Martin Gpcx2Ae Macassar Acoustic Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

Like others, I've always wanted a domestically crafted Martin but just couldn't fit it in the budget. I'm sure the X series are great instruments but I did not want to settle for something other than a solid wood US made Martin if I were to purchase one. The MF sale and their 48 month, 0% financing deal made the choice a no brainer. I would consider myself an experienced novice in that I've been noodling on acoustics for 35 years give or take but electric bass has been my instrument of choice. That said I find this guitar easy and a joy to play and keeps me wanting to come back to it. The sound is bright and pleasant even when getting into the strings some. The quality is top notch and I went over this thing with a fine tooth comb. The absolute, only "flaw" I could find was that the pick guard was off center perhaps be .5 mm or so and the only way one would notice is if you follow the very minimal rosette around the sound hole you can gauge the position of the pick guard by following the thin white center line. There is no way you would notice this unless your eye is within 15 or so inches of the sound hole. The tuners seem decent quality, are marked "Martin", adjust smoothly and hold tune very well. The neck is comfortable and intonation is perfect as one would expect with the use of their PLEK machine to aid set up. To top things off the hard shell case fits the guitar perfectly, looks great and seems to be high quality. There is really no downside to this guitar and I wouldn't hesitate to advise anyone to purchase this guitar.Josh

I've had mine for four months, so I feel that I can make an honest evaluation and I'm every bit as impressed as I was on day one. I'm primarily an electric player, but I owned a couple of mid-range acoustics when I got this. I've since sold them because I knew I would never play them again. After steak, hot dogs just don't cut it. I always thought Martins were rather plain looking and still do, but what makes them so impressive is the playability and unequalled tone. The Custom D ranks right up there with the best in those categories. The satin finish is nice and while it may be psychological, I think it may give it a more open sound. You can definitely feel a ton of vibration in your body when playing. It doesn't show fingerprints or require polish either. In fact, Martin doesn't recommend polish. The factory installed strings are of the highest quality and great for chording, but if you use the entire fretboard or do a lot of bends like I do, you may want to consider something lighter. I changed to coated 10-47 extra lights and was surprised to find little to no loss in the low end. Now that I'm a Martin fan, I've considered trading up, but I just can't justify the extra cost for binding and a gloss finish. I'm sure the cork sniffers will tell me there's a whole lot more to it than that, but I think they would be hard pressed to distinguish a difference between this and a higher end model listening blindfolded. I've been playing for 48 years and have bought and sold many guitars during that span (regretting a few), and the Custom D is one of the best guitar purchases I've ever made. Oh yeah, everyone comments on the smell and it's no exaggeration. Hits you as soon as you open the case.Terry T

I wasn't expecting a whole lot with this guitar. I just wanted a guitar that I could take out in the elements and not have to worry about it. I also have a Taylor 314ce and Martin 000-15. This guitar is super comfortable to play, it's solidly built, and it sounds like a Martin! I tried the Taylor 114 first and it felt and sounded a bit cheap. This one is so much better than the Taylor 114. It has sustain for days (sure wasn't expecting that)! The 1.75" nut width and 24.9 length make it perfect for me. The fretboard is also superb, the richlite feels like ebony (super smooth), and the fretwork is spot on!EC

Clear, bright performance, and that should improve over the next few months as the instrument gets used to being played.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is my first guitar purchase and one that I didn't waiver over once I did it. I am a novice player and have been playing a hand-me-down epiphone that was far too large for me. This guitar is just awesome for my level of play. I love the cut, fit and most importantly the sound of this guitar. The notes are bright and clean. I fell in love with this thing as soon as I plugged It into the amp in the demo room. It is super light and just looks beautiful. So excited to play this guitar for years to come. Highly recommend.BRANDON

Chitarra veramente bellissima, ottime finiture è un suono bellissimo, bilanciato. Solo un piccolo aggiustamento all’action perché un po’ alta, un quarto di giro al Truss rod con chiave esagonale. Grazie a StrumentiMusicali.netLuca Armenia

The change of richlite to wood for the neck, fretboard and bridge made a huge change to the sound of this guitar. Much more sustain. The guitar sounds and plays great!Dean

I have not stopped playing this sucker. Thought it was delivered next week but it came a couple days ago. This will be my church guitar. A Fender Hellcat is not a church guitar lol! Technically, this is my second Martin. I have the backpacker and it has been played to death but still holding up. I opted for any "600$ Martin" and this kept coming up. I am happy with this guitar regardless of the lack of research I did for it. Now that it is in my hands I can judge it more thoughtfully. The feel of the guitar is something I've never had before with any other guitar. I wanted Martin for this reason. I just didn't know how much "feel" there was to a well-crafted instrument. Again, I am happy happy happy and blessed!Kris w/a K

I play at some parties, but mostly recording in a small home studio. This guitar has a very nice deep and rich sound – great for full chords to back up vocal(s). Despite its description as an environmentally adaptable guitar, the neck compressed slightly when kept it in a colder room of the house, exposing undressed fret ends which were very sharp. More like what you might expect from a $100 guitar. Additionally, the action on higher frets began to get higher within the first couple of months. Martin does not include a truss rod wrench with the guitar! Had to order one. Altogether, great sound, but sub-par quality for a Martin. Still would recommend the guitar, just for the sound.Tom R

I've had an alvarez for the past 15 years that has served me well, however the frets are pretty much worn down to the point they were in need of replacing. I decided to just get a new guitar and retire the old guy, went to GC and tried a few acoustics and ultimately settled, so I thought, on another new alvarez. As I was walking out of the room I saw the Martin and it was within $40 of the alvarez and I figured, what the heck I'll just give it a quick play. I couldn't believe how great this thing sounds for being composed mostly of paper and wood scraps. It's not a perfect comparison to a high end Martin, but it definitely comes close. It is bright, clear and still punchy on the lower notes with very good sustain. I immediately put the alvarez back and took this guy home with me. I couldn't find much online about this exact model, it doesn't even show up on the Martin website. However from what I can tell it's the same as any other all HPL body Martin's with a different color wood grain. The wood grain pattern has no effect on tone with the all HPL versions so it's really just cosmetically what you like. Up close you can absolutely tell this isn't real wood (except for the headstock, and even the fret board is passable as real wood). And it actually started to make me wonder if I should return this and get the all wood Alvarez. Upon further thinking I decided it was a stupid and superficial thing to care about. This guitar played better and sounded better than any of the real wood instruments in it's price range. Build quality is great. No sharp fret ends, no glue on the body, no cracks or dents. I tuned this once so far. On the way home from GC in the back seat of my vehicle. It's now been 3 days since then and the tuning has held which is shocking. I never thought I'd like a fake wood instrument, but time makes fools of us all and martin can apparently build a fantastic guitar out of paper.Luke

Great for outdoor venues and places I wouldn't want to take a more expensive instrument due to weather and other risks. Still feels and plays like my other Martin guitars so easy to transition between with little to no adjustment necessary. Surprisingly good sound and looks good, too. Fit and finish is very good with no sharp fret ends and good factory setup. I'd recommend this model to anyone looking to buy a quality guitar that won't break the bank.Thomas

Martin is such a unique American company. This is a great model for a lot of reasons. It's very affordable and instantly familiar in feel to those familiar with the brand. Yes you can spend more but this is a great starting point and it's like a lot of Martins – something you can keep your entire life. I got my first Martin 44 years ago and I still have it. This is kind of an entry level model but it's still beautiful, great sounding and unmistakably a Martin. The gig bag is extremely nice. The finish is flawless and my only thing is I usually play 11's for strings; this comes with 12's. The bridge has a lot of room to lower the action but it plays fine out of the box. I've heard some come with black pick guards and some with tortoise shell – mine has tortoise shell. The tuners are top notch and the electronics are excellent, but it doesn't have a tuner. The volume and tone knobs are cleverly on the inside of the top of the sound hole. Unlike Ovations, that don't sound great until you plug them in, this guitar sounds very very good acoustically. I know that more expensive Martins sound better, but this is a great sounding model regardless.Bryan

I play on my church worship team. I really like the rich tone of the guitar. I like that it stays in tune, easy action for playing up and down the fret board. It does not have an electronic tuner, so you need an external tuner.Lor

Great for outdoor venues and places I wouldn't want to take a more expensive instrument due to weather and other risks. Still feels and plays like my other Martin guitars so easy to transition between with little to no adjustment necessary. Surprisingly good sound and looks good, too. Fit and finish is very good with no sharp fret ends and good factory setup. I'd recommend this model to anyone looking to buy a quality guitar that won't break the bank.Thomas

Martin is such a unique American company. This is a great model for a lot of reasons. It's very affordable and instantly familiar in feel to those familiar with the brand. Yes you can spend more but this is a great starting point and it's like a lot of Martins – something you can keep your entire life. I got my first Martin 44 years ago and I still have it. This is kind of an entry level model but it's still beautiful, great sounding and unmistakably a Martin. The gig bag is extremely nice. The finish is flawless and my only thing is I usually play 11's for strings; this comes with 12's. The bridge has a lot of room to lower the action but it plays fine out of the box. I've heard some come with black pick guards and some with tortoise shell – mine has tortoise shell. The tuners are top notch and the electronics are excellent, but it doesn't have a tuner. The volume and tone knobs are cleverly on the inside of the top of the sound hole. Unlike Ovations, that don't sound great until you plug them in, this guitar sounds very very good acoustically. I know that more expensive Martins sound better, but this is a great sounding model regardless.Bryan

I play on my church worship team. I really like the rich tone of the guitar. I like that it stays in tune, easy action for playing up and down the fret board. It does not have an electronic tuner, so you need an external tuner.Lor

I am a petite female and love the size of this Martin Little! I had considered purchasing a baritone ukulele with 6 strings because I wanted a very small body. The Little is larger than a baritone uke but is still within the range of PERFECT and came with an acoustic/electric option so I can jam! I have larger guitars but this little gem is easy to travel with and durable with great sound! I purchased a tuner cause the pick up didn't come with one. Absolutely love the colors on the neck! So happy with my purchase!Chelley

I have had my Little Martin for a couple of years at this point and of the four guitars I own, this is the one that gets played the most. This is because due to the small size and very stable construction materials and techniques, it is always near by, ready to pick up and play at a moments notice. While I keep more expensive and delicate guitars in their hard cases with humidifiers to maintain homeostasis as much as possible, the Little Martin is quite at home on a Jamstand next to my desk. I do keep a Planet Waves humidifier between the strings, even when the LM is on the stand because I live in the NE USA where the winter air in my home is very dry due to forced hot air heating. Since the body of the guitar is the High Pressure Laminate (HPL), it appears to me unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity, but I have found that without the humidifier, the bracing seems to dry out more and the sound can become a little 'pingy'. In fact this was my first impression when I picked it up at the local GC after ordering online. If I had not been able to play one in-store previously, I would have been disappointed with the tone and probably returned it. Instead I put on a new set of strings and put the humidifier between the strings and kept it in the quality Martin gig bag that came with it. Within a week it was sounding much better, more like the one that I tried in-store previously. Since the GC stores have good humidity levels in the acoustic rooms, this is a good way to try out a new guitar (after making sure it is in tune). The only reason that I ordered online to pickup in store was that when I was ready to buy, my local GC did not have it in stock at the time.Ron the eternal guitar novice

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: I am barely into my third year playing guitar. I progressed from a Yamaha FG800 to an Epiphone Masterbilt DR500 MCE. I always wanted a Martin but I can't drop the coin for the D-18 or the D-28 that I really want, so I bought this without seeing or hearing it. I was honestly worried that a guitar with HPL back and sides could hang with an all solid wood guitar. Bad weather and the Pandemic slowed delivery down to four days via Fedex, but it is what it is. The first half hour of playing I was really wondering if I was going to like it. It took a little time to get used to that booming bottom end. But once I did, I learned to modulate it where necessary. And it plays so much smoother than my Epiphone. I am looking forward to playing with a friend who has a D-28 this summer to just compare them. Listen, I know this a made in Mexico Martin. And purists might turn their nose up. But play one and see, if like me, you think this is an amazing guitar at this price point. Heck. Now I don't know why I should keep the Epiphone. Call me a believer. The only thing i would ask Martin to do is add a nice white or black binding on this to protect the top and add a liitle flair. Heading to the Martin Website to get me a sticker for the mancave and a nice Martin ballcap. Love it.Blair

I had played this Martin D-41 some 25 years ago and was just amazed at the tonal quality and punch this artful guitar produced. Not to mention it was the most beautiful acoustic I'd ever seen. I have played several different brands and models since and nothing quite reached the level of that D-41. I longed for that guitar all those 25 years until last year. Went to my local Guitar Center and they were out of them. I ordered one and a week later it arrived. Took it out of the box and and a crowd of guitar techs gathered over her. Breathtaking look about this guitar. I was sent into a private room and played for 45 minutes just amazed at what she sounded like. The setup was very close to what I'd preferred and will never regret the expenditure for a long time dream guitar. Named her Deena!Tim

I just got my martin d16 gt from guitar center. It's used. I looked up the serial number and it was built in 2000. I was surprised that it was a 22 year old guitar. It's in remarkably good shape for something that close to being an antique.

To be fair, it looks used. There are pick scratches all over the front. A few dings…but that's because the previous owner played it…because it's an out standing instrument. The sound is phenomenal and it plays great. It still looks great even with the cosmetic imperfections.

There is very little fret wear. That was surprising considering it's age. Maybe it's been crowned? Hard to say.

It was a little boxy sounding when I took it out of the box, but it loosened up fast. I could literally hear it opening up as I played it on the first day (I played it a LOT that day).

Phenomenal guitar. Worth every penny, maybe more. Highly suggestRobert Kuhn

Plays really nicely when not plugged in. I've not plugged it in much yet though, so I don't know how much if feeds back.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo

Better than you can even imagine. It's like Johnny Cash gave it to you himself, created it for your own needs. The guitar lays on your hands smoothly and presents you with a very warm and deep sound. It listens to your fingers carefully and even a slight touch could create a new vibration that touches your heart and souls of your audience. The Macassar wood is very unique and pleasant for playing. This guitar is a good choice for professionals, semi-professional, and for the present! If you choose that guitar, believe me, you will never be disappointed.Aliaksandr

I have played various other acoustic guitar, but this Martin X Series remains my go-to. Provides a great feel and sound that I find myself playing this guitar everyday. This MIM series has proven itself exceeding in quality and sound. Definitely a great deal for the price. The included gig bag is of good quality and a great item that's included.Jorge

I know this is an inexpensive Martin guitar but I’m not happy with this purchase. The guitar sounds good but the fret buzz around the 12 th fret is ridiculous. I even kept the guitar in the box so it could adjust to the environment but that didn’t help. Now I have to take to someone who can hopefully get rid of the buzz which will cost time and money. Usually have a great experience with AMS but this guitar is a big disappointment. Gotta play my cheap Fender at the next gig.Jason

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: I'm 62 years old and have been playing for 50 years . Unfortunately I had to stop playing for the last 2 due to wrist pain which was from excessive playing, which needed time to heal and made me sell all of my gear . So last week, I decided it was time to get back into it and decided to just go with acoustic and I have always wanted a Martin but, did not have the big bucks for for a USA made one. So after researching, I decided on this one and am glad that I made the purchase . Even though it's all HPL with a stratabond neck, the tone from this is all 100% Martin .It stays in tune forever and the added gig bag is extremely well made along with being a huge plus . My only gripe was that the action is a bit high but, sanding down the saddle a bit took care of that, and I also ordered a truss wrench from Martin's site as well, so problem solved. The Black Satin Finish is beautiful and means that I won't have to spend any coin on polish or lemon oil for the neck as well , thanks to the stratabond neck. These made in Mexico X series are a great deal for the guitarist like myself who is on a limited budget who has always wanted a Martin.Jeffrey

I love this guitar. Im just a mid-level guitar player on a bit of budget and this has been the perfect guitar for me. I wanted something different and I like that all the hardware is blacked out. It sounds great! Even my girlfriend who is not a musician could tell how nice it sounds. I also like that its made in Mexico and not over seas. The soft carry case is great to with a big pocket for sheet music and a small pocket to hold guitar picks. Musicians Friend was great with delivery and it came right on time in perfect condition. Just be aware that the black finish on the body is a very flat black (it looks more satin or even shiny in a few of the online photos). I recommend this guitar to anybody looking in this price range.joelster1975