Martin DXME Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Feature:
The guitar didnt come with any accessories. The onboard EQ works really well and with a bit of tweeking can emulate the guitars acoustic sound quite well. The body is HPL which is a type of high-pressure laminate which Martin has been developing as an alternative to expensive and increasingly rare Brazilian hardwoods. It sounds great and feels really tough and durable. I personally believe this is the guitar material of the future. If this guitar is anything to go by, Martin guitars constructed with HPL will be the norm in a few years time, and they'll eventually recreate the tonal response of mahogany perfectly.

Quality:
As I've stated above, this guitar needed no attention, adjustment or alteration at all. Its well-built, tough, looks good and plays well. What more do you want?

Value:
Having bought this guitar in America for about 600 dollars (about £300 in English money) I cannot fault it for value. I've owned a Gibson electro-acoustic and have played other Martins which were much more expensive...this guitar compares very favourably with them all.

Desirability:
This guitar looks good, very understated and somewhat basic aesthetically but, for me, thats a good thing. Its has a classic look and feel, it isnt shiney and 'in-your-face', its a working instrument.

Sound:
Great low end, nice even tone, good high end. Sounds great plugged in too. I've gigged with it a lot now and its never let me down. As soon as I picked it up and played it for the first time I could hear quality, and for the price I dont think it can be beaten.

Ease of Use:
Straight from the case this guitar felt, looked and sounded great. I didnt have to tune it, set it up or alter a thing. I bought it in America, brought it to England as ordinary baggage and didnt have to tune it when I opened the flightcase. Its a damn tough instrument.

Support:
When I got back to England I sent off the Martin owners registration documentation and within a couple of weeks I recieved an official owners card, along with an invitation to join the Martin Owners Club (for a fee, of course). I have no complaints.

Overall:
I wont part with this guitar. I might buy other Martins in the future, maybe smaller bodied, less bassy models, but for me, this is 'a keeper'.

Feature:
i dont have a tremendous amount of experience with really playing acoustic electrics plugged in but this one on an amp has not let me down in the last month since i got an amp to go along with it.

Quality:
in the two years that i have owned this instrument i have had no problems with the parts or any sort of deterioration. the finish is perfect and so far the instrument has been tough and has lasted through as many trips and environments i have taken it to.

Value:
by far the best value i found over probably a two or three month search.

Desirability:
every time i take this instrument out and see the slight color change in the fretboard and, beleive it or not, the specks of dried blood from playing way to hard i am just happy to own such an instrument.

Sound:
the sound on this instrument rivals any of the more expensive martin and taylors. i have spent hours in a guitar center playing all the high end instruments and until you get into the over 2000 dollar price range you cannot see a difference. this guitar has great all around sound. there is solid treble as well as base and it is better all around than the mahogany d series which lack a good treble.

Ease of Use:
i personally love the feel of martin fretboards and this is no probably no different. low action and a slightly slimmer fretboard than most. so what you expect from martin you get with this guitar.

Overall:
i know i will always be happy with this instrument. someday when i have the money i am sure i will supplement this guitar with another but i know i will be hard pressed to find a guitar that actually lives up to the value and sound of this instrument. i can imagine that i will have to shell out a lot of money before i find something else worth while.