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MGR/jiesheng « Martin DX-1 »
Published on 12/23/03 at 15:00After years of playing with cheaper Yamahas and stuff, I finally decided to invest in a Martin when I saw the DXM on sale for $399 at Guitar Center. I played it one day, liked it, thought about it for a day, and then went back to buy it the next day. That's when I saw the distinctive-looking DX-1 hanging on the wall. At $469, it was significantly more, but I tried it anyway, then played the two side by side. No contest. I fell in love with the DX-1 and gladly shelled out the extra $70.
Unlike the DXM, which is all laminate, the DX-1 has a solid spruce top. As a result, although the DXM is a nice sounding guitar, when played side by side the DX-1 is much warmer, projects much better, and has a beautiful, endless sustain rich with overtones. It's easy to play and has absolutely perfect intonation up and down the keyboard. I may be playing this guitar for the rest of my life; unless I win the lottery or something, I don't see why I'd ever buy another basic 6-string acoustic.
I have nothing bad to say about this guitar. I mean, I guess I could wish for a solid wood bottom as well as top, but at this price I don't think you can get a better sound than this.
The DX-1 has a very distinctive, minimalist look. The spruce top looks unfinished, like bare wood, and instead of having a sharp edge with the sides, the top seems to curve around to meet the sides in a very graceful line. The fretboard looks and plays like rosewood but is actually a high-tech material called black micarta. There are no inlays or dots on the fingerboard, giving it a very spare appearance. (There are those discreet little dots on the top of the neck so you can see what fret you're on, though.) The look is simultaneously beautiful, unique, and very basic. The craftsmanship appears to be flawless. Come on, it's a Martin!
I'm so glad I noticed this just in time and bought it instead of the DXM. If there's a finer acoustic guitar available new for under $500, I sure haven't seen it. This guitar is a work of art, and I could listen to it all day.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Unlike the DXM, which is all laminate, the DX-1 has a solid spruce top. As a result, although the DXM is a nice sounding guitar, when played side by side the DX-1 is much warmer, projects much better, and has a beautiful, endless sustain rich with overtones. It's easy to play and has absolutely perfect intonation up and down the keyboard. I may be playing this guitar for the rest of my life; unless I win the lottery or something, I don't see why I'd ever buy another basic 6-string acoustic.
I have nothing bad to say about this guitar. I mean, I guess I could wish for a solid wood bottom as well as top, but at this price I don't think you can get a better sound than this.
The DX-1 has a very distinctive, minimalist look. The spruce top looks unfinished, like bare wood, and instead of having a sharp edge with the sides, the top seems to curve around to meet the sides in a very graceful line. The fretboard looks and plays like rosewood but is actually a high-tech material called black micarta. There are no inlays or dots on the fingerboard, giving it a very spare appearance. (There are those discreet little dots on the top of the neck so you can see what fret you're on, though.) The look is simultaneously beautiful, unique, and very basic. The craftsmanship appears to be flawless. Come on, it's a Martin!
I'm so glad I noticed this just in time and bought it instead of the DXM. If there's a finer acoustic guitar available new for under $500, I sure haven't seen it. This guitar is a work of art, and I could listen to it all day.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com