« Martin DX-1 »

My girl friend took me "looking for guitars" today - just for fun. She is learning to play and wanted to try out some of the better instruments. We went to Guitar Center on Long Island because you can sit there all day and play every guitar in the place without being harrassed by the sales people. We played guitars ranging in price from $ 200 to $ 3000 - we were shocked when the Martin DX-1 sounded better than anything in the shop, felt better and cost so little. The difference was truly remarkable. We were not there to buy a guitar. We were so impressed that we took the Martin DX-1 home with us. It was $ 460. - that's right, four hundred and sixty dollars. It blew away guitars costing four times that.

Simple design, classic look. BIG sound and beatifully balanced. Very responsive - the bottom end was very, very rich and yet it did not overpower the bright side. Nicest sounding guitar I have ever heard (and I've been playing for over 40 years). The neck is wonderful - solid and easy to explore. I am not a Martin fan (or at least I wasn't until today) and money was not an object as we had no intention of buying anything. This is a great guitar. Find one, buy it and keep it for the rest of your life (and then keep it in the family).

I can't think of a single thing about it that could be considered negative.

Solid, beautiful - whatever techniques they used really work - this guitar projects like no other that I've heard.

I sound like a nut job (after all, it is just a guitar)- but just try one out - a wonderful instrument.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com