-hollow and solid body electrics. This versatility makes it a great choice for anything from rock and blues to country and jazz.

In terms of materials, the Ovation CS24P-NBM pairs a solid spruce top with a Lyrachord synthetic bowl back. The spruce provides crisp, balanced tone and good projection. The synthetic back offers deep low end paired with clear note articulation. Together, these components give the CS24P-NBM a blend of warmth and brightness. The cutaway shape adds playing comfort without sacrificing acoustic volume and resonance. So you get an easy playing guitar built for performance. The CS24P-NBM comes equipped with an Ovation Slimline pickup system. This gives you natural acoustic amplification suitable for gigs and recording. It captures the guitar's balanced tone, from warm lows to articulated highs. The onboard preamp includes a built-in tuner and EQ controls for dialing in your amplified sound.

All in all, the Ovation CS24P-NBM has a unique body style optimized for playing comfort without compromising on tone. The cutaway dreadnought design contours to your body while providing projection and access. This enables versatile acoustic performance, from strumming chords to improvising solos up the fretboard. If you want an alternative acoustic-electric with its own unique charm, check out the single-cutaway Gretsch G9201. This hollow body guitar offers acoustic resonance paired with electric punch. So whether you prefer Ovation's modern style or Gretsch's vintage vibe, you're sure to find an inspiring guitar to match your needs.

Tonewoods

The CS24P-NBM features high quality tonewoods that provide a balanced and versatile tone. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which gives the guitar a bright and articulate high end. The midrange is focused and balanced due to the solid mahogany back and sides. While mahogany provides warmth and body to the sound, the spruce gives this guitar enough clarity for strumming chords or picking melodies. The combination of spruce and mahogany produces an acoustic guitar that works well for various styles from folk to rock. The all-solid wood construction allows the CS24P-NBM to project nicely when playing live without amplification.

Overall the tonewood choice makes this a versatile acoustic-electric that can handle both stage and studio settings. Many guitarists prefer an acoustic-electric with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides because of the balanced tone. The spruce and mahogany combination provides enough warmth while still having the articulation on the high end that players want for live performances. This tonewood configuration tends to work well with various playing styles too. The CS24P-NBM is a good choice for guitarists who need an acoustic-electric that can shift from a folk gig to a rock show.

Tonewoods have a significant impact on the sound and playability of an acoustic guitar. The choice of woods affects the timbre, sustain, and response of the instrument. Spruce is a popular top wood due to its balanced tone with clear highs. Mahogany backs and sides offer a smooth midrange with pleasant low end. Together, these woods yield an acoustic guitar suitable for many musical contexts. While electronics and hardware play a role, the tonewood foundation of the CS24P-NBM makes it a versatile acoustic-electric.

If you're looking for another quality acoustic-electric guitar, check out the Fender 0372821069. This instrument also features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The all-solid wood construction provides excellent resonance, projection, and balanced tone. Between the spruce and mahogany, this Fender acoustic-electric offers clarity and articulation while still having enough low-mid warmth. It's a great choice for guitarists who need an acoustic guitar suitable for both live gigs and studio work. The Fender 0372821069 pairs well with the CS24P-NBM if you're exploring options for a new versatile acoustic-electric. Be sure to compare the tones and features to find the right fit for your budget and needs.

Preamp and Electronics

The Ovation CS24P-NBM features Ovation's OP-Preamp which gives you excellent control over your tone. The preamp has a built-in tuner and equalizer, allowing you to shape your EQ by boosting or cutting treble and bass frequencies. There are also effects like chorus and reverb that you can add with just a turn of a knob. The OP-Preamp runs on a 9V battery or can be powered via an external power supply.

Overall, the preamp gives you a lot of tonal options right at your fingertips. The equalizer helps you dial in just the right tone, whether you want a bright and crisp sound or a warmer, bass-heavy tone. And effects like reverb and chorus expand your tonal palette. The preamp also has a phase switch to help eliminate feedback at higher volumes. Whether you want to sculpt your ideal acoustic tone during a gig or lay down tracks in the studio, the OP-Preamp gives you the control you need.

Neck and Fretboard

The CS24P-NBM features Ovation's easy-to-play mid-depth neck with smooth satin finish and standard 25.5" scale length. The nut width measures 1 11/16", providing comfort for both chording and lead playing.

Ovation has opted for a nylon nut on this model, which greatly enhances tuning stability compared to cheaper plastic nuts. The ovangkol fretboard offers a warm, smooth feel that invites fast lead runs. The medium jumbo frets provide a nice balance of grip and speed. Overall the neck profile and materials make this an extremely playable and comfortable guitar.

Hardware

The Ovation CS24P-NBM features high-quality hardware that enables smooth, stable tuning and great playability. The guitar utilizes Ovation's chrome Slimline tuners, which do an excellent job of keeping the guitar in tune. The sealed chrome tuners minimize friction, helping the guitar stay in tune even during aggressive strumming or bending strings. Players have noted the tuning stability as a standout feature, with the guitar rarely going out of tune even during long practice or gigging sessions. The tuners turn smoothly and hold tension precisely.

The nut and saddle are both made of Tusq, a man-made alternative to bone or ivory that providesfirm string spacing and minimized string friction. The Tusq nut promotes solid tuning stability and true string vibration. Tusq is also environmentally friendly and ethical compared to natural ivory. Overall, the high-quality hardware components allowfor great tuning capability, resonance, and playability.

Sound

The sound of the Ovation CS24P-NBM Acoustic-Electric is well-balanced across the frequency range, making it versatile for playing many different styles. The midrange tones are clear and focused, while the bass is tight and defined. The treble has good projection and sparkle without being harsh or shrill. Strumming produces full chords with note separation. Fingerpicking also comes through with clarity and articulation on each string.

The guitar's electronics help to accurately reproduce its acoustic tone. The top-mounted analog preamp provides clean amplification and EQ adjustments to shape the tone. It can give a light boost to treble or bass as needed. The onboard tuner is also handy for quick tuning between songs at gigs. From quiet unamplified practice to onstage amplified performance, the Ovation CS24P-NBM offers a consistent and balanced acoustic tone.

Playability

One of the standout features of the Ovation CS24P-NBM is its excellent playability. This acoustic-electric guitar has a slim neck profile and low action that make it very comfortable and easy to play.

The neck has a slim "V" profile that fits nicely in the hand. It has a very smooth feel, without being overly thin or frail. The shallow neck depth allows for easy fretting and chord changes. Even players with smaller hands will find this guitar easy to grip and maneuver up and down the neck.

The action on this Ovation guitar is impressively low. The strings sit close to the fretboard, minimizing the space your fingers need to press down. Bending notes and solos come easier thanks to the low action. There's no discomfort or hand fatigue that can come from constantly pressing down on high action acoustic guitars.

The slim neck and low action combine to create a very playable instrument. It's enjoyable to practice and jam on this Ovation for hours without any hand strain or fatigue. The smooth neck and close action make it a great choice for beginners too. Overall, the CS24P-NBM's playability shines as one of its top attributes.

Pros

Ovation's CS24P-NBM offers a balanced tone that works well for various music genres. The acoustic-electric design produces rich, warm sound acoustically, while the onboard preamp and Ovation's proprietary pickup system provide excellent amplified tones.

The preamp features simple controls for volume, bass, mid, and treble, allowing quick tone shaping without getting overwhelmed. The pickup captures the guitar's natural bass and clear treble nicely. There's no unwanted buzzing or harshness to the amplified sound.

Many players praise the CS24P-NBM for its buttery smooth playability too. The neck has a nice slim profile that's comfortable to hold, while the satin finish allows for excellent speed up and down the fretboard. The action is set low and very playable out of the box. Combined with the well-rounded tone, this Ovation offers an inspiring playing experience.

Cons

• The Ovation CS24P-NBM is on the heavy side, weighing in at almost 8 pounds. While the solid wood construction contributes to the great tone, it does make this model less ideal for musicians who need to move around a lot on stage or travel frequently to gigs. The weight could contribute to back and shoulder fatigue during long practice or performance sessions.

• A gig bag does not come included with the Ovation CS24P-NBM. For a guitar in this price range, most players would expect a hardshell or at least padded gig bag to provide protection during transport and storage. Having to buy a separate gig bag adds to the overall cost of purchasing this model. The lack of a included case or bag means you have to be extra cautious to avoid dings, dents, and other cosmetic damage.