Martin DX1 vs 000X1

[moondawg72]

Anyone have either of these guitars? What are your thoughts on them? I have gone to the Guitar Center several times and tried out a few Martins. For some reason, I keep coming back to the DX1. I mostly do flatpicking (like classic country or bluegrass music), but do some fingerpicking on occasion.

[guit30]

The DX-1 guitar and it's counterpart is a mahogany formica sides and back with a solid spruce top. I first heard about Martin's new X series at a guitar show a few years ago, I saw one at the Martin table which was a straight DX, no solid spruce top. The folks from Martin explained to me that the guitar was basically made of formica(high density laminate) rather than traditional hard wood or laminate woods. I played it and was really disappointed for a Martin. Now I have never played one with a solid top, probably sounds better.

For the price, I think about 499, you owe it to yourself to try out a Taylor 110(especially if you like bluegrass) this guitar has a nice solid spruce top with laminate sapele (mahogany like wood) sides and a great African mahogany neck, plus a great ebony fretboard. This guitar really has a great bright, ringing tone and is in the same price range, plus you get a gigbag to boot.

Jim

[Jerry NT]

Don't have either, but own a 000C16 and have owned a D18.

The D series are dreadnaughts. They were designed for Bluegrass.

You might consider other options if the formica thing isn't for you. Martin has other models. A D-15 is a popular model.

Blueridge dreadnaughts are good for the buck.

Of course the standard for Bluegrass is the D-28. But those things are expensive and the older ones are out of sight.

000 models are better for fingerstyle.

And as mentioned above Taylors are good.

[Jeremy M]

Before I bouth my D16-GT, I was going to buy a 000X1. I played several 000s and X1s at many different stores and found their tone to be fantastic. They were both extremely loud.

 

I've heard several complaints about the lack of wood. But the top is is real wood and that accounts for most of the sound. The HPL laminates are going to be stronger than wood--especially the neck as it a laminate also. Obviously, it's not going to age like a pure wood guitar.

 

The reason I didn't go with that is the bracing pattern. You'll have to go to Martin's site to download the catalog to see.

 

Do this: go to a store with either the X1 or 000 and have the clerk play one while you're not looking, then play a higher end Taylor or Martin. That's what I did and X series sounded better. People can be snobby all they want about real wood vs HPL. I'm more interested in sound. Again, it's all personal choice. If it sounds good, and you like it, buy it.

 

I doubt the resale value will be much and I would definitely check alternatives (Seagull, Larivee). I'm thinking of one of the Xs, probably a 000 for the size, for a beater guitar.

[solitaire]

The Martin X-series mkII is far better than mkI, or so I've heard.

[JasmineTea]

I realy liked the 000X1 I played, almost bought it for camping and stuff.

[motord]

My girlfriend bought me a DX1 a few years ago, and I can still barely put it down.

 

Here's the thing - I didn't even realize it wasn't 100% wood until a few months ago. It has a very woody smell to it (from the top, I guess?). I wonder if my girlfriend had said, "It's made of formica made to look like wood," when she gave it to me, if my perception of its sound would have been distorted.

 

I definitely agree with what Jeremy M had to say, and all of the other comments about the stigma of HPL. If you use just your ears, it's hard to deny the mojo of the DX1 (at least the one I own). Everyone that plays mine has nothing but good things to say about it.

 

I love that damn thing.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by motord I love that damn thing.

 

 

Guitar, GF, or both? They both sound like keepers