Martin "X" vs. "1 Series"

[FirstBassman]

I didn’t want to hijack the “used Martin X” thread so I’m posting new here with comment/question.

The re-issued Martin “1” Series has the same “Stratabond” neck as the X series. And both have solid Sitka tops. So the only difference seems to be the sides and back of the “1” are solid and the sides and back of the X are HPL laminate. Correct? (I don’t remember if there is a difference in the bracing.)

But from Guitar 101, doesn’t the top account for 99% of the sound? Does the 1’s solid side and back justify (as far as sound goes) the extra few hundred dollars?

Disclaimer: As posted before, I currently own a Martin D12X1.

Thanks.

[SackvilleDan]

I also own a D12X1! But mine is made in the USA, I hear new ones are from Mexico?

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by SackvilleDan

I hear new ones are from Mexico?

That's what some Forum members are saying:


http://www.tdpri.com/forum/acoustic-...itars-dxm.html


Frankly, that wouldn't be a big deal to me.
I had a MiM Tele that was great.
Though I did wind up selling it.

[studio1087]

But from Guitar 101, doesn’t the top account for 99% of the sound? Does the 1’s solid side and back justify (as far as sound goes) the extra few hundred dollars?

You are right. The top makes up 85% to 99% of the tone depending on who you are talking to.

The "One" series is Martin's answer to the tough economy. The big push is that you can buy a wooden Martin for under $1000. Some people are gaga over the news. Others look at it just as you do.

The OM-1 was huge news. I love OM's. I have an OM16GT.....it's one of my main fingerstyle guitars.

- 8 years ago Martin did away with the OM15 - it was $700 cash at the time.
- 5 years ago Martin did away with the OM16GT - It was about $1000 cash at the time.
- The cheapest Martin OM for the last couple years was the OM18 - $1800-$1900. Chris Martin has had no offering with a OOO body and a wide 1 3/4" nut for less than $1800 for the last few years. The OM-1 was huge news.

There are people doing cartwheels over the OM-1.

The "Ones" have filled a void for some.

My D12X1 is four years old and it's one of the last X boxes made in PA.

The Mexican factory was the LXM (travel guitar) factory and the string factory. Chris Martin moved all the X Box production to Mexico about 3 years ago. The X body sides start out as a hoop that gets heated and bent into the full guitar body shape and the crew in Mexico does a great job of that after building tens of thousands of LXM's.

The Mexican X guitars are great.

John

[TNO]

If you compare Martin with the better stuff coming out of China there's not much reason to buy a lower-end Martin except for the headstock logo.

[OutlawSteph1975]

I have a "D" style "X" series that I got when they were still made in the USA. I'm a little disappointed that production was moved to Mexico. I haven't played the 1 Series yet. Martins are hit or miss IMHO. My X series is great. I get a lot of compliments on the tone in bluegrass circles.

[Darrell]

Based on this thread, I went to Guitar Center and tried the OM-1, and I love it.

The funny part of it is I dropped in there a month ago, and this was the first Martin I tried mainly because of the sticker. I am a big fan of the fingerstyle neck. That is the reason I bought my J-45 in the first place.

If I bought a Martin today, this would be the one I would pick up. Besides, it is the only one that would fit on my credit card.

[flapjack]

I would never tell anyone which guitar to buy, but I will suggest that people with a limited budget who are in the market for a 000 body Martin try the 000X1. I have been looking for a while for a guitar to bring to gigs that I would prefer not to bring my M-38 to, and I played several 000X1s and really liked them. I finally pulled the trigger and bought one for $399 new and am very happy with it. I realize that many are put off by the laminated woods (HPL), but I was not concerned with anything but 1) sound, 2) playability, and 3) stability. While I cannot yet attest to the latter, this guitar is very impressive in the first two categories and supposedly is very stable due to the HPL sides and back and the neck material. Just my 2 cents. Hope this is helpful to someone.

[dqami]

Originally Posted by flapjack

I would never tell anyone which guitar to buy, but I will suggest that people with a limited budget who are in the market for a 000 body Martin try the 000X1. I have been looking for a while for a guitar to bring to gigs that I would prefer not to bring my M-38 to, and I played several 000X1s and really liked them. I finally pulled the trigger and bought one for $399 new and am very happy with it. I realize that many are put off by the laminated woods (HPL), but I was not concerned with anything but 1) sound, 2) playability, and 3) stability. While I cannot yet attest to the latter, this guitar is very impressive in the first two categories and supposedly is very stable due to the HPL sides and back and the neck material. Just my 2 cents. Hope this is helpful to someone.

Just a FYI, the early models had a Morada (rosewood) fretboard and the newer ones have a Micarta (ebony). The Micarta has a brighter tone than the Morada so choose accordingly.

[Glide]

+ 1 on the 000X-1. Very nice Martin quality built. Sounds great and plays great. Martin can sure make a nice guitar with any material and at any price point. Wouldn't trade my OMM with it's laminate back for anything.