Martin XC1T Ellipse

MODEL Martin XC1T Ellipse
CONSTRUCTION: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: 000-14 Fret Cutaway
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: East Indian Rosewood, Maple & Koa Pattern
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Martin 000-1 (A - frame)
TOP BRACES: Martin 000-1 (A - frame)
BACK MATERIAL: Tawny Satinwood HPL Textured Finish
BACK PURFLING: none


The most awesome thing (aside from the sound and way it plays) is the combination of a pickup and goose-necked internal mic. It has a switch that you can blend between mic and pickup tones, and a phase flip. Only time I have ever seen this in a guitar. Sounds amazing.
SIDE MATERIAL: Tawny Satinwood HPL Textured Finish
ENDPIECE: none
ENDPIECE INLAY: none
BINDING: none
TOP INLAY STYLE: none
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: none
NECK MATERIAL: Natural Stratabond??
NECK SHAPE: Martin Modified Low Oval
NUT MATERIAL: Black Corian??
HEADSTOCK: Solid/6 String No Diamond/Standard Taper
HEADPLATE: Tawny Satinwood w/ Printed Logo In Black
HEELCAP: none
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Striped Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 11/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2 1/8''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: none
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: none
FINISH TOP: Hand Rubbed Finish
FINISH NECK: none
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Striped Ebony
BRIDGE STYLE: 1 Style Belly
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2 1/8''
SADDLE: Compensated Black Tusq
TUNING MACHINES: Gotoh Cosmo Black w/ CFM Logo
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin MSP 4100 Light Phosphor Bronze
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black w/ Abalone Pearl Dots
PICKGUARD: none
CASE: 000 Zero Gravity
INTERIOR LABEL: Paper Label
ELECTRONICS: Fishman Ellipse Blend (Not Optional)
OTHER OPTIONS: Available left-handed at no additional charge
OTHER COMMENTS: All prices & specifications are subject to change without notice.

Bar none BEST guitar tone I have ever owned, let alone heard. EVER. The pickup/mic blend + phase flip gives you so many tonality options. Perfect for recording applications, live, whatever.
"What is it about that guitar that makes it sound like God?" was a question I was asked after the last gig.
It is a cutaway with a smaller body than many others, but the sound is still full and big.

As most acoustics are, this one wasn't "perfect" out of the factory. But after an intunation and action appointment with my local guitar tech, it is now perfect.

Perfect.

I don't know because I have never had an issue with it. Like I stated before, I took it into the guitar tech (which I would do with pretty much any new guitar) to get the fat trimmed a bit. After that, it's perfect.

I have been playing rock, metal, and acoustic for about 15 years. I have a home studio, two seven string guitars, a five string bass, mesa triple rec rig, lots of outboard, etc etc.
I have recorded TONS of acoustic guitars in my short-lived life so far (I'm 28), have worked as an engineer in two studios, etc. I have NEVER been more pleased with an acoustic tone than I am now.

The specs have been reviewed by others. Mine was purchased 2007 for $785. I really didn't want an acoustic electric so much as an improvement over the Yamaha Dreadnought I had purchased as part of a beginner's kit, and had learned the basics on for 2 years. I liked the sound much better than the Yamaha and the easier action. In addition, the tuners are pretty solid and seem to "hold" better than the Yamaha. The 000 body style is much more comfortable than the Dreadnought for me, though I could do without the cutaway.

Though I have only been playing guitar for 3 years, I was struck by the projecting brightness of the XC1T's tone. Maybe it is the density of the high pressure laminate sides and back, but this guitar certainly projects as well as the larger Yamaha I replaced, perhaps even better in the mid and high-range tones. I have played it with a Fender Acoustasonic DSP 30 amplifier and found the Ellipse electronics easy to adjust.
I have also briefly played a Martin OMJM and a 000-28 and found the XC1T louder. I am too inexperienced to say with certainty, but the mahogany Martin 000-18 I tried at a music store seemed to have something of a similar projective quality to the XC1T, brighter and less woody, as compared to the rosewood models above.
This guitar has incredible sustain. Pluck a string and you can hear it for at least 15 seconds; I have timed it up to 20 seconds.

The action was high on this guitar with substantial neck relief that I adjusted myself via the truss rod. While this reduced the string height and made it considerably more playable, it was clear than the saddle needed lowering. I ultimately sent the guitar in for professional set-up and the string action got easier still. Because the electronics had fallen out of the sound hole, and because I really just wanted a good acoustic, I had the luthier remove the under-saddle transducer.
I continue to like the tuners on this guitar. They seem so much more solid than those on the OMJM and 000-28 that I tried.
Fit and finish is excellent on my guitar. No complaints

Well, the electronics fell out through the sound hole at the 6 month point and the culprit appears to be too little surface area on the Ellipse electronics available for glueing to the underside of the top. I didn't really care about this, since I just wanted a good acoustic, but I did try to use several layers double stick tape behind the "glueing ledge" to secure it better before I took all of it out entirely. This worked, but I didn't like the flimsiness of the whole affair so I ultimately cut out all the wires and removed everything.
I give this guitar a high rating for the impressive toughness of the HPL back and sides. This guitar has been knocked around several times, one time banged hard into a corner of a big wood desk which should have put a hole in the back, but it has suffered not one scratch to the sides and back. The spruce top is much softer, and has had an occasional small dent but a drop of water works to swell and restore the fibers.
One interesting development is that over the 1 1/2 years I have owned this guitar, the spruce top has steadily mellowed and darkened, giving something of a subtle aged appearance.
I give this guitar a 10 for the remarkable durability for what I need; someone else might have marked it down for the problem with the insecure electronics.

I got a recall from Martin on the case because of a mold problem and they automatically sent a large box and had arranged for Fedex pickup. Martin said they would replace the case and wanted the guitar with it so they could adjust it. I called Martin to cancel the recall, because I didn't want to part with the guitar. The company seems responsive from what I can tell.

This has been a great guitar for a beginner to intermediate player. I play an hour a day with blues-style music and it has been an excellent instrument for the stage I am in. Based on my limited experience, I might go for an all wood model next, maybe something like a short-scale mahogany 000-18, but I am very concerned that nothing will be as tough and forgiving as this interesting high-pressure laminate. For those with the talent and bravery to perform in public, this Ellipse will stand up to practically any abuse----if you can secure the electronics!

A well shaped cutaway acoustic guitar OOO size. I have got mine at a promo price without the Fisherman mic and play it only acoustic . I like the look , HPL back and sides is not as nice a solid rosewood , but sustain is very good so looks a well engineered composite material .

This is where it shine really. I have tried a lot of 000 size guitar in that price range and this one come to be one of the best. I only found the Guild GAD30R to be more sound rich and powerful , but she is harder to play and strumming is like a thunderstorm and produce to much noise for my little room where I play.

Excellent finition . Action was perfect , very low with no buzz. It is a very confortable and fast neck to play, whether for leaks , strumming or finger picking.

Have it since a month , so difficult to judge , but looks a solid and reliable products.

not tested .

A top buy for the price for who looks for a great sounding , polyvalent and versatile guitar .

This guitar very similar to the more basic hpl solid top models with the exeption of a few asthetic appointments and the fishman ellipse blend electronics. It has a small cut away body that is deeper at the endpin jack than where the neck meets the body which is common but worth mentioning due to its effect on the sound. The fishman system includes a 9volt powered pre amp and a condenser mic and control interface mounted just out of site under the hand rubbed spruce top via two magnets as well as a piezo pickup under the saddle. I'm not sure what is involved with a martin "hand rubbed finish" but it seems like not much other than a little hand rubbing! Seriuosly, the top has the look feel and sound of unfinshed spruce and for all I know there might not be any real finish at all. This martin has a stratabond neck which is cool because it is very stable and has a smaller modern profile, these necks are stable and easy to play as well as being cheaper to produce than martin's beefier vintage style one piece mahogany necks which are reserved for their higher end models. The back and sides have a tawny satinwood photo finsh on the exposed outer formica layer of the high pressure laminate which is purely for appearance only. The rosette is laser cut from rosewood maple an koa and is very custom looking as well as unusual for a martin.

When I bought this guitar I tried out alot of guitars including several breedlove atlas models all with solid backs and sides and fishman classic 4 electronics and they just didn't sound as open and resonant as this instrument. The guitar sounds like it has already been broken in even when its brand new. I think it sounds this way because of the finish(or lack there of) on the top . Photo finished fomica aside, this thing really does sound nicer than alot of others in its price range. Its sound is definitely that of a martin but not in the same league as the solid mahogany and rosewood guitars they are renowned for
I don't have an acoustic amp but it sounds excellent through PA systems when the eq on the mixer is set up for it. I have tried it on the clean channel of my fender hot rod deville and it sounds really cool with a little bit of reverb but it's a rather unusual combination and its probably not the sound you are looking for.
The mic has a trim pot that can be adusted with a screw driver, the mic on mine is set for lower volume than the piezo, it came that way from the factory and I never got around to changing it. I think they probably set the mic on the safe side at the factory to avoid feedback problems but in my opinion it should be set to equal volume as the piezo so the two can easily be blended together in equal proportions. overall the sound is not the best but very good for the price and unplugged it sounds just like the cheaper hpl martin(x series)which is actually better than alot of guitars in the this price range. the intonation is not perfect but it is within the useabe range. the action is low without buzzing. The sound is most captivating when played softly. OK, now this is gonna sound cheasy but the other day my former ladyfriend came over and played this thing and I gotta say it sounds so beatiful with the delicate touch of a female, WELL GUESS WHAT.. THIS GUITAR WAS DESIGNED FOR GIRLS BY MARTIN'S VERY OWN WOMEN IN MUSIC BLAHH BLAHH BLAHH.. well whatever you can read all about it on their website. Somehow the salesman at guitar center failed to mention this to me. It really doesn't matter to me cause it is a nice guitar and other than the comfortable neck shape its not really different from a normal "dude's axe"

pretty good nothing much to complain about. The spruce top on mine is especially close grained which is a good thing. I give it a 9 cause there's always room to improve in this catagory especially at this price level and below

OK, so you've been wondering about the durability of the finish on the spruce top and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its not very durable. IT dents VERY easily, I mean WAY TOO DAMN EASILY! Mine is darkened with dirt where my hands are always touching it both on the top and the neck giving it a sort of relic look that doesen't really fit in with such a modern looking guitar.
I am always bumping my guitars into music stands and things and the top doesen't take to that kind of abuse well at all. The spruce has eroded away a little bit where it gets strummed but I was expecting that to happen and I know that it is in large part due to my playing style.
The hpl back and sides are much more hard wearing and will probably last along time. The neck although suseptable to grime and sweat marks from your hands is very stable because it is made of many birch plys. I think this is quite a dependable guitar and I play out with it on a regular basis. I always have a backup guitar at gigs incase of string breakage or other difficulties but its very gig worthy. The tuners and strap button and endpin jack are all very good quality and seem like they will last very well

nothing major has gone wrong with it at this point

If this guitar was stolen or lost I would probably want to upgrade to a better martin or maybe a gibson but for the price this was a really good buy. I chose it because it is classy looking, easy to play and it sounds very open and warm. Although I use it mostly for flat picking it is well suited for finger picking and would make a great guitar for a singer/songwriter.

I was initially impressed with the look of the guitar. Surrounded by more traditional polished models, the XC1T's matt, blond, solid Sitka Spruce face really stood out. The rosette, with its different inlays of rosewood, maple and koa - with no pickguard to detract from it - is also good looking. When I picked it up I wasn't aware that it was electro-acoustic, with all controls hidden underneath the sound hole. I asked no questions about woods or materials until I'd tried the guitar acoustically and electrically. The HPL back and sides (formica to you) looks good, as does the stratabond (birch veneers) neck. The ebony fingerboard and bridge and the black Gotosh machine heads complete what is a very elegant design and an interesting combination of natural and more synthetic materials.

The 000 cutaway body style makes it a compact guitar and comfortable to hold. The Ellipse sound system contains an internal microphone and an in-bridge piezo which, together, form the active Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend sound system. The volume, blend and other controls - and the battery - sit inside the upper rim of the soundhole and are held there magnetically. This means that the battery - which sits in a nylon bag - can really only be changed if all the strings are removed. I don't think this is a particularly good feature and is the one flaw in the overall design. The sliding blend control is complemented by the sliding volume control and an anti-feedback button.

The "Zero Gravity" nylon case is incredibly light and strong and well designed, making the guitar easy to transport.

Acoustically, the XC1T is bright and surprisingly rich for its size. The response from bass to treble and from low and high areas of the fingerboard is even, with rich highs and lows. A superb sound. When fitted with a (G7th) capo, the tuning stayed remarkably true and there was no change in overall tone.

Electrically, not quite as satisfying, though my amp - a 100w Gallien Krueger - is not the best platform for this kind of guitar. The shop amp demonstrated its abilities to a better degree. Moving the blend control from piezo to mic produces a drop in volume and a woodier sound. I play mainly blues, jazz and folk on acoustic guitars, and use this for recording. I've found that a mid-setting between piezo and mic produces the best combination for these styles. I think I would need a more "acoustic" amp to get the best from the Ellipse electronics. No feedback or other disturbing crackles or noises have been detected.

The shop action was slightly high for my taste, and I gathered from Dave Crozier the shop owner, that Martins are usually set high in the factory. Luckily, he was able to bring it down to my requirements by setting the truss rod and filing down the bridge saddle. If I'd wanted it any lower - which, luckily, I didn't - he'd have been hard pressed to get it there. However, it's now perfect - many thanks Guitar Junction, Worthing, England, and to Dave its excellent owner! Martin's "Eric Clapton" phosphor bronze .012 strings complement the action nicely and contribute to the quality of the sound.

The intonation is perfect and using a capo presents no problems. One quirk of the guitar is interesting: if the overall tuning is not pitch perfect, i.e. A=440, the guitar is harder to tune with itself. Once the basic A=440 tuning is established, it tunes up perfectly and rings truer - I've not come across this before.

The overall finish is excellent. I was initially worried that the plain, seemingly unvarnished face might mark or get dented easily but, having played it for 5 months now, it's as clear as a bell and seems very hardwearing.

As far as electrics are concerned, there was a crackle in the blend control when I tried it in the shop. Once again, Dave came to the rescue, whipped the system out and discovered a faulty wire which he mended there and then. Possibly a shipping and transit fault - who knows?

The guitar is rock solid and seems like it will endure live gigging and other environments. So far it has been extremely dependable and I'm very pleased with it.

I'm told that Martin's warranty is for ever. The shop support, from this and from previous business there, is unrivalled.

I'd give it a 9 overall - just one or two slight imperfections stop me from awarding a 10 - but I've absolutely no regrets in buying this guitar. The XC1T is a limited edition and has been catching eyes everywhere I've played it so far. I also own a Tanglewood Sundance, which is a similar size and style, but there is no comparison between the two acoustically. Electrically, the Tanglewood holds its own even though it is a simpler sound system.

I also play G&L guitars, but they can't be compared here.

This is my first experience of owning a Martin and, though it's in the cheaper end of the range, I'm very impressed by the build quality, the care and attention to the finish and the overall sound.

Finish: Top = solid sitka spruce, hand rubbed finish. At first I was concerned about keeping this thing from getting finger smudges, etc. It has not been an issue. I'm all over the place with my guitar. I live in a dry desert environment and travel to California, Arizona and play outdoors for Church events. This guitar holds up real well.

Back & Sides = tawny satinwood High Pressure Laminate material (HPL). I wouldn't say it's bullet proof, but it sure is durable. The asthetics of the satinwood are warm and unique. I played alot of guitars before I purchased this, and like my two other Martins (DCME and 000XC1E, I think they sound great compared to other guitars in a price range of $900-$1,500.00. I think Martin did a great job in building this affordable, nice sounding creature.

Body Style = 000-14 fret cutaway; Bridge style = belly; Bridge & End Pins = Black w/abalone pearl dots; Nut Material = black corian; Pickguard = none; Tuning Machines = gotoh cosmo black. Nothing fancy, all nice looking but not flashy.

Bridge = solid striped ebony; Rosette = east indian rosewood, maple and koa pattern. A nice match ~ they rosette is very unique and blends well with the spruce top and ebony neck.

Neck: Natural stratabond, modified low oval. Again, no complaints. I've had my 000CX1E for quite some time and have had no issues with the neck and I don't anticipate issues with the neck on this guitar either.

Case: Martin Zero Gravity. This case is nice and the 000 body style fits in super snug. It's a hard-shell case wrapped a in black sturdy nylon covering. Closure = zipper. It comes with removable back-pack straps. You won't believe how light this is which makes carrying the guitar a joy.

Made in Nazareth, PA (USA) w/paper label.

Pickup: Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend: Tucked inside the body, this system is easy to use when you have little fingers to get to the controls. I liked it because there are no cuts in the side of the guitar.

I play contemporary Christian music and some light Christian rock. I have a little Fender Bullet 15 amp at home that I use and I use that to travel to small venues. At Church its run through our sound system and monitors ... sounds great through amps. I like to just sit and play it unplugged and enjoy the nice warm sound it produces on its own. My DCME would blow the doors off of it, but their two totally different body styles ... both nice for what they were built to do.

Of the three Martins I've purchased, this is the only one I will not have to have the action adjusted on. It was setup from the factory perfectly. I know not all of them are and am thankful that is something I've been able to have adjusted on my other two. The microphone on the Ellipse is adjustable, which is a nice feature. The Ellipse system seems have been installed correctly and fits nice and tight in the face. No fears of it falling apart when I push the phase button or slide the blend or volume switches.

I believe this guitar is built to be played ... alot! It's not touchy, does not seem to have any bad habits and I'd take it anywhere with me without a backup guitar. However, if I were to travel with it on an airline, I'd probably take my Freedom case ... it's a little more durable.

I've registered all three of my Martins but have never need to go to Martin for assistance. The place I bought my guitars from locally have always provided good service when I need something.

I've been playing guitars for 24 years. I also own a Fender 12 string and an Ovation Standard Balladeer. They all have different qualities that I like. I play the two Martin 000's the most. They are nimble, easy to play sitting or standing, sound great. The cool thing about the XC1T is that it is so simple to look at, when I played it I was surprised it had such a nice tone for a small guitar. If the XC1T were lost or stolen, I'm blessed to still have other guitars to play ... but I would be inclined to buy another one. I liked this guitar initially for the warm, buttery appearance, knowing it was a Martin, I pretty much knew it was going to sound great. I really like the Ellipse system, it sounds super and it helps enhance the looks of the guitar with no cuts in the sides.

Looks great. Some of the electronics, Phase Switch and Voicing Switch don't really seem to make much difference when plugging into an amp.

It sounds great either playing acoustic or through my Roland Cube 30 amp. Very full and bright with very little fret buzz.

Well regarding fit and finish, it sucked. I took it home and the first time I adjusted the volume slider the Fishman electronic assembly fell off. I mean to say that with just sliding the volume control the electronics completely fell off the first time I touched it! After I took it back and had that repaired the battery was dead. The instruction manual indicates that all the strings have to be removed to replace the battery but doesn't tell you where the battery is located inside the guitar so back to the shop I went again. Poor quality construction. Lousy manual.

I've only had it one day so I don't know about reliability. Considering the way it fell apart after a few minutes of use and slapdash repair job I can't believe this guitar will age gracefully.

Submitted my comments to Martin, haven't heard back yet so I reserve judgement as to their customer service.

The Martin XC1T Ellipse fell apart 10 minutes after I brought it home. You have to remove all the strings in order to replace the preamp battery. After the repairs, the battery replacement, and the restringing, the guitar sounds fantastic either acoustic or through an amp.

Despite having HPL sides and back, the guitar is very attractive. The Fishman Ellipse electronics produces a sound exactly like the acoustic output. The fit and finish if great

I have only had this a short time, but love the sound - even next to my D-28. It has a strong bass and clear upper end. For both strumming and finger-picking it is very good.

The only comment is that the action could be a little lower, but it is extremely playable as is. The intonation is right on.

I imagine with the HPL sides and back and laminated neck, the guitar is nearly bulletproof. I'd like to have a pickguard on it, but it would not fit in well with the rosette inlay. It comes with a great soft case that has ample high density padding.

I have dealt with Martin on my D-28 for resetting the neck and they were very responsive.

I compared this to a lot of guitars in its price range and even against a 000 rosewood Martin and it held its own. I can't think of a thing that I dislike about it at this point.

An interesting special edition model. The main feature is the Fishman blender set into the soundhole. I like the color/tone of the HPL (OK, call it Formica if you must, but close your eyes and open your ears), and the black lettering on the headstock, and the rosette is unusual for a Martin. Strap lugs in place, which saves a little uneasiness if you're doing the drilling yourself. Basically a 000 size, same neck as many others in this class. If "looks" is a feature, then this one scores high.

It is a Martin, no doubt about it.ot sure hoiw they do it with the composite sides and back, and the cutaway, but I won't complain. It can hold its own accoustically (with a 000, but not a dreadnaught). The Ellipse syestem works well, and certainly enhances the sound when plugged in - but a lot of that depends on your amp (I'm using a Fender Acoustasonic Junior).

Bought second hand from a performing musician who did not have this one "set up" so I'm assuming it is as came from the factory, in which case, it's fine. Action is appropriate for fingerpicking (which the guitar is well-suited for) as well as strumming, etc.

Given the materials, and the multi-ply neck, I'm expecting this thing to hold up well. But what can you say after only a few days?

Decent website. I've owned a lot of Martins over the years, and never really had to deal with them directly. So, I'll abstain...

Long-time player, though I'm actually a keyboard player. It's just that I have a thing about guitars - left to my own devices, I pick up the guitar and noodle rather than sit down at the piano/keyboard. I have many now, have turned over many, and I'm sure there are many in my future, but this little box has captured my heart for the moment. It has already earned a front spot in my line-up, which includes 2 other Martins, 3 Taylors, a Larrivee, a Gibson, a Tacoma, and a cool old Takamine (that covers the acoustics, at least!). Rating takes into consideration price/value/bang for buck. etc. I seem to be stuck on the number "9" here (all categories), but for now, that's the call.

Great sounding guitar for a countertop. Yes, its made of Satinwood HPL which if you do a little research you'll find that HPL is Formica.
Tone is acceptional, the Fishman pickup that comes with it is wonderful.
The only problem that I've found is the intonation.....It absolutely sucks! I brought mine back because it was so bad. Every time I'd switch chords, I'd have to retune. It was brought back twice to have the action brought down a bit and the luthier told me there wasn't very much more he could do and tried to explain about temperament and errors in the musical scale, etc. I said. Look, the damn thing doesn't tune period!