Best Roundback Acoustic Guitars for Beginner 2026
Perfect roundback acoustic guitars for beginner - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Celebrity CE44P Elite Plus FES
by
Ovation
Cultural Music
Unique Sound
World Music
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal character
✓ PROS
- • Comfortable playing position
- • Cultural authenticity
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Ovation Celebrity CE44P Elite Plus FESSteel-String Guitar with PickupLimited editionWith mid cutawayBody: Mid-Depth...
⭐
4.6/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 611153
$714
#2
⭐
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
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Custom Balladeer 2762BL-VB-G
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Distinctive Tone
Folk
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • Very specialized sound
Ovation Custom Balladeer 2762BL-VB-GSteel-String Guitar with PickupWith cutawayBody: Lyrachord GS Deep BowlOptimised...
⭐
4.9/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611837
$1,978
#4
⭐
4.5/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Deluxe CDX40-5-G BLS
by
Ovation
Unique Sound
Cultural Music
Traditional Styles
Key Feature:
• Comfortable playing position
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Distinctive tonal character
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Celebrity Deluxe CDX40-5-G BLSSteel-String Guitar with PickupTop: Solid spruceNew Quintad Elite bracing similar...
⭐
4.5/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 596940
$604
#5
⭐
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
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Adamas 1687GT-9-G RevBrownBurst
by
Adamas
Distinctive Tone
Unique Sound
Folk
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Unique round back construction
- • Great for world music styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited to specific musical styles
- • Very specialized sound
Adamas 1687GT-9-G RevBrownBurstSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Deep Bowl Roundback Non-CutawayThin (<1 mm)...
⭐
4.6/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 576791
$4,888
#7
⭐
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
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Ovation Celebrity Trad. LH CS24L-5G-G
by
Ovation
Folk
Traditional Styles
Cultural Music
Key Feature:
• Unique round back construction
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • Limited to specific musical styles
Ovation Celebrity Trad. LH CS24L-5G-GSteel-string guitar with pickupLefthand modelTop: Solid spruceBody: Mid-Depth...
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 525202
$516
#9
⭐
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
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Pro Series 2771AX-CCB-G SBal
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Cultural Music
Distinctive Tone
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Limited to specific musical styles
- • Limited availability and options
Ovation Pro Series 2771AX-CCB-G SBalAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: Deep Contour BowlWith cutawayNew neck profile and...
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 570424
$1,044
#11
⭐
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
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Ultra 1516VRM-G Vampira Red
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Cultural Music
Distinctive Tone
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Great for world music styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited to specific musical styles
- • Very specialized sound
Ovation Ultra 1516VRM-G Vampira RedAcoustic Guitar with PickupPro Series Ultra Mid-Depth Non-CutawayMid-Depth Body:...
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 559083
$714
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ovation Pro Elite 1768-4S-G USA
by
Ovation
Unique Sound
Folk
Distinctive Tone
Key Feature:
• Unique round back construction
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Comfortable playing position
✗ CONS
- • Limited to specific musical styles
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
Ovation Pro Elite 1768-4S-G USASteel-String Guitar with PickupType: RoundbackTop: Solid AA-grade sitka...
⭐
4.8/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 600285
$2,629
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Ultra 1516SSM-G Silver Shadow
by
Ovation
Traditional Styles
Unique Sound
Distinctive Tone
Key Feature:
• Great for world music styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for world music styles
- • Unique round back construction
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to hold securely
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Ultra 1516SSM-G Silver ShadowAcoustic Guitar with PickupPro Series Ultra Mid-Depth Non-CutawayMid-Depth Body:...
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 559080
$692
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Ovation Celebrity Elite CE48-1-G
by
Ovation
Folk
World Music
Cultural Music
Key Feature:
• Cultural authenticity
✓ PROS
- • Cultural authenticity
- • Unique round back construction
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and options
- • May not suit all players
Ovation Celebrity Elite CE48-1-GSteel-string guitar with pickupWith cutawayTop: Solid spruceBody: Super Shallow...
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 525252
$527
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.
