Best Roundback Acoustic Guitars 2026
Top-rated roundback acoustic guitars 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Celebrity Elite CE44-RR-G
by
Ovation
Unique Sound
Folk
Traditional Styles
Key Feature:
• Unique round back construction
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Great for world music styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited to specific musical styles
- • Limited availability and options
Ovation Celebrity CE44-RRSteel String GuitarCelebrity EliteWith cutawaySolid spruce topMulti-wood epaulette sound...
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 332703
$549
#2
⭐
4.4/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Celebrity Trad.Plus CS24X-7C-G
by
Ovation
Distinctive Tone
World Music
Folk
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Celebrity Trad.Plus CS24X-7C-GSteel-string guitar with pickupBody: Mid-Depth LyrachordWith cutawaySelected...
⭐
4.4/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 525206
$505
#3
⭐
5.0/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Celebrity Elite CE44-RBB-G
by
Ovation
Cultural Music
Unique Sound
Folk
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal character
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Celebrity CE44-RBB-GSteel-String GuitarCelebrity EliteBody style: OvationMid-depth cutaway Lyrachord bodySolid...
⭐
5.0/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 442241
$549
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Elite CE44-5-G
by
Ovation
Unique Sound
World Music
Traditional Styles
Key Feature:
• Unique round back construction
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
- • Very specialized sound
Ovation Celebrity CE44-5-GSteel-String GuitarCelebrity EliteWith cutawayTop: Solid spruceSoundholes: Multi-wood...
⭐
4.8/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 332704
$538
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Celebrity El. Plus CE44P-TGE-G
by
Ovation
World Music
Unique Sound
Distinctive Tone
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal character
- • Unique round back construction
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Limited availability and options
Ovation Celebrity El. Plus CE44P-TGE-GAcoustic guitar with pickupWith cutawayMid-depth lyrachord bodySelected quilted...
⭐
5.0/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 525237
$571
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Deluxe CDX40-1-G VSB
by
Ovation
World Music
Traditional Styles
Cultural Music
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • Very specialized sound
Ovation Celebrity Deluxe CDX40-1-G VSBString-String Guitar with PickupTop: Solid spruceNew Quintad Elite bracing...
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 596961
$549
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Celebrity Tradition CS-24P-TBB
by
Ovation
World Music
Traditional Styles
Unique Sound
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal character
- • Great for world music styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Ovation Celebrity CS24Standard Plus TBSteel-String GuitarTop: Flamed mapleBody design: Mid-Depth CutawayBody:...
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 332554
$505
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Celebrity ElitePlusCE48P-TGE-G
by
Ovation
Distinctive Tone
Cultural Music
World Music
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Ovation Celebrity CE48P-TGE Elite PlusSteel String Guitar with PickupCutawayTop: Selected mapleMulti-soundholeSuper...
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 380654
$560
#9
⭐
4.4/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Tradition CS-24-RR-G
by
Ovation
Cultural Music
Unique Sound
World Music
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Ovation Celebrity CS24-RR StandardSteel String GuitarSolid spruce topMid-depth cutaway Lyrachord bodyPearloid...
⭐
4.4/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 332710
$488
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Applause Elite AE44-7S
by
Applause
World Music
Distinctive Tone
Unique Sound
Key Feature:
• Unique round back construction
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Applause Elite AE44-7SSteel-String Guitar With PickupElite seriesMid Depth RoundbackWith a...
⭐
4.7/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 526495
$370
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Ultra 1516DTD-G Dusk till dawn
by
Ovation
Unique Sound
Distinctive Tone
Folk
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Distinctive tonal character
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
- • Very specialized sound
Ovation Ultra 1516DTD-G Dusk till dawnAcoustic Guitar with PickupPro Series Ultra Mid-Depth Non-CutawayMid-Depth Body:...
⭐
4.5/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 559076
$714
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Traditional CS24-1-G
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Distinctive Tone
Cultural Music
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing position
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Celebrity Traditional CS24-1-GSteel-string guitar with pickupBody: Mid-Depth LyrachordWith cutawayOptimised...
⭐
4.8/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 525186
$505
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Custom Balladeer 2762BL-5-G
by
Ovation
Distinctive Tone
World Music
Unique Sound
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal character
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Custom Balladeer 2762BL-5-GSteel-String Guitar with PickupWith cutawayBody: Lyrachord GS Deep BowlOptimised...
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611847
$1,924
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity El. Plus CE44LX-1R-G
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Cultural Music
Unique Sound
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Unique round back construction
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Limited availability and options
Ovation Celebrity El. Plus CE44LX-1R-GSteel-string guitar with pickupLeft-handers modelBody: Mid-Depth LyrachordWith...
⭐
4.4/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 525227
$611
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Celebrity Tradition CS-24-4-G
by
Ovation
Folk
Distinctive Tone
Traditional Styles
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable playing position
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
Ovation Celebrity Traditional CS-24-4-GSteel-String GuitarTop: Flamed mapleBody design: Mid-Depth CutawayBody:...
⭐
4.8/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 332549
$501
How to Choose the Best Roundback Acoustic Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced roundback acoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
