Quality:
It's made very well. The spruce top clean and smooth..very pretty wood. It also smells wonderful.

Value:
I shopped around and tried a dozen or so guitars...Nothing matched the Martin sound and projection. I don't think you'll find a better sounding guitar for the price.

Desirability:
Everyone says to play as many guitars as possible and choose the one that says, "Take me home." The DX1 is not the prettiest guitar around. I tell my friends it is plain looking but sings beautifully. It has no embellishments. I'm not crazy about the color of the laminate sides and back, they're okay, but I love the smoothness of the spruce top as it's unvarnished and soft as a woman's thigh.

Sound:
The DX1 has rich high ends and deep, soulful resonance. It really projects. I love it...It sings so beautifully, it makes me want to see what it's big brothers will do.

Overall:
I'll own this guitar forever. Knowing how this one sounds I will definitely check into a D28 down the road. If it offers a much superior sound and I feel it's worth the $$$. In the meantime, this one sounds just fine.

• User: a customer from netzero.com
• Submitted: 2/18/2008
• Style of Music: Rock
• Location: Phoenix AZ

Feature:
Mine didn't come with a bag, but I would have wanted a hard case anyway. It's too nice to leave in a bag.

Quality:
Just beautiful. Fit and finish is perfect.

Value:
For the price, nothing comes close.

Desirability:
The one complaint I hear is that it's plain looking. I wanted a guitar that looked like a guitar, I have no interest in Doves on my pick guard. It's a very pretty guitar

Sound:
I have been playing mine for a year now and it sounds amazing. No one believes the back and sides are laminate. I have played many different acoustic guitars and always love coming back to the Martin. Everyone wants to give it a play, just sounds so amazing.

Ease of Use:
I love it, low action, easy to play. And because it sounds so nice, it's a very forgiving guitar for the newer players.

Support:
I asked about strings when I first got it, they mailed me a few different types to try.

Overall:
I don't plan on getting another acoustic like this for a long time. It just sounds so nice, it's not worth the extra money.

• User: a customer from yahoo.com
• Submitted: 10/12/2007
• Style of Music: Rock Folk
• Location: Brookfield, CT, USA

Feature:
pretty basic guitar

Quality:
excellent

Value:
best guitar for the price i have found

Desirability:
i think its simplicity is beautiful

Sound:
excellent sound

Ease of Use:
the sound you get is up to you :)

Support:
none needed so far

Overall:
you can pay much more, and find much more elaborate guitars, some even sound better, but this is one great box.

• User: a customer from hotmail.com
• Submitted: 8/21/2007
• Style of Music: slide blues/pop/folk/altindie
• Location: louisburg kansas in the US of A

Feature:
I rate it 10 for its simplicity. A no "fluff," beautiful guitar.

Quality:
It's a Martin. 'Nuff said.

Value:
At less than $500? It's a steal. Buy this guitar now, before they get wise and jack the price up!

Desirability:
I rate the DX-1 as a 10 because of its simplicity. No gloss finish, etc. Just a down to earth, honest guitar.

Sound:
The quality and projection is fabulous. I can't believe I bought a Martin for less than $500!

Ease of Use:
It almost plays itself . . low action, super finger friendly.

Support:
Great support, friendly people. I asked them a question regarding two different types of strings, they sent me a set of each to try!

Overall:
I intend to keep this guitar, period. I've played it with friends that own higher priced Martins, but the DX-1 stays with them in every aspect.

• User: a customer from asde.net
• Submitted: 6/5/2007
• Style of Music: Old time R#R, Country
• Location: Maryville, MO, USA

Feature:
No accessories, just a guitar. Oh wait, they did throw in a pretty good basic strap and an inexpensive gig bag.

Quality:
Of course one can obviously spend 10 times more, though I think for that money one might at best approach a guitar that sounds maybe twice as good, if that. You would mainly get more fancy materials. This is a well built, very plain, excellent sounding instrument. I love it more than I should for a material thing!

Value:
No question in my mind. I almost spent a little less and got a Taylor Big Baby (another great guitar in roughly same lower end price range), but had no issue spending slightly more and getting, in my opinion much more tone, for the the DX1.

Desirability:
Well, it has a very plain look that to me looks no nonsense and kind of macho. I'm not big on highly decorated guitars, too foo foo for my taste, though I can admire the craftsmanship. So, I think this is a very 'sexy' guitar...

Sound:
Very responsive guitar. I was leery of synthetic material, but actually think that due to density actually is a better choice for sides and back which apparently mainly function as reflectors in the guitar tonal shaping. Wood looks nicer tho.

Ease of Use:
Plays like a dream. I heard of fretting issues, but the review I read was from 1999. Martin must have listened, cause this thing plays great.

Support:
None needed so far. Nice web site.

Overall:
I certainly hope this guitar ages well. I would like to play it as long as I can stll grip the neck.

• User: a customer from hotmail.com
• Submitted: 5/10/2007
• Style of Music: fingerstyle/rock/techno
• Location: Louisburg Kansas USA

Feature:
I've played since the mid-60's and have always loved the sound of a great acoustic guitar. As this one-time coffee house player grew older he also became a bit of a technology geek. Hence, my complete acceptance of the evolution of Martin guitars to include composite materials. When you think about the consistency that can be obtained with "man-made" materials, it makes sense that a properly designed guitar would benefit from materials that were predictable in their response and form.

Quality:
While some Martin fans of old have had issues with some of the newer Martin offerings, the DX-1 is a seminal moment in the history of a great guitar manufacturer. Well made, with composite materials making a contribution to a more eco-friendly manufacturing ethic, the DX-1 is a well-made instrument priced within reach of most serious musicians. If you can find a better sounding, better made instrument in the $500 range in which the DX-1 sems to sell...BUY IT! (I'm betting your search is in vain!)

Value:
Having haunted countless music stores and sampled endless guitars, I can't bring to mind another instrument which gave as much bang for the buck as the DX-!. But don't take my word for it. Go to your local guitar shop and put the DX-1 up against guitars costing twice, or even three times, as much, and see what I mean.

Desirability:
A subtle, unassuming guitar which reeks of class. No bells, no whistles, just that unmistakeable Martin look which carries over a hundred years of authenticity. What more could you ask for?

Sound:
Having acquired a number of instruments, I knew my collection would not be complete without Martin guitar. When I stumbled upon a mint condition DX-1 in a high quality hard-shell case at a pawn shop for $350 I was amazed. When I picked it up and played a few bars I went from amazed to awestruck. Purists might have a hard time wrapping their head around a Martin guitar with composite sides, back, neck and head, but if you close your eyes and listen objectively, there's no mistaking the Martin sound!

Ease of Use:
Most of my work nowadays is in my studio. The DX-1 shines whether I'm pointing a mike at it or feeding the signal through a Dean Markley pickup. The action was a tad high for my tastes, but completely playable. I'll have my friendly local luthier fine tune the set-up and I'm sure this will become my favorite acoustic guitar. I seldom have to do much EQing as the DX-1 has a balanced tone from top to bottom. The bottom end rocks without crossing into the "THUMP ZONE".

Support:
I can't rate service and that's a good thing, because I haven't had any problems with the instrument. When I see a review with raves about service I always wonder why the user needed service to begin with, don't you?

Overall:
No, this guitar is not GOD. But if you're a working stiff like me, and you dollars are few and precious, you just couldn't do any better than the DX-1. Sound...great. Appearance...great. Quality of workmanship...DUH! IT'S A MARTIN. Would I buy it again...absolutely. In a day and age when shoddy workmanship is the norm and reverence for traditional values is almost non-existant, Martin and Co. is to be commended for their dedication to quality and earth-friendly products.

• User: a customer from ntown.net
• Submitted: 4/22/2006
• Style of Music: Acoustic rock
• Location: Gatlinburg, TN, USA

Feature:
This guitar is composed perfectly. Solid spruce top, patented neck mortise, and a wood compisite back that is incredibly durable and ensures years of playing. And, its made in the US, what more can I say?

Quality:
This guitar is absolutely perfect. Its quality is unmatched (by any company other than martin, that is) and its solid spruce top and compisate back ensure that it will produce a good sound and last a long time. And again, its made in the US!!

Value:
This guitar is here for an unbelievable price, and you are getting WAY more for your money when you buy this guitar.

Desirability:
One of the many reasons that I chose this product was becaus of its apperance. Its not a shiny, obtrusive sort of tan, but its a duller more 'laid back' tan that really REALLY looks good.

Sound:
This guitar sounds just as good as some of Martin's $1000+ guitars. It's got a great feel, and a great sound to match. The sound is rich and resonates very well which provides a deep solid tone that make it hard to believe that the guitar is only $500.

Support:
My friend had the DX1 and he left it by his couch with his door open durring the snow. The whole neck bent up, and it produced an awfull sound. But that was no problem, he took it to the UPS store, and they shipped it for free to the Martin factory and in 12 days he recieved a brand new guitar.

Overall:
I expect to be satisfied with this product for atleast the next five years. After that point I have no intention of throwing it away, but I believe that in five years it will be time for another Martin.

• User: a customer from yahoo.com
• Submitted: 2/13/2005
• Style of Music: Rock
• Location: Arlignton, VA, USA

Feature:
N/A

Quality:
This instrument is of the finest quality and craftmanship i have ever come across.. The only problem i have is that when fretting the small E string,, it tends to slip off the neck if you're not carefull. The fretts should be more rounded on the ends,, not cut at such and angle,, this will take care of that problem.

Desirability:
The sound is incredable,, the craftmanship is wonderful,,and as far as sex appeal,, it's a guitar,and it's sexy.

Sound:
This is absolutely the best sounding guitar i have ever owned in my life. I am 36 years old,, and have been playing since i was 6. I have owned at least 50 guitars. and have played hundereds. No guitar i ever held had the magic punch of the Martin DX-1. It has a sound that you would only expect from a well mixed recording,, but it's right in your hands!

Support:
have not had to deal with the company yet.

Overall:
love it love it love it.

• User: a customer from aol.com
• Submitted: 11/18/2004
• Style of Music: all.
• Location: Fort Smith Arkansas U.S.A