Martin DX-1

2005 Martin DX-1

For me, the features rate a 10. Everything I need in an acoustic and nothing I don't. I like the near absence of finish, gimmicky accessories and toned down appearance. It is nice looking, and not ostentatious.

However, because this is a review I will rate it compared to other guitars - a 7.

While hunting for my latest guitar I played about 15 guitars ranging in price from $350 - $2500. Except for the very high end Gibsons and Martins I preferred the sound of the DX-1. I am not a huge Taylor fan and other offerings just didn't impress me (Yamaha, Takamine, Fender, Ibanez, etc..). The sound is amazing for the money. Higher Martins and Gibsons have a more detailed sound and project slightly better, but not $1500-$2000 better (Maybe a few hundred dollars better...)

As others have noted this is not a loud guitar. The sound is balanced, rich, and deep. Perfect for an apartment dweller like me. Also, probably perfect for recording. I love playing it :)

I like the setup from the factory. I don't see having it changed anytime soon. I did put elixir strings on it just to try them - they also sound slightly brighter to me than the martins, but by no means BRIGHT. It still has that martin and not taylor sound.

Seems ok. I hang it on a nice hook and treat it with care. I do not play out though...

I have never dealt with martin.

Awesome! Fit all my current wants and needs in an acoustic guitar.

New (July 2005) Martin dreadnought. HPL back and sides with mahogany image, nicely quarter sawn sitka spruce top, morado bridge/fingerboard, laminate birch neck, very minimal satin finish on top.

I am absolutely astounded by this guitar's sound. I put fresh Elixer polyweb lights on the DX-1 and my 3 year old Martin D-45V. The 45 is a little brighter and maybe slightly better balanced, but the DX-1 is about the same volume and has a rich, deeper tone, that is in its unique way very satisfying for leads, fingerpicking, and strumming.

Excellent. I did lower the action a little (3/32" low E, 2/32 high E, at the 12th fret, maybe too low, but still sounds good). My only minor complaint is when they drilled the bridge holes they did not put something under the bridge plate to make the drilled holes perfectly clean (most Taylors I've looked inside were done the same way, but my D-45V is perfect in this regard). The "1" style bracing pattern is very light. It makes the forward shifted scalloped D-45V look heavily braced. All the guitar companies are experimenting with top arch (that is why a new Taylor can have braces very similar to a forward shifted Martin but still sound like a Taylor). That said I don't think the bracing patter is important with out also looking at the arch. The DX-1 seems very slightly arched, less than my D-45V, but more than a standard D-28. Light braces and a slight arch seem to make for a very loud, deep guitar, with enough treble to satify me.

I bought this as an alternative to my D-45V for taking to parties. I considered a Rainsong but decided at ~3x the price for an A-WS1000, I was better off with the DX-1. I would consider every aspect of the DX-1 except for the spruce top, similarly robust anyway. At $410, I plan to carry it in a chipboard case and enjoy it.

I've exchanged a few emails and calls with Martin over the years. I live about 30 minutes from the factory and have taken the tour several times (twice with CFM IV himself). They seem to be great people. Several years ago I bought a D-41 and decided the fret job was not perfect. They agreed and did a re-fret 100% free.

If you can live with the HPL back/sides and the primitive finish, a great player for very little money. I would take over the import guitars in the same price range.

It's a Martin dreadnaught made in'05 here in USA with the basic Martin features (plain) with no fancy decorations added. However, it looks clean, attractive and has appeal, just how I like them. It has the satin hand rubbed finish which allows the top, well actually the whole guitar to vibrate. Check Martin's website for the exact specifications. I'm rating this category on MY likes and taste, which may not be everybody's. It has the features needed for a good dreadnaught.

You know when you hear it that it's definitely a Martin!! It has that unique tone that no other brand has. I quess that's why it is a Martin. I don't know maybe it's just me, but I really like these DX models Martin has made. They have the original Martin tone and are affordable. That's a perfect combination. The deep low bass that Martin's are notorious for are distinctively there, but not so much that it overpowers the midrange and highs, as alot of the higher end models do IMHO. Everything just blends in together very nicely and makes this model sound ASTONISHING. Compared to the higher end models, these DX models lack somewhat of the projection(loudness)that they have. But, not considerably so. But again IMO the balance is better. On occasions when or if needed to be louder just use an open mike(think Clapton) or pickup. Even though it minutely lacks projection, because of the perfect balance mentioned I have to rate this as high as I can.

Just one word here describes it. PERFECT right out of box nothing else needed or desired. Just one note too mention. The hand rubbed satin finish not only is it attractive but it allows the WHOLE guitar to resonate like no other I have encountered. When played I can feel everything vibrate from the body all the way up the neck to the tuning keys. Absolutely remarkable. Here again the rating must be what it is HIGH

I've seen others remark somewhat poorly about the materials being used on these models since they are not "all wood" guitars and so forth. But these are built like a tank and feel and look SOLID as any I have seen. Plus they have the genuine Martin tone. Their saving trees by using woods only where it matters (thereby saving you money) and increasing stability in the other areas where it doesn't by using man made materials. And to top it off (pardon the pun)there is no sacrifice in tone or sound. Seems to me to be a perfect combination. Guess what this rating is going to be. That's right you guessed it.

Haven't used it since I registered the warranty information and don't expect I'll need to. And I guess Martin thinks the same way, therefore the Lifetime warranty on their products. It's just comforting to know they stand behind their products if need be.

I own more acoustic guitars than my wife would like for me to have. And I've gotten rid of many more. I've owned either past or present Fender, Ibanez, Alvarez, Washburn, Martin, Dean, Simon & Patrick, Carlo Robelli(not bad guitars for the money)And I've played them all at one time or another Taylor's , Seagulls, Cort, Yairi(Alvarez), Yamaha, Garrison(another fine example of guitars using modern made materials in their bracing), Epiphone, well you get the point. But, it is what it is and I am what I am. I'm an acoustic fanatic to say the least. I absolutely love a good acoustic. I also own a Kramer (strat copy)electric (not a bad copy at all for the money)for that occasional electrified impulse. But, IMHO I think overall anything in the Martin DX line is one GREAT acoustic guitar for the money.

It's simple looks make it such an eye catcher. The new DX 1 (2005)has an ebony fingerboard and bridge. Great for those who like simplicity in looks. Very retro.

Well-balanced lows to highs. Very punchy and full sound.

The action was pretty good straight out of the shop, but I had a set up done and it's now even better.

I have been playing this guitar for a few months now and it's such a pleasure to use. I haven't had any issues with the DX1. When I'm not playing, I always put it back into its hard shell case. It never sits out. The DX1 has a very thin finish on its solid spruce top and it's a good idea to pack it into a case when not in use. With a little care and common sense, this guitar should last you a life time.

Overall, the DX1 is a phenominal value set at a great price. If you do plan to purchase a DX1, try out several because they don't always sound the same. This can be true for any guitar from any manufacturer.

As of January 2005 (model #: 9998XX) the DX1 has an ebony fingerboard and bridge now! It's about time! I guess they had to compete with the lower end Taylor models such as the 110 that also has an ebony fingerboard and bridge. Other than that the rest of the features appear to have remained the same.
My DX1 also has a solid spruce top but there is another item of note about this top. It is hands down a AAA top. Straight tight grain from top to bottom, no bending at all. Again, I don't know why but I'm guessing they have really 'spruced' up their lower end models over there at Martin to compete with the 'quality' of materials from other manufacturers.
Maybe they will put a solid mahogany neck on this model next and then we can't complain about the features for this particular model anymore!
Oh well, I'll enjoy this new model through many, many melodies.

I play mostly finger style but I also like to flatpick. I would say that the bass overrides the higher end when finger picking. The middle range tends to punch through almost even with the bass or lower end.
When I strum with a flat pick, due to the sharpness of the pick hitting the strings, the higher end tends to ring stronger than when I'm finger picking. This provides a more balanced sound to the guitar when I'm flatpicking as opposed to finger picking in my opinion.
It does lack the 'bluegrass' type volume but it does have enough 'camp fire' volume in my opinion.
Overall I'm still satisfied with the finger picking aspects of this guitar in conjunction with the outstanding flatpicking sound.

Ok, a couple minor things of note here. There is a minimal fret buzz when fretting the B string from the 7th through the 13th fret. I'm not sure whether a neck adjustment is in order here though. The buzz is not bad and is tolerable but we'll see if it gets on my nerves enough to warrant a new bone saddle with a slight adjustment for this or maybe even a new bone nut. Yeah, a new bone nut and saddle...
Also, where the nut meets the headplate, there is some glue leakage. Approximately 1mm wide by 3mm long. No big deal to clean up, just the fact that it was there irks me, that's all.
The frets are in fantastic shape.

Obviously the biggest issue for this category would have to be the finish or lack thereof. For the price paid, I do not expect to have a nice gloss finish that will stand the test of time. I also would prefer not to have a cheap thick 'blanket' of glossy junk on the guitar to kill the sound!
All I can say is be careful, be verrrrryyyy careful around the top of this guitar.
As for the tuners, I don't know how long they will last but they are the same tuners that are featured on some the higher end Martin models like the D-16 which retails for $1900!

I have not dealt with Martin customer support.

I have been playing regularly for about 20 years now... whoa, I'm gettin' up there! I started playing when I was a kid. As you can tell I'm borderline anal when it comes to my guitars so if I recommend it then hey it must be a great guitar!
In my opinion, the sound that this guitar delivers as well as the heritage of the brand cannot be matched for the price. Hands down. Some of you may ask, why does the brand even matter? Resale value my friend, resale value!

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.

This is definitely a no frills guitar. The thin coating on top allows for a fuller sound but is prone to stains from the hands. There are no fret markers on top, only on the side. This worried me at first but it actually made me a better guitarist in the long run, and the switch was rather painless. The tuners, although tiny looking, are great and stay in tune very well. There are no electonics so you'll have to pick up a woody or something. I just ripped out a fishman prefix from another guitar, drilled some holes and voila! (I don't reccommend this for amateurs) Other than those things, you just have to get used to its looks, and it grows on ya.

Excellent. For this price there is only one other guitar that rivals it, the taylor 110. Otherwise, there is no better sounding guitar for this price range, period. The one thing I have noticed after reading a review is that it has a slightly darker tone than most martins, but to me it just sounds better than the others. This guitar has a unique voice, expect to hear it on albulms in the future.

I cannot believe how well this guitar is setup. I took out the micarta saddle and replaced it with a tusq saddle. I made sure to keep the edge that contacts the strings extremely thin and wow! The action on my guitar is so low you would think its an electric! The intonation is perfect. I used a tuner for nearly every sing note and all were in tune. The fret job is excellent, the nut is extremely clean, and all the edges are smooth and crisp. I play agressive and it stays in tune. This is the setup that an American made guitar should have. Right from the factory is impressive, get it done professionally and you'll get a pro feel.

There are two things that worry me. The composite materials are not time tested, meaning the sides, back and neck. How they will hold over time is questionable. I have had mine for nearly 8 months and have seen no problems. Also, the thin coating on the top may be a problem down the road as well, but for now it makes it sound beautiful. Oh, and try to keep your hands clean, the top picks up stains from greasy hands. It might add character to you, but to me its just dirty.

Great. These guys will take calls, e-mails, whatever, and get right back with you. Send in the warranty card and they will give you a free magazine subscription and a nice regristration/serial number card in return. Good job CF.

There is only one other guitar close to this in the price range of 0-$1000 right now and that is the taylor 110. My suggestion, buy this one or the taylor; stay away from those Tacomas. They sound good to the player, but crap to the listeners (unless the sound hole is in the middle). And, to the guy who says he has only been playing for two years and rates this guitar low overall: get a few more years of experience. I'd give this one a 10 for sound alone.

VERY basic dreadnaught. 20 frets, 14 clear; Solid spruce top, HPL back and sides, stratabond neck; very light on the finish (hardly any, "hand rubed urethane") no inlay on the fingerboard (dots on the side though)
The guitar looks good, however. Its simple and spartan, no frills, but solid and effective.

Here, I can not say enough. When shopping for this guitar I played everything I could find in a 20 mile radius, from $300 Alvarez, to $1500 Taylors, to $2100 Martins, to Breedloves (which I really liked) to customs, and this guitar sounds like it could have cost $1500 instead of the $300 I paid for it. There was nothing in my price range even close. It has that Martin sound, warm, rich, woody, all the strings blend and ring and soar... The bass is so strong, but the balance is good, and trebels ring just fine. I have the recomended Martin 80/20 strings on it, but I think I'll try my old fav. D'adario phosphor bronze next time (to get a little more high end sparkle) At the price I paid, I could even afford to get a bone nut put in to add some volume and sustain. The volume is about the only thing that's not great, its a kind of quiet guitar compared to most full sized dreads, but that probably suits my neighbors just fine anyway. The HPL back and sides are kind of funny - it's basicaly countertop material, but the sound is great so I won't argue, plus it seems like it's darn near indestructable (and environmentaly friendly too!). I play flat picking, crosspicking, folk, rock, newgrass stuff, and for the money there is not a better guitar out there, not even close!

It's a hand made Martin... enough said!

The lack of real finish on the top worries me, but the Martin people I emailed said it will be fine, and to polish it with high quality furinture wax, so I guess we'll see. The HPL back, on the other hand, seems as though you could drop it off the roof and it would be fine. Kind of reminds me of my old ovation, only it looks like a guitar, and sounds like a Martin.

Emailed them one question, got back to me the next day. I'm sure it would be good.

I've been playing guitar for 15 years, and have always LOVED the Martin sound, but could never afford it. Now, when I get home from work, I pick it up, strum a chord and am the happiest picker in the world! I will never get rid of this guitar, and if I lost it, I would buy another in a heartbeat! Best $300 guitar in the world, and would still be a GREAT guitar if it cost $800!

I reviewed all in one topic: "Overall Rating" below.

The Martin DX-1 is one of the least expensive dreadnought guitars from Martin, a highly respected manufacturer of acoustic guitars. The DX-1 is NOT a solid wood guitar; its sides and back are made of what Martin calls a "high pressure laminate with mahogany grain." But its top is made of solid spruce.

I'll be honest right out of the chute: The other Martin laminate guitars I'd played were OK, but they didn't knock my socks off. Both the DM and DR (mahogany and rosewood laminate, respectively) were easy to play, and sounded fairly clean, but they didn't do that much for me.

The DX-1 is something very different!

First of all, the DX-1 is substantially LESS expensive than the DM or DR. The DM retails for $925, and can generally be found for around $600. The DR retails for $1125, and can generally be found for around $800. The DX-1 retails for only $650, and can generally be found for about $450. A decent case is about $100 extra.

But the price is the least interesting difference.

The Basics.

The Martin DX-1 is a dreadnought guitar with 14 frets clear of the body. As mentioned, its (one-piece) back and sides are mahogany laminate, while its top is solid spruce. It has the typical Martin headstock, chrome tuners, and tortoise pick guard. Neck width is 1 11/16" at the nut, and scale length is the typical 25.4".

The Unusual.

The first thing that makes this guitar unusual is the fingerboard. It looks and plays like ebony, but Martin can't be putting ebony fingerboards on its cheapest dreadnoughts, can it?

Checking the Martin website, I found that the fingerboard is made of Black Micarta, whatever that is. A Google search revealed Micarta to be a company that makes composite materials for industrial uses, including some surfaces that are bullet-proof! Is Martin using some new, very strong, synthetic material for the fingerboard of the DX-1? Apparently so.

The next unusual thing I noticed about this guitar was that it has absolutely NO binding, purfling, or other ornamentation. The top appears to be glued directly to the sides, and there are no black or white strips separating anything. Further, this guitar has no body finish! It is not finished with a light film of matte. There is no "aging toner." There is only wood!

I really like the rosette on this guitar. Martin calles it a "Black and White Boltaro? with Red Fiber in Middle." OK. It is really distinctive, and more attractive than the rosettes on Martin's other inexpensive guitars.

There is no inlay and no dots on the fingerboard of the DX-1. This gives the neck a sleek, attractive appearance. There ARE dots on the top side of the neck, so you can see where you are.

Finally, this guitar has what Martin calls "A-frame" bracing, which may contribute to its excellent sound.

Playability and Sound.

I found this guitar to be remarkably easy to play. The Micarta fingerboard low action reminded me Taylor's guitars, which are known for their playability. I believe the DX-1 comes outfitted with Martin "MSPLUS-3100 Light 80/20 Bronze" strings (the strings recommended on Martin's website), and these may also have contributed to the DX-1s sense of ease. There was a bit more squeak than with Elixer strings (Taylors and Larrivees come outfitted with Elixers), but sliding about the neck was a pleasure.

Bluegrass runs could be done with great speed (the limitations provided by yours truly), and hammers and pulls were also a breeze. The neck felt strong and rigid, but not stiff. Overall, the guitar was heavier than I expected it to be, given its humble appearance.

The sound of this guitar was also a pleasant surprise. It was one of the best balanced guitars I've played lately. Chords sounded remarkably well integrated, rather than like a bunch of individual notes. They were also consistently in tune, and they remained so up the neck.

The sound was warm, and I could feel the bass notes in my body as I played. In this way, th

This is a nofrills acoustic guitar. When I was shopping for a new guitar, I was really interested in the D-15, but my son went to Guitar Center and played the DX-1 and raved about its sound. The guitar looks very unimpressive---no binding, no rosettes or fret markers. It looks as if there's no finish applied to the solid spruce top, Has sealed tuners which seem fine to me. The neck is a little wider than my 30 year-old Yamaha, but it plays bar chords much easier than my Yamaha and makes it nice for finger picking.

The sound sold me on this guitar! It sounded better than the D-15. It has a rich, booming, Martin-type of sound. The solid spruce top gives it this projection. Laminate sides and back don't matter to me. My Yamaha was re-worked 20 years ago by a luthier (who replaced the first 7 frets, which were buzzing) and the guy raved about the sound of it. My Martin sounds even better and I don't have to worry so much about humidifiers and bringing it in from the cold.

I've yet to take a guitar to a luthier for set up and don't see any need for it with this model! The action is acceptably low. No fret buzz. The action is also uniform down the neck. The fret board plays well (I think the website says its nato---check the Matin website if it means anything to you). If you want a guitar that SOUNDS like something for a bargain price, go buy this model!

Like I said earlier---I've had a $75 Yamaha for 30 years. I don't play as often as I used to, but knowing Martin and their reputation for quality, I don't see any problem. I've always changed strings one at a time so I don't put any undue change in stress on the neck, treat my guitars with a little respect, keep them on stnads when not in use. I expect I'll be singing the praises of my Martin in another 20 years, just as I'll be singing the praises about my Yamaha. One note----my strap pin pulled out of the guitar. A little carpenters glue will take care of that.

Martin is the best when it comes to customer support. No worries there.

The only thing I wish it would have come with----other than a strap pin that weas more secure----is a hardshell case. I got a Martin case for $60, but a D-15 WITH a case was only $599. I'd advise going to a local shop and trying it out. I'm not one of those who thinks there's a lot of difference between 2 different guitars of the same model, so don't be afraid of ordering over the internet. Guitar Center and Sam Ash normally match prices, so if you want, try them. I just hate Guitar Center because buying something there is like going to a car dealer---they tried to sell me a D-15 for $150 more than Music123.com WITHOUT the case!!

The guitar is light weight which I like. I don't like the looks of the artificial wood but that's more that somebody else will think it's a crappy guitar because it's not made of some exotic wood that resinates for two weeks. The spruce top does not have much of a finish and is thin, but I didn't buy the guitar for it's looks. I sat in the music store and played all the acoustics and the last one I played was the Martin and it brought a smile to my face and I was off to find the salesman. I've loaned out guitars, amps and effect equipment. I would not let anyone play the Martin. It's well made, but it's something deserving of proper care and respect. If you buy the guitar, buy a humidifier as the thin top caves in and the high e string goes dead. That's not a criticism, just something I had to do to get the guitar working properly.

This is a classy guitar. It has a rich tone that should accomidate numerous styles of playing. I play some hard blues and this guitar behaves like a champ. I bought the DX1 and loved it but saw a DXIE out of the corner of my eye in the store and went back and got the electric cut out version. Didn't matter, both guitars sounded great but the electric didn't have that big dreadnaught feel. I'm a big person with long arms and I was uncomfortable with that much wood, but then I was going from a caster to an acoustic. The guitar doesn't have a lot of volume, at least the DX1E is quiet, but maybe that's just me going deaf from all the electrics...

This is a well constructed guitar. The artificial wood finish takes some time to get used to as it looks like cardboard. The body is ok, but Martin should have gone with real wood on the neck. I don't have a real cricism though as I love the guitar and like someone else said, looks aren't much use if the instrument sounds like crap.

It's a quality instrument. Like everyone else I don't like the lack of a finish on the top and I'm smudging it and cleaning all the time, but it's comfortable to play and the sound is very good. I was taking guitar lessons in a group and eveyone was tuning their guitars and I sat there and someone asked me if I wanted to borrow a tuner and I said no thanks, it's not allowed to get out of tune. I was goofing, but I think that's a sign of a really good guitar when you can pick it up and everything is where you left it.

No problems. The Martin representative I spoke to knew what he was doing and knew his Martin guitars.

I've been playing a long time and have played mostly electric with various effects and the Martin was an acoustic and I hadn't played an acoustic since I was a kid. I wanted to take guitar lessons and the teacher specified that the guitar had to acoustic so I went shopping.
The Martin was the best acoustic I could find. I was playing some blues lead in a group and the Martin is quiet, but the fretboard is great and I didn't blow a note. Goofy looking wood or not, this guitar is a great sounding guitar and people look to see what you are playing when they hear it.

Very basic, but I like it's sort of neatness. There are no dot inlays, but after a while you start not needing them, and I think it looks better without anyways. Nice white/red/white rosette. I like the satin finish simply because I can feel the finish and the materials, wood or not. It suits my tastes very nicely. But don't just the guitar by features, judge by sound.

Awesome sound, outplays anything else I've played under a grand. Haven't installed electronics. I say 9, just because as good as it is, it doesn't match high end martins.

Ok, back to the gap at the neck, which I don't think the other reviews have explained sufficently.

-------------------------------fretboard--------------------
neck -----------------------------
------------------------, | ,' guitar top
', |'---------------------------
| |

I dont know if that helps, but use your imagination... thats a side profile view of the guitar. Right under the 'fret' in fretboard, there is a right angled space in the neck for the body to fit in, but the edge of the guitar top is curved, so it doesn't quite fit in the space.

I dont know if this is a problem for any of you, it isn't for me. It doesn't make it look flimsy or anything, its just a small gap. Don't look at the picture for proportions. I recommend you go to the store and see for yourself.

Action is low, but not ultra low, just right. See features about the finish.

I've banged this guitar millions of times, and there not a single dent in it. This guitar will last you a LONG time. But I do recommend you check any guitar you plan to buy for dents. There is a small chip off the neck that I missed when I bought it, but its not big, and I dont wanna go through the trouble of fixing it.

Never had to deal with, cept for a few general questions about the guitar. No hold at all, just a few rings and you're talking to a real live human being.

There is only one thing pestering me about this guitar. There is virtually no finish on the neck, and I can already feel it getting worn and rough. This is my first guitar and I dont know if its supposed to do that. If you can help please email me at the bottom of this review.

VERY BASIC DREADNAUGHT, BUT SOLID TOP, NICELY UNDERSTATED

I BOUGHT IT AS A BACKUP GUITAR, AS I PLAY MAINLY SMALL BODIES, TRYING TO KEEP MY RYAN IN GOOD SHAPE AND NOT PLAY IT OUT SO MUCH. THE SOUND AD TONE OF THIS INEXPENSIVE GUITAR IS WHAT SOLD ME. ITS NO GOODALL,RYAN COLLINGS OLSON, BUT MAYBE BETTER THAN OTHER MARTINS AND SOME OTHER GUITARS COSTING 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE IE. 310 TAYLOR,IMPORTS OF ALL KINDS. I DONT NOW HOW THIS COULD BE WITH FAKE WOOD BODY AND ALL BUT ITS TRUE. MARTIN DREADS ALWAYS SOUND BETTER THAN OTHER DREADS

ACTION IS THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT, COULDNT FIND ANY FLAWS EVEN ON DISPLAY MODEL. WHAT FINISH...

EVERYTHING SEEMS SOLID

MARTIN ALWAYS ANSWERS THE PHONE, AMAZING

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING 8 YEARS AND PLAY OUT REGULARLY. I PLAY OUT WITH THIS. DEFINATELY THE BEST SOUNDING BUT NOT BEST LOOKING OF ANYTHING UP TO 1000.00 IM NOT EASILY IMPRESSED BY HYPE, MY RYAN MISSION IS WELL WORTH WHAT I PAID AND SO IS THIS GUITAR

The DX-1 is a Martin that can withstand cold and drastic humidity changes. The sides and back are all composite. The guitar is as sturdy as an Ovation (aka canoe paddle) but it looks and feels like a real guitar. I purchased my DX-1 so that I would no longer have to take my D-15 with bone nut and saddle work out into Wisconsin winters. This may be Martin's entry level product but I love mine for practical reasons.

The sound is suprisingly warm and rich for a composite guitar, It sounds better than a Sigma Martin by far. The tone is blooming slightly with the solid top. Nice!

There is a strange gap near the top where the neck is set into the body. The neck is a composite material, set true and straight. They all have a slight cosmetic issue near the neck and top - just the way they are made. My D-15 has custom luthiered bone nut & saddle and a K&K Pure Western pickup, plays like a dream. The set-up on the DX-1 was very good straight from the factory. I am very fussy.

The main feature on this guitar is durability. If you own a really nice Martin, buy a DX-1 to gig with. Leave the D-35 at home.

Lifetime warantee. You can call the Martin factory and ask silly questions. Martin customer service is superb.

I have 2 Les Pauls, 2 Strats, a Tele, a Jazz Guitar, a Sigma Mandolin, and 2 Martins. This is an outstanding guitar. You can take it outside the house without fear. I've played for 28 years. Nice Guitar.

Well this is a hard area to rate it on because features is not what this guitar is about. I should probably have given it a lower rating on features because it basicaly has none but it is perfect for what it is. An entry level Martin. I learned how to play on this guitar and have played many accoustics since and none in this price range (and many above) don't sound as good. I guess I'll save that for the sound rating. Back to features: Many have complained about it not having the inlayed fret markers which I guess was annoying for me at first, especially as a beginner. But having learned on this guitar, it has forced me to use the markers on the top of the guitar which I am happy about. All in all, it's basic but good.

Sound is where this baby shines. The sound that comes out of this rather thin wood is surprisingly fat and resonant. I have actually installed a Martin 332+ pickup and it sounds amazing with my Fender Deluxe. Absolutely love the sound of this guitar. I will one day soon be investing in a more expensive robust guitar. But my DX-1 isn't going anywhere. I will hold on to it dearly for the rest of my life and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

The action is a little high for my taste, as it comes from the factory. But don't forget this guitar was my first so, I needed lower action. That said, if I got the guitar new today, I probably would have left it alone.

Well considering this is a rather light weight guitar and I have had no troubles with it, I have to assume it was put together well. I've knocked it around a couple times, including having it fall down (in the case) half a flight stairs and really don't have a single nick on it. Has held up well and still does good for me. I'm taking off a point simply because the guitar is real light weight and I'm sure if you did not take care of it, it would not hold up. But so far so good.

Never had to deal with them.

Overall, I love this guitar and wouldn't trade it for the world. Like I said, even though I will be upgrading to a louder, more robust guitar in the future, I would never part with this one. I think it is a great guitar.

2002, made in USA. Features well covered elsewhere. But a very basic, stripped down guitar. No inlay on the fretboard, no binding, a plain rosette-- everything about this guitar says "basic." So, on a 1 to 10 scale, in terms of features, I have to rate this guitar below my Washburn D-10s. That does not mean it is a worse guitar, just that it is lacking in the features department. And this is Martin's intention--to make a stripped down Martin for the masses. I guess a couple of dot inlays in the fretboard would have kicked them over the edge.

This is a very tight sounding guitar. It plays in tune up and down the neck. It felt like it was scientifically engineered. The action was perfect, low without significant buzz. However, the guitar has little to no projection. Very quiet and restrained.

In this department, the guitar is schizophrenic. It is well set up from the factory. It's pieces fit together seamlessly, like a precision instrument. However, there is a gap where the top meets the neck. I don't know how to help you visualize this, but here goes. The guitar's spruce top has a bevelled outer edge. (That is, the outer edge is not straight and flush with the sides, but rather tilts inward slightly.) This causes a problem where the top meets the neck, because the bevelling means that there is a small space between the neck and the body of the guitar. Check it out in the store and you'll see what I mean. When I saw this, I was disappointed-- I mean, Martin couldn't even take care of small details like that?
The finish on the guitar is minimal. I would almost say it is an unfinished guitar. The sides are made of "mahogany-grained high pressure laminate." This basically means wood chips and glue, with a mahogany grain "photographically" superimposed on the composite. Martin apparently makes an entire guitar (the DXM) out of this travesty. Having a guitar whose back and sides are made of cheap formica is pretty disappointing. The salesman didn't tell me that the mahogany grain was fake-- I found out from the small print on my owner's manual. The neck, likewise, is made of something called "rust stratabond." It is a resin-infused plywood. It looks nice and is pretty strong, but its ugly and fake.
The only nice synthetic part of the guitar was the micarta fingerboard, which I think was pretty awesome. Very fast.
Overall, with this guitar Martin seems to be saying: our products are so superior that for 450 dollars we can only offer you the most basic of basic guitars. There is almost a contempt for the buyer in the way that Martin has left out nice little extra touches. And yet one can find guitars for 100 dollars less with real wood all over, nice satin finishes. When you buy the DX-1, make NO MISTAKE-- you are paying for the Martin name. This is, needless to say, not a wise guitar buying strategy.

Since this guitar has no finish, I expect it to get grimy with time. Also, it is EXTREMELY sensitive to changes in humidity-- the composite back has been known to separate from the body due to dryness. Many people buy Martins hoping they will appreciate in value with age. This one, undoubtedly, will not.

Did not deal with them. I owned the guitar for 32 hours returned it to the Guitar Center at which I bought it (actually really good people), and then bought a seagull from a small shop one town over.

I have been playing for 2 years. I own a Washburn D-10s and now a Seagull S6 Spruce 20th Anniversary. Because of the lack of appointments, the poor projection, and the preponderance of composite materials, I rank this guitar very low. I would advise beginners not to purchase this guitar. Martin is a great company--the only way to get them to stop diluting their esteemed name is to stop buying their low quality mass market products. If no one buys travesties like the DX-1 and DXM, maybe Martin will stop making them and go back to making real wood instruments.