Martin LXM Little Martin Acoustic Guitar (with Gig Bag)
The Little Martin acoustic is the perfect student guitar. It features a natural finish and comes with a backpack-style gig bag.
Overall User Ratings (based on 79 ratings)
Submitted April 12, 2004 by a customer from bellsouth.com
"A small"
I think I will probably purchase a full size Martin as soon as I can afford it, but for the immediate purpose of playing myself back into shape, I think the Little Martin will do just fine.
Sound
Although the sound is not quite as full as a full size Martin, it is certainly on a par with many other full size accoustics, and it is "Martin sweet".
Features
The gig bag is astoundingly beautiful and well made!
Quality
Yes, its high pressure laminate, not real wood, and yes, it was made in Mexico, not Nazareth, but for well under $300. the quality, workmanship and finish are very, very Martin-like.
Value
Do you want a sweet sounding little practice guitar that you can grab and play any time the spirit moves you? This has to be the best value around.
Manufacturer Support
I have never had to avail myself of Martin support, but I will take the word of friends who have and rate it highly, as they do.
The Wow Factor
This rating is a little low only because the small size does look like a student guitar, and may be a tad wimpish for public performance, but that's not why you buy it, is it?
Musical Style:
folk, blues and
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Submitted March 7, 2019 by David E in Saint Albans, WV
"Great little guitar"
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Very pleased with this guitar. After years of being away I wanted to pick the guitar back up but didn’t want a “cheap” guitar and always wanted a Martin. This Martin was the right price and if my 6 year old would like to learn as well would be a good size for her. Now that doesn’t mean it’s too small but a perfect combination of portability and playability. Would be great by a camp fire. The HPL wood that it’s made from takes less care than a solid wood guitar and it is quite tough. Well worth it!
Sound
sounds good, not to loud but good for practice, small room, camping or beach.
Features
no frills here, just plain jane, holds tune well.
Ease of Use
very easy to play. I recommend a strap as it is a smaller guitar and for me at least harder to just strum sitting on your lap.
Quality
High quality MIM looks beautiful
Value
worth every penny
Manufacturer Support
not had to use them
The Wow Factor
not much of a wow factor but it is a beautiful little guitar and is a Martin.
Musical Background:
picking on and off for 16 years, still beginner level though.
Musical Style:
Rock, blues, bluegrass, jazz
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Submitted August 26, 2010 by a customer from juno.com
"SMALLER SIZE BUT CLASSIC MARTIN SOUND"
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I expect to be happy with this guitar for a long time to come. It's light weight, compact and requires little maintenance or care. These things encourage me to play it often. The thing I like best about it is that it has that classic Martin tone quality.
Sound
Sound is full, rich and well balanced with a lot of projection, especially considering the size. The M550 strings suit it very well.
Features
I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 because it lacks fret markers. Not a huge deal but it would be nice to have them. The included Martin M550 strings are a real plus.
Ease of Use
Extremely easy to get a great sound, the action is perfect. Feels like light rather than medium gauge strings.
Quality
Fit and finish are great. Top quality construction from top to bottom. Very sturdy and the hpl body will withstand rough handling as well as heat/humidity.
Value
Definitely worth the price, sounds like a full sized guitar.
Manufacturer Support
Have had no problems so far, but Martin has been very prompt and helpful in answering questions.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
1960's Rock, Christian, Pop, Blues
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Submitted September 6, 2013 by Rachel L in Los Angeles, CA
"Ah, one minor issue"
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I love this guitar. It's great for newer players that want a guitar they don't have to replace as they progress. It's perfectly sized for travel, but has a very nice sound. Mine came with a slight scratch despite being brand new which is annoying (not sure if that's the fault of manufacturer, zzounds, or delivery). Nevertheless I definitely recommend.
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Submitted May 25, 2013 by Clay Strider in Orangeburg, SC
"Little Martin?"
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Shoot...there isn't much little about this guitar. I bought mine on a lark because I wanted a beater. I am a fan of ALL Martin guitars. I own a Road Series (made in Mexico) and love it for jams, recording and performance. I thought the little one would just get thrown in the spare room for nieces and nephews to bang on. Wrong...I use this guitar for everything that I'd use a full size acoustic. The tone really is amazing. Friends of mine own Baby Taylors and are impressed with the difference and superiority of this instrument. If you are a smaller person, a teen, a beginner or just want a guitar that is easier to take everywhere, get one!
ok. "Features"? Not many really so 4 stars. Cool bag though. "Quality"? This little sucker is finely finished, perfect neck, stays in tune for days. "Manufacturer Support"? Just going on what I hear. I've never had to contact Martin for anything other than spec details. They were fast and pleasant. "Sound"? It is missing some low end but that is expected with a small instrument.
Musical Background:
Regular performer
Musical Style:
Christian, rock , bluegrass
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Submitted February 11, 2006 by a customer from aol.com
"Portable, Small and a Good Tone"
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Sound
I like the tone. It sold me at the store.
Features
Martin Gig Bag Is real Nice, easy to travel with and store on airplane cabin storage areas.
Quality
Second Day of Ownership. No problems so far.
Value
As far as I know.
Manufacturer Support
Not Yet.
The Wow Factor
My first Martin. Affordable and fun. A new addition to a growing collection. Young folk's may like this guitar also for it's quality, tone, and diminutive size. I wanted a "travel" guitar. My vintage guitars stay home and do not travel on airplanes.
Musical Background:
Serious Home Player, Jam with friend's and do advanced lessons, write my own instrumantals.
Musical Style:
Jazz, Folk, Country and Blues, Fingerstyle and flatpick, and some Django Gypsy Jazz.,
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Submitted February 13, 2013 by Steve Butler in Bolton East, QC
"Little Martin LXK2"
Very nice addition.Comfort, ease of use ,quality and good tone. Pick it up. Practice and watch T.V. in your favorite chair while sitting back with your feet up. Easy does it!
Musical Background:
50 years at it and have been paid from time to time.
Musical Style:
Country,Rock and Blues
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Submitted January 3, 2012 by a customer from gmail.com
"Small guitars may not always be worth it"
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Probably would not replace it. Would look for a better sounding travel guitar - if possible to find. Need to get much more time with it to evaluate more fairly.
Sound
Sound is brighter than reviews I had read before purchasing had indicated. It is also not as big as indicated - at least not to me. I also have a Taylor Big Baby, and there is no comparison. I was surprised by its size - smaller than I expected. My Taylors are easier to play. Haven't had for very long - so it may do more than I realize right now.
Features
Very solidly made. Much superior to Taylor Baby and Big Baby.
Ease of Use
Had action lowered at local music store - they do it often for this model. The playability is better than it was. My Taylor's feel more playable. I bought this for my spouse and she seems to like it more than I do as a beginner guitar.
Quality
High quality. Appears to be well made and that it will be durable. Come with a decently padded gig bag.
Value
It's a Martin - but close in price to Taylor Baby. Yet, It is made more sturdily.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't had this experience.
The Wow Factor
Very comfortable body for small players. Travel ease.
Musical Background:
Over 25 years - piano, accoustic guitar, elecric, native style flutes
Musical Style:
Blues, New age, folk, rock
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Submitted February 29, 2012 by Colella L in West Orange, NJ
"Martin LXM Little Martin Acoustic Guitar"
Great guitar for practice but not to good for jamming or playing out. There are intonation problems with my particular guitar since I purchased it. It has a hole for a truss rod but no truss rod! So forget about adjusting the neck yourself. If you want to lower the action, you will have to file down the saddle (that little plastic thing on the bridge in front of the bridge pins). A pick guard would also have been nice for a better appearance evan though not needed because of the laminate top.
Musical Background:
48 years, Guitar, played in sleazy bars, still learning and jamming at home and with friends
Musical Style:
rock, southern rock, blues, and whatever people wanted to hear (that is, if it was in our cheat book)
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Submitted July 19, 2006 by a customer from comcast.net
"It's Not The Size That Matters, It's What You Do With It."
I'd give it a 10, but I would trade it in for the model with the electric pick-up. Otherwise, I'd make the same choice all over again.
Sound
I agree with the prior reviews on the mellow, rich sound compared to Martin's backpacker and the Baby Taylor. Also a better bass sound than the Ibanez Daytripper. The difference in tone was immediately apparent in the store. My model is all plastic HPL, and while my Sigma d-3 sounds much fuller, I don't believe one can get a better travel axe than this one -- period. I wish I could have heard the sound difference (if any) of the LX model.
Features
Great Gig Bag!! Plus, although there's no pick guard, the HPL/all plastic made real sense for me because I'll have this thing on a boat, and near water all the time. Humidity would kill any other guitar. The size is great for taking on trips.
Ease of Use
Excellent tone (and holds tune) all up the fret, with no distortion anywhere. Really easy action if used with the recommended strings.
Quality
so far, so good. People knock this because it's plastic and made in Mexico. I've never seen inferior work from Mexico, and this product, while light, is beatiful and feels solid. The tone, while not loud, is beautiful and rich for a baby axe.
Value
Besides the neat "pick up and go" compact features, it's going to be better for my kids to learn on than my full-size Sigma d-3.
Manufacturer Support
Not needed yet.
The Wow Factor
Can't beat it as a small, travel guitar that will take the humidity, temperature changes and won't cause people to laugh at you.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Folk, Country, Alternative, Rock
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Submitted August 15, 2005 by a customer from twcny.rr.com
"My first Plastic Guitar"
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Uverall if you're looking for an over priced childs guitar then this is it. If you're looking for something that you'll really be satisfied with as far as the quality of the sound that you get then don't waste your money. I replaced this soon after I recieved it. The cost was way too much for what I got. But then again I expected a product that was made in the USA not Mexico. Had I known that it was made in Mexico I wouldn't have bought it... Sorry but it just seems like Martin looked for , and found, a use for it's scrap wood that it use to throw out... Will replace it with a wood guitar.
Sound
I bought this because of it's size and the Martin name. Let's face the facts: wood sounds like wood and plactic sounds like plastic. This guitar sounds like a plastic quitar because it is plactic. The sound seems tinny to me, but depends alot on the room you're in. You seem to lose alot of sound on the low end if you go to lighter strings. The highs are there, but one would expect that with plastic. Stick to medium strings for the overall sound. And I USE to own it..it's history...
Features
The best accessory here was the gig bag, which is outstanding. One whould think for the price Martin could have included fret markers considering they call it a "perfect student" guitar. I found my daughter trying to count the frets as she tried to play. Come on Martin they can't cost that much to include.
Quality
Here's where it gets ugly... HPL means plastic. Any mention of wood in the discription is rather deceptive on Martins part. This is hard plastic plain and simple. There is no workmanship or craftmanship here that one thinks of when you here the name Martin. It's either injection mold or stamped out people. What even worse is Martin went so far as to put serial numbers on these plastic guitars. It is what it says ...a travel guitar. It would be hard to dent it. Great for camp outs and such... no worry about humidity or such. It'll last that's for sure... Martin needs to replace HPL with what it really is in it description and be honest about it...
Value
I thought it was way over priced for what you get. You're paying mainly for the Martin name here. I guess it all depends on how you look at it. Looking at what it's made of... it's way over priced. How it really sounds... not worth the money. Buy a wood guitar...you'll be able to buy one and then replace it again for the same price as the LXM Martin.
Manufacturer Support
Had to give this a mid point because I've never delt with them.
The Wow Factor
I gave the LXM a higher rating here only because of the Martin name. I bought it because of the Martin name and being such expected craftsmanship and workmanship related to the Martin name.... neither which I got with the LXM because there's no need for either in the LXM.
Musical Background:
Actice Musican now Hobbyist
Musical Style:
All types
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Submitted November 3, 2011
"Small portable guitar with big Martin sound!"
Sound
Beginner guitar for me and it sounds great! I have friends with full size guitars that want to trade with me. I like the size for its portability, you can bring it with you and play it in the car.
Quality
Very well made and looks great! Came with a very nice gig bag with the Martin logo sewn in.
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Submitted November 27, 2008
Martin LXM Guitar Customer Review
had it for 2 years and brought it along on many road trips. it has played well and held together well all the while
Sound
it has a bright sound, but is still very full in its tone
Features
the gig bag is perfect for going on trips and protects the guitar well
Quality
great quality instrument from a good brand. does not disappoint in any way
Value
great value for an even better guitar. well worth the money!
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