Martin XC1T Ellipse Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Feature:
The product came with a "Zero Grav" case which was a somewhat hard case covered with canvas. Martin recalled the guitar and case because the case was made in China and a mold problem was reported. Martin sent me a new guitar which was even better than the one I bought, a good Martin hard shell case and believe it or not, 19 sets of strings covering all of Martin's string line (worth more than $100) for my "inconvenience". Since they paid for all the shipping and took care of everything in good time, the experience deserve praise. I'll run out of strings some time in 2010.

Quality:
I don't find any flaws. As I said, I did have mine recalled and I was a little put off by the presence of wood shavings in the case like the guitar was not finished for shipping. The replacement was flawless. The mounting of the electronics is a bit problematic. I played one at Guitar Center before ordering it on line and the one at GC had the electronics module broken off and loose inside. But even with that I just kept coming back to that guitar for its instant comfort and projection. It had "something" I just had to have. I've read reviews elsewhere where guys complained that the electronics module had come loose. I'm just very careful with it and don't mess with it. I control the volume etc with my guitar effects processor. The top is very soft and will dent easy so I always take off my watch and am careful handling the instrument.

Value:
I think it's a tad overpriced. It's more than double a Big Baby Taylor but is reminiscent although indeed considerably better. I swallowed what I thought to be about $200 too much in favor of the instant connection I had with this guitar. It's only money, I guess.

Desirability:
It's a "nice" little package. Check the YouTube videos by typing in the Martin model name. Sexy is hard to qualify for everyone--I ug the sound and how easy it felt to play. Looks were an afterthought.

Sound:
This guitar is awesome frankly. It has a microphone inside and also a saddle pickup with a blender gizmo. Unplugged, it is more than adequate and it's small frame makes it easy to hang your head over the sound hole a bit (or tilt it comfortably toward your ear when sitting) so you get the acoustic ring (I find my Breedlove dread not as easy to hear unplugged unless I play into a corner of the room where the sound can echo back.) When you look at it you might think it a chinsey guitar--very light wood, laminates on back and sides, no binding or inlay, no pickguard, satin finish on top, back, sides and NECK. But the money is in the striped ebony fingerboard, bridge and sound. There are some videos on Youtube showing guys finger picking this model. I just love it and can't put it down. Sincerely, I play it for hours whereas before I wasn't realy playing my Breedlove Atlas AD25SR Plus or 90's Taylor 414K with such comfort and enthusiasm. I can do the tings with my thumb on this that i can't with the taylor--it's a little tighter at the nut which helps me reach what i need to without straining.

Ease of Use:
The electronic controls are a little inconvenient to get at. they are inside the sound hole and you have to feel for them as you can't see. The mice has a bending cable so you can position it inside in different spots for different textures, but my Planet Waves humidifier packs always seem to push the mic to the back. Other than that the guitar is very playable, light, comfortable and versatile.

Support:
So far so good. As I said above, they recalled the instrument because of a case mold problem and sent me a better case and over $100 worth of strings as well as a new guitar. You wouldn't get that with an Asian made guitar. Shipping labels and boxes were sent to me promptly and UPS pickked it up. I din't have to "fret" at all.

Overall:
Unless the neck warps and the action or intonation get problematic like what happened with the Big Baby Taylor i had some years ago, I don't expect that I would look to get rid of this guitar in the forseeable future. It's got a lot going for it--it's light as a feather but sounds big.

Feature:
the mic in side is great all the features are inside the sound hole and you can move the mic around to geta differtn sound.

Quality:
made great In the U S of A! i dont think it will break it seams made with care. i would use this guitar on the road with no worries i think it wiill last for 10 years the only thing im afriad of is the pegs you put in to hold the strings down tthere alittle poped up and i dont want to break them cause there so unique and i would cry.

Value:
i would kill to get this guitar if i ever lost it or it got smashed

Desirability:
it is a very appealing guitar the trim around the sound hole is unique and very disierable the cutaway is nice and the small body makes it eayer to play it on stage

Sound:
it is a great sounding guitar not to bright not to warm it falls in that perferct section. i play all kinds of music its great for rock its great for finger picking. i have a nice amp and it sound just as great and with the fisherman pick up you know its quality

Ease of Use:
i think it is great i play with my freind its easy to get them sounding the same and just as easy playing with a band

Support:
dont need it

Overall:
great