Question about Martin DX1...

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gene12586

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So, I'm about to buy an acoustic guitar....I stumbled across the Martin DX1 and loved the sound (and loved the price even more)....Then I saw the Martin DX1 Tawny ....It's $200 more, but is a hell of a lot more pleasing to the eye...unfortunately I can't find a video to hear how it sounds...My question is, for those of you who have played both, is the price difference due to the tawny sounding better, or is it just the different wood used? Or does the Tawny just produce a different kind of sound? By the way, my sound is comparable to Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Alexi Murdoch, etc.... Which of these two would better replicate that sound?
 
If I recall correctly, the DX Martins are constructed with a wood top but the rest of it is like a formica plastic. I tried one years ago and hated the feel and the tone-I moved up to the D-16 and got the solid wood without the fancy inlay.
 
I played one of the X series Martins also, and I didn't like it either. The look, feel, and sound just weren't up my alley. I went with a solid wood Martin also, and I love it like no other instrument.

Elliott Smith usually had that big, dreadnought sounding acoustic tone. That's my preferred tone as well, I just love that big bottom end. Although his came across as boomy sometimes (I'm thinking Sweet Adeline in particular).

Nick Drake had a more understated acoustic tone, playing some old Guild guitar that I suspect was more of an orchestra style body. It has a more balanced, quieter tone to it.

Personally, I'd try to find something in your budget that's solid wood. The X series Martins aren't bad guitars, and they're environmentally friendly. But they sound kind of like a shoebox to me. The Martin fanboys at the little shop close to me are raving about Eastman guitars, Chinese-made guitars that seem to exceed expectations. That enthusiasm may be because they're trying to sell them though.

I didn't find the right acoustic for me until I'd played a bunch of them around town. It's amazing the difference between 2 instruments of the same make and model. Subtle differences in construction can make some noticable differences in sound and playability.

Good luck!
 
I own a DX-1, I love it !
Since the side and back is not made from real wood, so yeah, the feel is different....but, I think the sounds is great ! still got the martin characteristic, warm, big and deep with enough bass !
with the same price range, its the best sounding guitar !
couple friends of mine that owned the high-end martin, taylor or larivee have try it and like it too.
of course, the all-wood martin still beats it but the price is much more expensive.....
if its for recording, hobby or gig, I really think its more than enough !
Sometimes, I think high-end martins are more about collection than for to play....ha..
 
I'm no guitar snob and I like to get the most from my money, so I bought the DX1 also. I haven't tried the other guitar you mentioned, but I'm a fan of the DX1. I think it's got a full balanced sound to it.

I always think of Nick Drake as having a very dark tone from his guitar. Couldn't imagine that would be a Martin, but maybe with old strings..... :laughings:
 
Chili said:
I'm no guitar snob and I like to get the most from my money, so I bought the DX1 also. I haven't tried the other guitar you mentioned, but I'm a fan of the DX1. I think it's got a full balanced sound to it.

I always think of Nick Drake as having a very dark tone from his guitar. Couldn't imagine that would be a Martin, but maybe with old strings..... :laughings:
Click to expand...

I've been looking into Nick Drake's guitars, and its a bit of a mystery. He's pictured on the cover of Bryter Layter with an old Guild M-20, but legend has it that it was only a loaner and not played by him. The general consensus is that the bulk of his recordings were on a Martin D-28 and a nylon string spanish guitar of unknown make/model.

I'm surprised at the D-28 myself, and the stuff on Pink Moon sure doesn't sound like one to me. But of course he had such a unique technique that there's no telling what his picking hand would sound like on a big dreadnought.
 
...and the more i read about Nick Drake's guitars, the more differing accounts I find. A couple of guys have first-hand accounts of being in the studio with him and seeing him play the little M-20. The D-28 and 000-15 or 000-18 are another couple of oft-cited instruments of his. I guess there's no way to tell for sure. But Pink Moon really doesn't sound like a D-28 to me. Sounds much more like one of those smaller bodied instruments.

Anyways, I guess I'm done arguing with myself...carry on :)
 
OK one final finding:

Both Elliott Smith and Nick Drake supposedly used a Yamaha FG-180, a late '60s/early '70s dreadnought that's prized for its low cost and great tone.
 
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