Martin DCX1E Custom Spruce and Rosewood Acoustic Electric Guitar Review :: Martin Guitar Reviews
stage and studio friendly, sounds like a 1k-2k guitar.

The full, sweet sound of a Martin Acoustic Electric with a cutaway for ease of playing. Fishman Classic 4 Sonicore electronics make it stage and studio friendly, and its price won’t break your back. Solid spruce top with A-frame X-bracing, HPL sides and back, inlaid Boltaron rosette, black Micarta fretboard.
Sound of Martin DCX1E Guitar
- very natural and balanced tone, not too bassy – unamplified or plugged into the P.A. system;
- sounds very full, with lots of low end that’s missing from most cheaper guitars;
- very warm and strong when strummed;
- sound characteristics similar to a rosewood body guitar costing much more – sounds like a 1k-2k guitar.
Pros of Martin DCX1E Acoustic Electric Guitar
- an incredible value for the money;
- stays in tune well and already has strap button installed;
- durable and very reliable ;
- playing along the upper strings near the neck, you could hear some of that built-in reverb, similar to my HD28VR; you can feel some vibrations through the back and sides
- looks are simple but if money and sound are the driving motives you ought to give it a play; plays and sounds like a much more expensive guitar despite its basic looks;
- sounds great and it’s comfortable to play;
- excellent intonation throughout the neck;
- satin finish is easy to clean and requires less polishing than a gloss finish;
- the non gloss finish makes it look very natural.
Cons of Martin DCX1E Guitar
- some want a little brighter high end unplugged;
- slightly neck-heavy;
- the soundboard is not bound and could be a cause for concern especially if you are rough on instruments, but it is pretty durable;
- the HPL mahogany back and sides look somewhat fake but gets points on the non gloss finish.
Features + Technical Specs | |
---|---|
MODEL | DCX1E |
CONSTRUCTION: | Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint |
BODY SIZE: | D-14 Fret CUTAWAY |
TOP: | Solid Sitka Spruce |
ROSETTE: | Inlaid Boltaron w/ Red Fiber/ Multiple Black/White/Black |
TOP BRACING PATTERN: | D-1 (A-frame) |
TOP BRACES: | Sitka/1 Style/Non-Scalloped |
BACK MATERIAL: | Mahogany Pattern HPL Textured Finish |
BACK PURFLING: | none |
SIDE MATERIAL: | Mahogany Pattern HPL Textured Finish |
ENDPIECE: | none |
ENDPIECE INLAY: | none |
BINDING: | none |
TOP INLAY STYLE: | none |
SIDE INLAY: | none |
BACK INLAY: | none |
NECK MATERIAL: | Rust Stratabond |
NECK SHAPE: | Modified Low Oval |
NUT MATERIAL: | White Corian |
HEADSTOCK: | Solid/6 String No Diamond/Standard Taper |
HEADPLATE: | Mahogany Pattern HPL w/ Printed Logo /Raised Gold Foil Logo |
HEELCAP: | none |
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: | Morado |
SCALE LENGTH: | 25.4″ |
# OF FRETS CLEAR: | 14 |
# OF FRETS TOTAL: | 20 |
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: | 1 11/16” |
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: | 2 1/8” |
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: | none |
FINGERBOARD BINDING: | none |
FINISH BACK & SIDES: | none |
FINISH TOP: | Hand Rubbed Finish |
FINISH NECK: | none |
BRIDGE MATERIAL: | Morado |
BRIDGE STYLE: | 1 Style Belly |
BRIDGE StrING SPACING: | 2 1/8” |
SADDLE: | Compensated White Tusq |
TUNING MACHINES: | Chrome w/ Small Knobs |
RECOMMENDED StrINGS: | Martin MSP 4100 Light Phosphor Bronze |
BRIDGE & END PINS: | White w/ Black Dots |
PICKGUARD: | I-01 Tortoise Color |
CASE: | none |
INTERIOR LABEL: | Foil Label – DCX1E Solid Spruce Top |
ELECtrONICS: | Fishman Classic 4 Sonicore |
OTHER OPTIONS: | Available left-handed at no additional charge |
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