Review: Martin 000X1 Acoustic Guitar
I recently made the decision that it was time to upgrade my guitar. After a year of playing my trusty $79 Rogue 100-D I finally felt justified in purchasing a “real” guitar. I settled on the Martin 000X1, here’s my review.
The Martin X Series combines advanced composite materials in the neck, sides and back along with solid Sitka spruce top and traditional Martin craftsmanship to provide true Martin sound and quality at an entry level price. While there are other solid top guitars for less money, I believe the Martin X series offers outstanding bang for the buck for a guitar novice.
Buying experience
After much research I decided the Martin 000X1 was the one for me but I couldn’t find one at any of the local shops so I was forced to head to Guitar Center. Let me just say that I really don’t like Guitar Center. My previous visits to GC have been on weekends when the store is full of teenage “shredders” who seem to love nothing better than high speed noodling for hours on end. If it’s too loud you’re too old and in my case I must be getting old because each time I’ve been to Guitar Center I leave in less than 5 minutes.
This time I went to Guitar Center on a Tuesday morning and it made a world of difference. I had the acoustic room to myself and the department manager was very helpful. After trying a few other guitars in the $500 price range he unboxed a 000X1 and I immediately fell in love with it. He gave me a $50 discount, didn’t try too hard to upsell me on strings or a case (which I already have) and I was out the door. So the lesson here is try to go to Guitar Center on a weekday to avoid the noodlers and shredders.
Appearance
The 000X1 is a no frills guitar. No fancy rosette, no binding work, no inlays. There’s not even any inlaid fret markers, Martin opted for painted dots along the upper edge of the neck. But don’t mistake plain for unattractive: this is a beautiful guitar with a flawless finish. The frets are absolutely perfect, the neck joint is rock solid and I haven’t been able to spot a single glue blob, discolored spot or anything out of place. The worst thing I can say about the appearance is the Martin sticker inside the body wasn’t glued down tightly. It was slightly curled up but once I pushed it down with a (capped) Sharpie it was fine. If you prefer understated perfection over flashy inlays you’ll love the 000X1.
One unexpected bonus is the guitar smells great. The very light finish (it is NOT unfinished, despite what you may read elsewhere) allows the natural smell of the wood to escape and it really adds to the experience.
The neck is made of Stratabond, a multi-layered plywood product widely used to make gun stocks. It looks great and should prove to be very durable. The sides and back are made of a high pressure laminate that looks just like wood yet should prove to be more stable under changing weather conditions. The solid spruce top is typical Martin perfection, the aforementioned light finish allows the beauty of the wood to shine through.
The overall impression is of a precisely engineered piece of lightweight craftmanship. It feels sturdy yet delicate, light yet solid.
Sound
I’m no expert but to me it sounds great, better than anything I tried in it’s price range. The 000 auditorium size means it has less bass than the dreadnaught style and as a result it’s not quite as loud but the notes ring clear and chords sound wonderful. I lack the musical vocabulary to truly describe it but trust me, it sounds great. I’ll post some sound samples soon.
Playability
The jump from a $79 Rogue to a Martin is truly amazing. It’s like going from a 1984 Dodge to a 2006 Audi. The guitar was set up perfectly out of the box. I know enough to check intonation at the 12th fret and each string was perfectly in tune. The action was low, I feared it would be too low but as long as my left hand technique is good there’s no buzz at all. The neck feels very fast, I’ve noticed a definite increase in my ability to move around the fretboard. The low action means I don’t have to press as hard, leading to a more relaxed left hand and shoulder. A more expensive guitar won’t make you a better player but in my case it definitely makes me sound a little better.
Conclusion
Purchasing the Martin 000X1 is the best decision I ever made. $500 is a small price to pay for something that will last for many years (with a lifetime warranty) of daily use. In fact it’s probably the nicest thing I own and has already reached prized possesion status. If my house catches fire it’s the first thing I’m going back for, and that includes the cats, my computer and my HD TV!
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Hi!
Martin guitars are a good buy I think, because they have a good reputation. Glad you bought it, and have not regreted it. My sister has a Takamene. It sounds great with some reverb effect.
Anyway, I’ve just started a blog for amateur bassists. I was pleasantly surprised to find your blog via BlogExplosion. Feel free to link to any of my (future) articles if you feel they’re useful for your readers. I hope I get your permission to link your articles in my blog as well.
Comment by AC — December 15, 2006 @ 5:29 am
By all means, link away! I’ve added you to my blog roll as well.
I usually like to go for the real bargains but in this case I felt it was worth spending a little extra for something of real quality and I’m very happy with my decision. I feel it’s really important to have a connection with your instrument, it helps keep you motivated. If you just feel it’s ok or nothing special you’re less likely to stick with it.
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