Martin DX-1

Update to an earlier submission I made on May 9, 2004, shortly after I first got this guitar.

Sounds great.

Excellent... at first.

The top is caving already after 6 months. I bought this guitar in early May of 2004. It's just beginning to get into the cold months (November) and the air is not dry yet here in the Northeast. This guitar stays indoors and when it's not being used it hangs on a guitar hanger. Temperature is steady around 70 degrees and the humidity is always about 60%. It has always been fine and stayed in perfect tune even after 2 weeks. However, I pulled it down after not playing it for a few weeks and found that the top is caving in at the bridge area. The guitar came strung with Martin 12's, and that's what I always use. This should not be happening.

I was sceptical when I bought it: high density plastic/wood laminate, $500. price point, etc. I'd say you're better off either spending less money on a cheaper guitar (which is likely to fold in the same manner at some point), or save your cash for an expensive guitar.

Made in 2003, made in Narzareth, etc... Standard Dreadnought fret#, Solid Spruce Top, no electronics. Decent tuners, I guess. The G-string tuner slips a little every now and then. Bought it at a Guitar Center for 500 w/ case. Since it doesn't have electronics, I am going to have to not give it a perfect ten in this category.

I play mostly acoustic stuff anyway. You name it, if it's got a good fingerpicking part, or even strumming, I'm all over it. This guitar does Dashboard, Led Zep III, even CSN(Y). I'm very pleased with the sound. I played a few top-end Ibanez acoustics, a few Takamines, a Tacoma, a Big Baby Taylor, and anything else for about 500 bucks, and this one was the winner. I wasn't so much concerned with the name as I was the sound, and this one had the others beaten hands down. It's big and round and bassy when you want it to be, or it can be an jangly as a 12. Really responsive to a light touch, especially with newer strings. I like how it sounds, I don't have a single disappointment with the tonality of this guitar. Everytime I go into GC again, I always pull off the D-18's, the 1500 dollar martins, etc... and I'm always coming back to the DX1 because it just sounds and feels better to me.

Action is nice and low (for a martin). The ones that I've played in the past have given me sore hands from how highly strung they were, but this one is a real player, in my opinion. I like how the top of the guitar isn't finished with a gloss; it's really smooth, your arm doesn't stick to it, and I think it probably allows for more resonance from the solid top. No worksmanship flaws.

The Sides and Back of this guitar are indestructible, but since the top of it isn't glossed in, it's a little more prone to being affected by careless storage... scrapes, stuff like that. The top is delicate, the rest is a tank.

I have a warranty, and I have called them with questions, but I've never had to rely on the warranty to get it fixed or anything.

Been playing for almost 10 years, and I own a telecaster, an Ibanez sr400 bass, an enormous pa and bass rig, and I spend more time practicing this than I do bass or electric. It's just a real joy to hear the sounds coming out. If it were stolen, I'd cry, because I don't have the capital to replace it. College does that to you, I suppose. I wish it had some electronics, but from what I've heard, the Fishman Neo-D sucks, and the only real way to get a good sound from a guitar that doesn't already have electronics is to get a Fishman Rare Earth Custom and then send that to a SansAmp Acoustic DI box. That's almost as expensive as the guitar itself, so that'll have to wait. Until then, condenser mics are the answer, if amplification is the question.

I own a 2003 model - sitka spruce top, composite body and sides, black micarta fretboard.

This guitar sounds beautiful! I tried out several other brands, as well as a few other Martins that cost a couple hundred dollars more, and this one outshined them all. If you're looking for a trebley, twangy sound, this is not the guitar to buy. What sold me was the incredibly rich, deep bass response and warm midrange...I play in a high-energy Celtic band, and being the "bass" of the group, this was an important factor.

The one drawback (which has been mentioned several times by other users) is that it's a little quiet, especially in a flatpicking situation. Since my role in the group is primarily rhythmic, this is not a big issue...I use a Boss GE-7 equalizer as a boost if I need to take the melody.

I felt that the action was perfect. I know that some people aren't happy with the fretboard being a synthetic material, but I think it feels fine.

I did have a tiny issue with the nut...I'm a heavy-handed player, but I was breaking strings a little too frequently. I sanded and smoothed out a couple of grooves, and things have been fine since then.

I've played the holy crap out of this guitar for over a year now, and it's held up fine. I take pretty good care of it, though, and keep it in a hardshell case. Although I like the "rough" finish (or lack of finish, I should say), it does lend itself to staining...there is a very faint discoloration from my forearm, but it adds character.

I haven't dealt with customer support too much, but I've emailed them with a couple of questions, and they responded quickly.

If you are looking for an affordable, warm-sounding guitar, this one is perfect. I've never been a fan of that jangly sound that so many acoustic guitars seem to have, so I'm glad to have run across this one. I've seen other reviewers say that they would go with a Seagull instead, and I played a few of those...they weren't terrible, but they felt and sounded a little cheap (and they definitely didn't have that bass response). I would love to own a D-28 someday, but until I've got that much money laying around, I'll stick with the DX-1.

Made in Nazareth, PA, between 3/27/04 and 5/4/04 (more on that later); 20 frets, 14 clear; spruce top, apparently 2 pieces; laminated neck, said by manufacturer to be similar to piano pinblock; laminate body; fretboard and bridge of high-density plastic, quite like ebony; flat finish; dreadnought body; case not included

I played a righty DX-1 in an effort to decide if I should order a lefty. I did the same with another guitar priced about $100 less, with more eye appeal and a case included. I played some lefties, too, though you know what it's like finding one in stock. The righty DX-1 I sampled sang. The tone was full and balanced, intonation was consistent up the neck, setup was easy to play. I decided to take a chance and order the lefty. It's every bit as good as the display model.

I do most of my playing to accompany my elementary music classes where I teach. I was looking for a guitar that can play beautiful chords. The DX-1 does that. Every string speaks clearly. I can play in a percussive style with the backs of my nails, and this guitar gives that sound authority. I'm playing more, and I'm practicing with improvement in mind, simply because this guitar sounds so good!

The factory setup is good. It's a trifle high, but I can adjust. The first two strings would stick briefly in the nut during tune-up when I got the guitar. My dealer said to run a pencil through the grooves. I did that with the first string change, and it worked.

There's a tiny spot on the neck where there must have been a bubble in the lacquer. The neck had a rough surface when brand-new, just rough enough to snag lint from a polishing cloth. I was disappointed that Martin didn't sand it finer. With playing and normal wear, this problem disappears in a month or less.

Everything fits together well. I'm coming off an 18-year relationship with a cheap electric that had terrible tuners and a poorly-cut nut, so the smooth tuning and stable pitch of the DX-1 really stand out.

The laminated neck should be very stable. The thin, flat finish might be a dirt magnet, according to other reviewers. I think the materials used in this guitar will prove durable. Martin gives a lifetime limited warranty, so they believe in this guitar.

My DX-1 looks fragile, but I've given it a few licks on the job. It can take the usual rough treatment you'd expect to encounter. I haven't had it outside in cold weather, so I don't know how it reacts to temperature and humidity.

A limited lifetime warranty from a 171-year-old company that's made a million guitars speaks volumes.

My dealer had to call Martin to order my guitar, because it's a lefty. He made the call on a Saturday, and it went right through. He placed the order on March 27, and the company promised delivery by June. (Righties have no idea how unusual that promise is.) My guitar arrived at the store on May 4. That's 38 days for a special order. Think about it.

As I said, I played a few other guitars before ordering the DX-1. The best was an Alvarez dreadnought. It had a good feel and sound, a case, inlays, solid-wood construction. But when I played it, I realized that the Martin I'd played more than a week earlier sounded and felt better. When I tried the DX-1 again, I was ready to order. The Alvarez was Bobby Darren in a tux from James Bond's tailor. The DX-1 is Sinatra in a cheap brown suit. If you're buying it to make music, the DX-1 will do that very well.

I've played several musical instruments over the last 40 years. This guitar is the only instrument that has ever made me want to practice. It sounds that good, it feels that good, and it's affordable. What a package!

2003 or 2004 model, can't tell which. Solid spruce top, the body is high pressure laminate and the neck and fingerboard are painted plastic. No inlays or nothing for adornment. Basic stripped down, bottom of the bucket Martin acoustic. I want more wood.

Sure does have nice tone and sustain. I'm just kicking around strumming on it and doing some fingerpicking and it sounds nice. The tone is rich, warm, and balanced. I though my older Alvarez Professional model sounded nice, but it sounds like a cigar box next to this. The neck has a soft-V shaped back profile and the fretboard is a bit flatter than Gibson, but not as flat as a Yamaha acoustic. With the action a tad high, the guitar makes your playing more precise and projects reasonably well.

I tried roughly 10 Martins out over 2 hrs. They all had what I would call high action. I was told shims could be removed to lower it, but there were no shims under the bridge piece. I did tighten the truss a tad and the whole action became much nicer, although I wasn't trying to specifically lower the action with the truss rod- that's be an incorrect procedure. To lower the action you have to sand down the bottom of the plastic bridge piece. In my case that's not necessary.

I get a wierd vibration sound trailing off of the E and A strings when fretting various places up the neck, mostly the lower notes. The vibration sounds like it's coming from the bridge, but strangely, when I press the string down much harder against the fret, most of the noise goes away. I'm almost getting the impression that the frets need better dressing; the string sounds like it's vibrating on the fret being pressed, rather than buzzing against the one above it, as it would in the case where say, the action is too low. I've never seen this in 25 years, so now I'm off to a tech already to clean up after another lack in some companies craftsmanship. Seems I have to do this no matter what I buy these days.

The rest of the guitar is perfect. It's inspiring to play because it just sounds so nice. I'm coming up with music I've never played before. Because of this, I can see a nice HD-28 in my future.

Well the only thing truely wooden on this guitar seems to be the top. If everything else is a mixture of plastic and wood like they say, then it should sound about the same 10 years from now. Overall it feels very solid.

Been playing 25 years. I wish every guitar manufacturer in the world would spend less time on pretty finishes and just get the fretwork to where it's perfect. Not good, not great, but perfect.Overall these are great sounding guitars with nice playability. Maybe in the expensive beginner to intermediate range. If you want a nice Martin acoustic, you need to BEGIN looking in the $2,000. range. Except for the fact that I'll probably have to shell out $75. to have the fretwork cleaned up a tad, I'd rate this thing pretty high.

Well addressed in earlier reviews.

I think this guitar sounds awesome. It's not my first acoustic, but it's my first decent one. I went out looking for a Seagull as a friend had one, and I liked it and knew the company's reputation for producing good moderately priced acoustics. I visited a few independent stores and played a number of seagulls, but at the last one I tried the Martin DX1 and thought it sounded better. I was with two other playing friends, and we all agreed on that.

Further, I played six or eight different DX1's and there was a noticeable difference among them. I narrowed the field down one guitar at a time, A-B'ing them against each other, and we could all hear the differences between the guitars. For this reason, I recommend buying a guitar from a shop with a decent selection. I guess every piece of spruce is different.

I've been playing for years, and nowadays play the electric in a band, but at home I play this guitar all the time. It's trouble free and sounds better than other more expensive guitars; certainly it's a good value. Much more expensive guitars are better, but in my price range it was best. I've had it for about 3 years now.

Action seems a little high compared to other guitars owned and set up by other experienced players I know. I'm living with it though, I haven't come up with the $75 to get it set up by my local guy.

I don't know what it will sound like in a few decades; I understand all-wood guitars get nicer with age, but only the top of this guitar is real wood. After 3 years it sounds fine.

Other reviewers have mentioned that the unfinished or lightly finished top picks up smudges. I have always been in the habit of washing my hands before playing since it seems to make things go smoother on the neck; also, I ALWAYS keep it in the case...but this has not been a problem.

I guess the space age materials are very durable; no dings have appeared on the back of the neck from the little jostling it gets.

I have maybe a half dozen friends I play with from time to time, and we all have differnt makes of guitars, all costing less than $1000. This guitar is the richest-sounding. I am really glad I bought it. Others have said it's quiet...I use heavy strings, which probably explains it, but in comparison to other acoustic players I jam with, I haven't found that to be the case. This is the best $400 guitar I've ever heard, and the difference in quality between it and guitars $200 cheaper is a lot bigger than between it and guitars $1000 more expensive.

compostie body and neck, true spruse front

the sound was great when I first bought it, but after about 2 months I noticed extensive buzzing on mostly the high "e" string

after 2 months noticable "V" bow in the neck starting at the body

I've played about 35 years,owned many musical instruments and have always loved the Martin quality,but they have a serious problem with the compostie neck and low string action. After 2 months of owning this guitar I took it back to the dealer to try to repair the bowed neck but to no avail. The guitar Center is willing to switch out for another DX1 but they too were bowed. NOTE:I'm looking at a Taylor 110 that has a true Mahogany neck and a great sound for about the same price.

Martin DX-1 made in 2003, Straight from Nazereth
24 frets
Solid Spruce top
Body is laminated
Micarta fingerboard, fooled me for ebony
Dicast sealed tuners, very nice

My first acoustic guitar, I played tons of guitars at Sam Ash, Gear Trader, and finally ran across the Dx-1 at Guitar Center...I think it's the best sounding, american made solid top guitar priced under $1000. Then again, It's my first guitar and Iam learning. Iam gonna put a bone nut and bridge in, and a set of ebony bridge pins.

The action is great, nice and low...A little buzz, but made a slight neck adjustment and Wah Lah. I dont know what bookmatched means, but I like the simplicity of this guitar, I dont like high gloss finishes.

IT seems real durable, it's got a good solid feel. I love the slim neck, the finish is really thin though.

It's got a limited lifetime warranty. Hope I never have to take advantage of it though.

I've been playing less then a year...I started on a cheap electric and got knowhere, so I bought the Dx-1 and have never been happier.
GC hooked me up with a Martin case for a low price, Iam very happy with this guitar. I kinda wish it had a real ebony fingerboard, the black micarta fooled me. IT would just add to the value I think.

20 frets on 25.4" scalelength slight "V" neck; Micarta fretboard; sealed tuning machines.
Solid spruce top w satin finish; composite sides/back; strange looking multi-laminated neck.

The so-called "features," are its materials/construction, and low price.
It also gets points from me for being a genuine made-in-Nazareth Martin.

Martin's bid at staying in the hunt with low priced imports.

Rich bass. Sounds like a Martin!
Nice overall sound.
Not as loud as some, but still resonant enough with rich overtones.
I would say the trebles can't compete with the high-dollar stuff, but definitely are better than the first generation DXM's.

I use this guitar for general acoustic duties. All styles.

Bought used.
Plays/feels great!
There was a slight buzzing on the high E at the second fret, but the action is way low and the strings were light. A heavier string took care of that, though if played hard can be made to buzz slightly still. Hardley noticeable by me, and the action is like an electric or Taylor, so I didn't want to raise it.
In Martin's defense, it looks to me like the previous owner had the trebles lowered. The basses have more clearence. The saddle is not "even" across the bridge, but slightly slanted down towards the treble side.

A couple of "bearclaws" grain figures in the treble side of the top. I guess that means it's not "bookmatched," but the center seam is barely apparent.
I like the bearclaws. Adds character and woodiness. Also the unbound body offers a view of the wood top plate's end/side grain while playing, which with this guitar I consider a plus.

It seems like a Martin for build quality. The strange looking multi-laminate neck ("glue-lam," we call 'em in construction)
is the only visual clue while playing that it's not as painstakingly crafted as the upline models. More stable I'm sure though.

I don't worry about it at all.
It didn't come with a case so I just stick it in a cheap old economy case I had lying around (the old style "kiverboard" non-hardshell type).
Someday I might treat it to a better case, but not because I think it needs protection. It's its own case!

The "glu-lam" neck is undoubtedly more consistent and stable than your normal solid mahogany. Looks like a hunter's all-weather gun stock!

No experience.

I've played since 1960 and have had them all, including a '76 D-18, D-15, and both the first and second generation DXM's, as well as Breedlove, Larrivee, Gibson, Guild, etc.

I was not looking for another acoustic, but ran across this one and thought it was a decent guitar for the money, and a real Martin, so why not?

Now, I've bonded with it! I use it all the time around the house and leave it out. It's a gas!
I play it out at church worship services sometimes too.
When I play out on Jazz jobs I use electric guitars, or if it's an acoustic gig: the much louder Dell Arte!

As someone already mentioned in another review, it IS a bit diminuative sounding when fingerpicked, more like a common laminated sides/back solid top guitar volume wise, but other than that it's a good sounding, great playing instrument and has none of that "laminated TOP" type sound or vibe, if y'know what I mean? That strident midrangey nastiness? Has NONE of that sound.

I can't say the strange looking "glu-lam" neck has grown on me VISUALLY (being an old traditionalist), but I love the silky feel of the slight "V" contour neck and the Micarta feels just like ebony to me.

I play all styles, and have had loads of guitars -cheap as well as high end- THIS one I've "bonded" with, and that was a surprise.

Not much in the way of features. It's very basic. It has virutally no finish and is made of unorthodox materials. No fretboard inlays. The sealed tuners are very nice and this thing stays in tune for weeks. There isn't any binding either, the fret show on the side of the fretboard, which is made of Micarta. I didn't buy it for the features (or lack thereof) but really I've grown to like it's simpleness. I love the solid spruce top. Looks nice, sounds great, it'll only improve.

This is what sold me. This thing sounded better than mostly any other guitar in the price range, and I played every guitar under $700 in both Guitar Center and Sam Ash. It has a deep sound. Not very loud though, which could be bad for fingerpickers.

This is a very solid guitar. It feels like I could throw it down the stairs and it'd still sound amazing. My only worry is the neck material. It's Stratabond and I'lm a little worried that it won't last as the years go on. But Martin assures me (repeatedly, I asked 2 separate people there) that it'll be fine. It's very light, because the back and sides are made of a one-piece wood fiber composite laminate. The top, while beautiful, has a very thin finish. It allows the top to darken more, but it also gets smudged and i ahve to clean it alot. It's very unorhodox in general, but i tihnk Martin could make a cardboard guitar sound good.

THis is my main guitar. I don't gig, but I play with friends often. This guitar will last me a long time (assuming the neck doesnt wear down).

Amazing. I had a problem with 2 tuners and Martin sent me 2 brand new ones for free. I also got a free magazine subscription for filling out the warranty. They're really nice and helpful. I'd buy another Martin in a second

Great guitar overall for the money. It's sound was better than anything in the price range and it's durable. If I lost or it was stolen, I'd probably die. I'm not sure if I'd get another one, but I'd definitly get another Martin. I highly recommend this guitar.