 Telecaster Guitar Forum |
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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1
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2762
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Tue April 29, 2008
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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None indicated
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6.0
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Description:
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Wanted a no nonsense moderately priced acoustic. BUT it had to sound good. Enter the Martin DX1. These are USA made entry level guitars (Martin seems to have a higher standard for the term entry level). I LOVE this guitar.
Here's the facts:
They make all this possible at this price by using HPL on the back and sides. That High Pressure Laminate, made from wood stuffs, and glued with pressure blah blah blah. Martin claims that the most important part of the sound is the soundboard, which is solid Sitka Spruce, and the other stuff playes a lesser role. Which allows for more affordable materials while keeping the Martin sound in tact.
Here's my impression: Well, I for one believe them. I rounded up all the similar priced guitars from other makers and NO ONE held a candle to the ringing warmth and resonance of that DX1. Even the slightly more expensive Taylor sounded thin and toyish in comparison. Also of note, of all the mid budget guitars I auditioned (epiphones, Ibanez, Taylor, Yamaha, etc) all of them had spruce tops and all wood construction. It didn't help them against the Martin. Martin is doing something right here, something the other guys don't seem to know. The other guitars sounded like cheap guitars and the Martin really started to enter into that Martin sound.
Other things to note that may be important to you but aren't to me: The finish is thin and not glossy. Infact, it doesn't appear to have a finish(but I'm sure it does to some degree). This is a no nonsense guitar and it looks the part. No bells and whistles. The sides feel like laminate. Kind of weird I guess, but I soon forget about that when I listen to it and remember that it only costs $500, which is quiet amazing. the fingerboard is Morado. I don't know much about it, but it is wood, not a man made material. Its incredibly smooth and jet black. Feels nice. That "Stratabond" stuff that makes up the neck is strong like a tank. I don't think I would EVER have any trouble with that neck. I've been told it's similar to, or exactly the same as what is used to make gun stocks. Maybe, I don't know, but neck is here to stay.
Amazing sound for the money. If anything, its slightly dark when playing with fingers. Nothing that some brighter 80/20 strings won't take care of. I don't think there are too many $500 guitars that can sound this good. All you need to do is get over the stigma that its not an all wood guitar. But then again, there are all wood guitars out there for less than $200. They won't sound as good.
-Brian
P.S. In case I wasn't clear enough, I love that guitar.
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Keywords:
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Martin DX1 acoustic
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Author
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guit30
Registered: December 2007
Location: Abington
Posts: 380
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Review Date: Tue April 29, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: Not Indicated
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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Solid Spruce top, Satin finish,great fret work
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Cons:
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HPL sides and back, like a synthetic material, it does the job
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Personally, I think there are plenty of guitars with solid spruce tops that are less than this that are better than this. Alvarez PD80S $449, Engelman Spruce Top, Solid mahogany back, (not made in USA) All gloss fnish.
Jim
------------------------------
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Eden Analog Nashville Hot Boost-$100
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www.geocities.com/guit30
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