You can tell by the shape of the headstock, the design around the soundhole, and the un-mistakable round "plastic" back.

Ovations tend to have narrower necks so if you have smaller hands or play a lot of electric guitar, you may find this appealing.  As with a lot of things, everyone has their personal preferences with regards to sound but I like the Ovation sound.  Some people argue that the Ovation is a "plastic" guitar that doesn't change with age and that wood matures and thus changes the sound over time.  While this is true, it does not necessarily mean that the sound will get better. 

It's been mentioned already but I love the Ovation's bridge design and the fact that it doesn't have any pins.  This translates to an easier time changing strings (at least for me.)  The action on an Ovation is nice and low so the strings are usually easy to press and hold so it's forgiving when your finger doesn't quite hit the "sweet spot" of the string. 

What it all comes down to is that you can definitely do worse than an Ovation.  I recommend playing the model you like in the store extensively before you buy.  Don't make up your mind before you buy, there are a lot of options available to the guitar player nowadays.  Take your time, you never know what you'll find.  Good luck!

It sounds good, holds a tune well, and when coupled with some Elixir light strings, it plays pretty good.

It is what it is. It is not a $1000 guitar. So it won't sound like one.

The tuner is very good, although it does eat the batteries (at least mine does), especially when plugged in.
I run it through a Behringer keyboard amp along with a mic and it does a great job.
The case that comes with it is very nice.
All in all it is a decent starter guitar.
Make sure you change out the stock strings as soon as you get it. Those things will make your fingers bleed.

edit: The roundback does take some getting used to. I am no longer a flat bellied youngster, and it tends to want to kick out. If I lost 20lbs...it probably wouldn't be an issue

If it's a Celebrity, I would doubt it's bone but the rest is great advice!  Beyond that, some guitars do have a heavy bass side and that's a reflection of a number of things including their bracing, construction, or even the strings that you're putting on them.  Sound being subjective, some players just appreciate more bass and most manufacturer's cater to that by making models that are a little boomier or a little brighter.  You might just want to explore other models - just watch the GAS!

i have a ovation celebrity,and it appears that the bass strings are more dominant HELP ANYONE

Do you mean the bass strings are louder than the treble(skinny) strings while playing through an amp or playing amplified? If playing unplugged I would recommend using a thinner pick. If playing plugged in I would recommend lowering the bass EQ on your guitar or if your guitar doesn't have an onboard EQ reduce your lows on your amp or mixer.

One other option is to thoroughly clean the brigde where your pickup is located. Loosen your strings enough so that you can remove the bone saddle an remove any grit or corrosion that may be in there.

It is a subjective choice, I've played both Ovation and Takemine guitars and personally prefer the Takemine.

regards

David

I had a Tak EAN10C that I thought I would never sell.  I did to buy an Ovation that I had been lusting after for quite a while but I would buy that Tak back in a second.  The cedar top just gave it incredible sound, plugged or not, and I would put that guitar up against ANY guitar under $1,000US.  Just a fabulous guitar.