The Roundback Look, a Flame Maple Twist
If you've ever been at a gig and wondered how that guitarist was filling the room without fighting the monitors all night, there's a decent chance they were playing an Ovation. The brand built its reputation on one genuinely unusual idea: what if the back of an acoustic guitar were shaped like a bowl, made from composite, and engineered to project outward rather than absorb? The CS24P-TBBY takes that time-tested formula and layers in a highly figured, flame maple top finished in a gloss Transparent Blackburst — an instrument that earns its looks the hard way, with actual tonewoods rather than a paint job.
The "Plus" in Celebrity Traditional Plus isn't marketing fluff. It specifically identifies models whose tops have been upgraded with special figured woods beyond the standard spruce. Here, that means a laminate flame maple soundboard that catches the light every time you move, paired with scalloped, quartersawn X-bracing underneath for responsive projection and even note articulation. Center soundhole, traditional aesthetics, classic Ovation roundback soul.
This is a mid-depth cutaway with a built-in pickup system, which puts it squarely in the territory of players who perform regularly and want one instrument that handles both the acoustic living room and the plugged-in stage without compromise.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed [DESCRIBE COSMETIC BLEMISH]. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
The Body: Mid-Depth Lyrachord Roundback
Ovation's Lyrachord composite back and sides are the core of what makes these guitars feel different in your hands and sound different in a room. The mid-depth bowl strikes a balance — deep enough to generate warm, full low-end response, shallow enough to stay comfortable whether you're standing with a strap or seated. The cutaway makes the upper frets genuinely accessible, which is a practical consideration if you're soloing above the 12th fret with any regularity.
The body binding is ivory white with multi-part purfling, and the abalone rosette around the center soundhole adds a refined visual detail without going overboard. The overall high-gloss finish on the top makes the flame maple grain the centerpiece — the Transparent Blackburst fades from natural wood grain at the center to deep black at the edges, which works especially well on figured maple where no two guitars look identical.
The Neck: Fast, Familiar, Satin-Smooth
The CS24P-TBBY runs a Nato neck with a satin finish — one of those details players consistently appreciate once they pick one up. Satin necks don't grab or slow your hand down the way a gloss neck can, especially during a long set. The 10" fretboard radius gives it an electric-leaning feel that makes chord work and melodic runs alike feel natural, and the 42.8mm (1 11/16") nut width is just right for most players who come from a steel-string background.
The ovangkol fretboard and bridge bring their own warmth and density to the voice of the instrument, with abalone dot inlays for clean position marking. Scale length is 643mm (25.3"), landing slightly shorter than a traditional acoustic scale, which keeps string tension manageable and the overall feel approachable. Diecast Ovation chrome tuners hold pitch reliably through a full night of playing.
Electronics: Ovation CP-100 Slimline + OP-4CT Preamp
The onboard electronics system starts with an Ovation CP-100 Slimline pickup at the bridge. Ovation's piezo design uses a serrated bridge inlay to increase pressure on the piezo crystals, which spreads the signal more evenly across all six strings — a meaningful engineering choice that shows up in consistent note-to-note output when you're plugged in. The pickup feeds into an OP-4CT preamp with three-band EQ (bass, mid, treble) and a built-in chromatic tuner.
The result is a system that's genuinely useful on a real stage rather than just technically functional. You can dial in your EQ to compensate for room acoustics, keep an eye on your tuning without reaching for a clip-on, and go from acoustic strum to full-band volume with controls that are straightforward and easy to reach. No hunting around mid-song.
Product Features:
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Top: Laminate flame maple with gloss Transparent Blackburst finish
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Body: Mid-depth Lyrachord composite roundback with single cutaway
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Bracing: Scalloped, quartersawn X-bracing
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Soundhole: Traditional center soundhole with abalone rosette
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Neck: Nato, satin finish; ovangkol fingerboard and bridge
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Scale / Nut: 643mm (25.3") scale length; 42.8mm (1 11/16") nut width
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Fretboard radius: 10" with abalone dot inlays; 20 frets
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Pickup: Ovation CP-100 Slimline piezo
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Preamp: OP-4CT with 3-band EQ and onboard tuner
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Tuners: Diecast Ovation, chrome
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Binding: Ivory white body binding with multi-part purfling
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Handedness: Right-handed
Brand: Ovation
Model: Celebrity Traditional Plus CS24P-TBBY
SKU: .OV531.228-2ND|CCV21081453
Condition: B-Stock
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
