Martin DCX1E Acousic Guitar

Overview

The DCX1E is a Martin’s entry-level solid top, cutaway, acoustic-electric guitar. This guitar is stripped down cosmetically but they did not skimp on the sound quality at all. The back and sides of the DCX1E are made of Martin’s HPL (High Pressure Laminate) material. If you have never heard of HPL it is just a laminate made of wood and wood rosin. It kind of feels like Formica.

If you want a solid top acoustic with a cutaway to reach the higher frets this is a homerun for the price. The Fishman pre-amp with built in tuner is the icing on the acoustic-electric cake.

Price   -   8/10

$699.00 You pay for a lot of solid functional features and not for any fancy frills.

Sound Quality   -   9/10

This guitar sounds BIG. There plenty of low end to spare. If you need a lot of bass in your sound but can’t pay over a $1000 this is by far the option for you.

If you are looking for a brighter, more balanced sound you might find this guitar kind of rude and heavey on the bass.

The first time I played this guitar I was very surprised because I couldn’t believe that it sounded so big because so much guitar was not solid wood or even wood at all. Great job Mr. Martin.

Build Quality   -  7.5/10

The DCX1E seems to be pretty hearty. I know a lot of people out there are paranoid of guitars that aren’t made of actual wood but I encourage you to at least check this one out for fun. The unfinished top can get very dirty quite easily so you have to make sure to wash your hands before playing.

Features   -   8/10

• Solid Sitka Spruce Top

• HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Back and Sides

• Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint

• Dreadnought Body Style

• Neck Rust Stratabond

• Fretboard Black Richlite

• Fishman Presys Plus Pre-Amp

• Chrome Hardware

• Nut Width 1-11/16”

• Fretboard Radius 12″

• 20 Frets

• Scale 25.4”

• Nut Corian

• Bridge Black Richlite

• Bracing A-Frame “X-1”

Ease of Use   -   9/10

Super easy to use, just an acoustic guitar. The Fishman electronics give fast easy flip-action access to the 9V battery. No reaching in the sound hole.

Pros

• Quality solid Sitka Spruce top

• It’s a Martin for under $700.00

• Great electronics for the price

• Lot’s of low end

• Stratabond neck is pretty durable and stable

Cons

• Action on set-ups are a bit hit and miss

• The top gets dirty quickly because it is a natural finish

• If you’re a purist you probably won’t like HPL back and sides

• Maybe too much low end for some

Overall Rating   -   8.3/10

If you need a full sounding, quality acoustic-electric guitar with a cutaway and no frills the DCX1E is something that you should play. This guitar sounds big and it does not disappoint when you plug it in either. Great sound.

If you are looking for a brighter guitar or one with more visual appeal this one is not for you. The HPL back and sides may scare some people but it is really pretty stable and guitar still sounds very good.

There is no case included so keep that in mind if you are budgeting for this guy.