Ovation CE44P-BLFL-G Elite

I spent a couple of weeks playing the Ovation CE44P-BLFL-G Elite and what struck me first was how much personality this mid-depth roundback carries - visually and sonically. I'm coming from a mix of steel-string acoustics and stage-oriented instruments, so I evaluated it for unplugged tone, plugged reliability, and how it sits in a live rig.

First Impressions

Out of the case the Blue Flamed top and multi-soundhole layout grab attention - the finish catches the light and the abalone accents feel tasteful rather than flashy. The guitar feels solid in the hands, the mid-depth Lyrachord bowl gives a reassuring rigidity and the nut width and scale feel familiar and comfortable right away.

Design & Features

The CE44P-BLFL-G Elite is built around a mid-depth Lyrachord roundback body with a selected flamed maple top and scalloped, quartersawn X-bracing, which is the combo that defines its voice and projection. It uses a nato neck with an ovangkol fingerboard and bridge, a 643 mm scale (25.3") and a 42.8 mm nut width, all of which give the neck a familiar, slightly modern feel. The Multi Soundhole arrangement along the upper bout moves sound closer to the player and changes the room projection compared with center-hole acoustics - visually distinct and audibly practical on stage. Hardware-wise the guitar ships with die-cast Ovation tuners, abalone dot inlays (plus a 12th-fret abalone inlay on the limited edition), and tasteful multi-piece purfling around the body.

Playability & Usability

The neck is quick without feeling narrow - fingerstyle and light strumming are both comfortable thanks to a well-dressed fingerboard and a sensible action out of the box. The cutaway makes reaching the upper register effortless, and the mid-depth body balances the low-end so the top strings stay articulate instead of getting buried. Physically it sits well whether I was seated or standing for a gig, and the Lyrachord bowl keeps the guitar reasonably light for extended use.

Electronics & Amplified Tone

Ovation outfits this model with a CP-100 slimline bridge pickup and the OP-4CT preamp with a 3-band EQ and built-in tuner, which is straightforward and stage-friendly. Plugged in, the guitar tracks dynamics well and the EQ gives you enough shaping to fit into a mix without sounding boxy; however, the stock pickup emphasizes mid-high detail which can make bright fingerpicking sound a touch brittle at high gain. For dry DI signals I found a little gentle EQ and a low-cut helped it sit nicer through PA channels.

Real-World Experience

I used the CE44P in rehearsals and a couple of small live runs - it holds tuning well and the Mahogany-like warmth from the mid-depth bowl gives rhythm parts a full backbone. When I switched to single-coil-y amps or DI'd to FOH, the clarity remained, but I did find myself dialing back the top-end on the preamp to avoid a slightly nasal presence in mixes that already have bright instruments. On unplugged passages the flamed top projects pleasantly with a focused midrange and surprising low-mid presence for a roundback design.

The Trade-Offs

The main compromises are typical of this class - the built-in electronics and slimline pickup are competent but not reference-grade, and the Lyrachord body gives a very specific Ovation character that won’t replace a full-bodied solid-wood dreadnought if that is what you prefer. Also, while the finish and abalone details are attractive, those visual flourishes come without a case in most retail packages, so factor that into total cost.

Final Verdict

The CE44P-BLFL-G Elite is a confident, stage-minded acoustic-electric that blends eye-catching cosmetics with practical performance - it suits gigging players who want a reliable plugged sound and a distinctive look without breaking the bank. I recommend it to players who value stage projection, stability, and a slightly modern acoustic voice; if you want a raw, purely unplugged timber or boutique electronics you may want to compare alternatives first.