As a retired 'soundman' (and I prefer that name as opposed to the more grand sounding sound engineer), I have found that sound is very subjective, in concert audio systems and in guitars. I have travelled the world producing live sound for many top artists with a variety of different cheap to expensive instruments. It was my job to make them all sound as pleasing and as good as possible. In this video I actually prefer the brighter sound of the cheaper guitar for my own personal use and it being better to add into a mix with other instruments. Many will prefer the more mellow tones of the more expensive one. Both sound great and it is your personal choice. Do I think the most expensive is worth 10 times more...definitely not. In a live sound mix or studio I could make either sound great, the same or entirely different. I think there may be a playability difference but that would be personal again and of course there is pride in ownership for some with all the fancy inlays etc. of the more expensive guitar which may persuade some. However do not be fooled by the most expensive or the most complex being the best because often it isn't.
Oh for sure you’re right. The more expensive one is much more complex. I would imagine a “flatter” or less complex would suit a modern mix better and be easier to work with. The 42 however: would sound great accompanying a voice or in a simple context where it could really add some depth to the soundstage. Really interesting to hear the differences.
That's a very good point. An instrument with less dynamic range (in terms of both volume and frequencies generated) will be easier to set up for both recording and amplification.
My dad bought a Martin New Yorker for around $200 in 1959 when I was 13 and had proved I loved to play guitar on the Stella it replaced. Loved it even after someone fell on it at Ocean Beach and had to have it completely repaired in 1972. It was stolen from the trunk of my car in 1992. Still Miss it
I'm a retired musician, life time Martin player. Price is more about woods, craftmanship, appointments rather than the more you spend the better a guitar sounds. My favorite guitar is not my most expensive, a first year OM-18 Authentic. I have others 3-5 times the price, I don't expect them to be 3-5 time better. My lifetime experience is different tone woods for a variety of voices. I have 3 OM's with 6 different woods (OM-18 Authentic Adi/Mahogany, Custom Shop OM-28 Alpine/Madagascar, 2005 OM-45 Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood w/alternate torch). 50 years of playing and 37 Martins has shown me personally that different tone woods in different body sizes gives a wonderful variety. Don't get hung up on just rosewood, or just mahogany, try tweener woods like Koa/Tasmanian Blackwood. FWIW my high enders were not closet queens, they went on gigs, carefully monitored, and I never had a problem, "play your best to sound your best".......
I picked up a D42 and strummed one chord. I’m sure my jaw dropped when I heard the wonderful tone and resonance I then pu it back on the wall. I couldn’t afford $6995 and I already had a $4200 Taylor. Once you have heard and felt the D42 or 00042 you will be plagued by the desire to own one even if you only play that one chord after you have it. Thanks Cooper.
I bought a £130 guitar when I first started, I handed it to my guitar tutor and it sounded amazing. I believe, a £500 guitar can sound like a £5000 in the right hands.
Ive been doing this a while and no, not even close. A trained guitarist will definitely make any guitar sound great but a high end guitar is a completely different instrument to a 130 guitar. That being said, you shouldn't be learning on a high end guitar. Think of the expensive stuff as something you must earn through mastering guitar with the lower cost pieces.
@@acedia4453 Having the good fortune to start out on a Martin D-18 didn't hurt me one bit. I hadn't played guitar in 30 years when I bought my D-18, but way back then my guitar was a cheap entry-level acoustic and I never progressed beyond strumming a few cowboy chords which I'd long forgotten, so I was effectively restarting guitar from ground zero with the D-18. The biggest advantage of having a guitar of the acoustic quality of the D18 (properly set up) from the get-go is how richly it facilitates and rewards advancing skill - the instrument is never an obstacle to improvement. I like that the D18 has a bling-free understated appearance; you are paying for the quality of materials and workmanship that contribute to the D18's sonic qualities, e.g. nitrocellulose finish. A KEY sonic difference to my ear between the sound of most of Martin's less-expensive lines (made in their Mexican facility) and their flagship lines made in Pa - is that the lower-end Martins have that over-bright sound that's nearly indistinguishable from the tinny (to my ear) characteristic tone of Taylors (I have a Taylor 110e as my backup acoustic) - and the warm resonance of the D18s and up. The D18 is simply far more fun to play than the Taylor 110e.
Martin guitars, to me, have always sounded well balanced with crisp, clear overtones. But, from the first chord on the expensive Martin I heard the mid tones project with a brilliance that I could not believe. Without hearing it live I still believe it may be one of the most beautiful sounding guitars I have ever heard. The less expensive Martin sounded muted an dull by comparison although still with a good Martin sound.
I actually had purchased one of those less expensive one on line, but I sold it right away because it sounded cheap. I bought 000-15 Streetmaster instead, and I was finally satisfied.
For a working musician it comes down to this "for me". I have both. For gigs (when we could actually play clubs w "people") played the way less expensive one. For home and studio played the nice one. You don't want a 5 or 6 K guitar at a beer joint and they play and sound just great. Np. Plus, the biggest thing for me is I can relax on breaks not worrying about a 6K guitar as I go to bathroom or outside for some musicians cologne.....
Now when youre talking cheap are you talking under a grand? I would take my 2k gibson so a gig instead of settling for a low end for performance. I want my nice guitars to be heard not just played at home
I bought a Martin D10e to upgrade my cheap used Yamaha I had been learning on. I absolutely love it. It’s a solid wood Martin dreadnaught for under $1000. You can't beat that.
I have been playing for 49 years, and it took a long time before I got to own high-end Martin Guitars. Both of the guitars you demo here sound good, but the 000-42 definitely has a warmer sound to it - a depth that is not reached with the 000-X1. The low end projects out more and is more in balance with the higher notes. And the sustain is fuller for a longer time. I have a Martin J12-40, a D12-35 with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, a D-41, and a D12-41 with Adirondack top. All of them are top of the line for Martin. But I would not take one of them camping. The 000-X1 would be great for camping and still get a great sound while playing around an evening fire.
@@michaelmendillo7513 "Definitely a difference,,,," - BUT perhaps those two guitars compared may have different quality and gauge strings installed from their different factories. I put more expensive (12-54) strings on my very cheap guitar that came with 10-48 cheap strings and there is also "Definitely a difference,,,," too especially the bass and sustain. Then I change my pick to thinner ones and I get nice high frequency out of the thinker strings too. Online comparison may be misleading?
The 42 had a more full bodied sound for lack of a better way to describe it. the x1 had a certain constraint to it. But each sounds good in it's own way. I would probably eq each one to it's own voice so to speak, but I assume you recorded them both with the same setting. Only way to get a fair comparison of how each sounds unadorned so to speak.
Clearly the expensive one has a brighter sound and has a bit more “echo” on the sounds and the “cheap” one sounds deeper and personally I prefer deeper sounds over the brighter sounds tho the echo on the other one sounds cool but I stick to the 000X1 plus no gloss is 🔥
I normally prefer the sound of the high-end Martins, but in this case I actually prefer the cheaper one. It just sounds better to me. And now I'm really perplexed.
@@gregoryschleitwiler9601 The older guitars I agree fair enough but the way guitars are made and mass produced today all you are paying for is the name, especially with these budget Martins. I have a faith Venus acoustic guitar that I bought for 400 bucks 2 years ago. I’ve played Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. Sound wise my guitar competes with the big brand’s that are 10 times the price.
I prefer the $6,000, but my 64 year old fingers only have about $600 worth of life left in them. The X series sounds great-tho not as great as the TPL0 42.
Harry Nicholas Absolutely Harry!!!! My xxx 1AE is by far the best sounding guitar I have owned. My 64 yo deaf ears have been looking for a long time. 45 years and at least 25 different guitars.
I've seen people pick up a sub-$600 dollar guitar and get $6000 dollars worth of sound out of it. If you let me play a $6000 dollar guitar it'd probably sound like six bucks 😁.
The gain is actual, but it is not a straight line. The sonic benefit gets incrementally less as the price goes up. At a certain point, you begin paying for things other that sound and more for perceived value of exotic woods and bling.
@@JustinSmith-hr6qg Sure. Order a quality Martin without the bling for half the asking price of the piece of art above. I have an HD-28 and I play it all the time. I use it for my job. A straight up HD-28 costs $3,199.00 retail. You can possibly get a better deal from a music store. I got mine for $2500. Still a lot of bread. But it's a lot less expensive than a custom version HD-28 with all the trimmings at $4,499.00. In my opinion, it's worth it to play a quality instrument. They are also easier to play IMHO.
Good comparison video. Way to tell it like it is. I worked for Martin back in the 80's at "Woodworkers Dream". It was in the old plant on north street. Dick Boak was my boss at the time. I assisted customers and Martin repair centers in ordering parts for repair and spec's for all the Martins. I say all that to say this, the triangle on the back of the headstock is their for looks and to mimic the old Stauffer guitar that Martin made when they first started. You see the wood they could purchase was much to thin to make a "one piece neck" so they pieced together the neck from three pieces. The headstock triangle was a dovetail joint of sorts. It allowed the neck to be attacked to the headstock. Since the guitar was strung with gut strings there wasn't the strong pull on the headstock to cause issue. Many of Martin guitars still carry that triangle like the D28 but the D35 does not. So yes it adds strength to the area but it's more for cosmetics than anything. Side note when I worked at Martin a employee D28 guitar was 600 dollars. That's how they have grown in value. Wish I took them up on the offer and bought a few back then. I'd be the richer man for having done so. I would say what a great company to work for. They treat everyone like family still to this day. It was a time in my life I'll never forget.
I had no idea Martin was copying Stauffer. Thinking about some day looking around for a nice Stauffer copy. Good to hear that Martin is a good boss. Was a little sad (but not surprised) when they moved some of their production out of the country.
Staffer was what Fredrick Martin guitars were named in 1833. To copy a guitar they made was only to pass on something they thought was signature of their name. The "volute" as it was called must have been that signature.
I've been player guitars since 1957, with a Sears Silvertone F-hole with bridge adjuster, a Martin folk in 1960, an electric Guild Starfire 1967, a Ymaha FG-50 classical, a F-800 acoustic (2021)...my verdict on this: The least expensive guitar beats the expensive guitar handsdown.
I owned one of the x series for a bit. Fantastic guitars.. I sold it to a friend that wanted a good acoustic and it allowed me to upgrade. If you only have 600 to spend versus 6k then it is a no brainer. A wonderful guitar for the price.
Yes, I agree there's a difference in the tonal quality of each guitar. The more expensive one has a lighter overall precise sound while the less expensive one has a deeper flat sound that more, or less resonates along with each chord as you play it. To me it's like the difference between mono and stereo. Both are excellent instruments.
I'd be so paranoid about every little nick and scratch on the ultra high end instrument that it would completely take the enjoyment out of playing guitar. Isn't that the whole reason we pick them up to begin with?
The day I got my OM-45TB ($14K MSRP in 2005) I was the opening act at a Dallas Songwriters event and asked to do the sound check. The sound tech accidentally hit my guitar (small ding) setting up microphones. He was really upset and knew it was a brand new very expensive Martin, and started apologizing. I said it was an accident, the world wouldn't end, and we ended up having drinks after the show. Guitars, IMHO, cheap or very expensive are meant to be played. At least with my player friends, we had no "closet/case queens", we played our best to sound our best, but to each their own.............
@@rmyAddison this begs the question, what is the point of such expensive instruments in the first place? Never handled one so I don't know if it feels all that better but the sound isn't worth the price
Originally felt that about my Lowden (Irish) but 35 years later it is beat to hell and still sounds beautiful (very Irish compared with Martin's classic Americana)
I have an OM 28, love it to death, I play daily and acoustic is my go-to. I do take a better care of it than say my Stratocaster, but guitars are meant to be played. I don't sweat it in a manner that keeps me from enjoying using it, and I don't worry too much if I can't help sweating when I'm playing it. I love how an acoustic instrument moves with humidity changes. My electric axes also feel entirely alive, the Martin is a whole different category.
In a quick an easy way to narrow it down. The 000-42 has a fuller Warner sound with more frequencies in the bass. The 000-X1 has less bass. Both guitars high end sounded exactly the same. Both guitars sounds extremely amazing.
Martin have been around such a long time that they have perfected a regime of design,tonewood selection and construction that works well no matter the price point. I may sound like an advert which I'm not,but currently owning four at different price points I am an advocate.By virtue of the above,Martin can produce a consistent sound through all of their instruments which has become known as the "Martin sound."All guitars have a different voice depending on size and wood selection,Martin have the skills to minimize that difference..................
I didn't know Ashton Kutcher knew so much about guitars! Seriously though, nice comparison video. I love when someone does this and plays the same chord/lead riffs for each instrument in comparison. Unfortunately a $6k guitar will never be in my budget. Thank you for this video.
I've spent alot of time trying to decipher the difference between high vs low dollar guitars. His playing is incredible on either guitar. But the 000-42 is far superior in tone, sustain, and resonance. If you have the resourses the decision is easy.
I have one of the x series guitars and I love it. It might not be quite as nice as the high end Martins but at around $500 I don’t think you can get a better acoustic for the price. It blows everything else in that price range out of the water
I'd pay to have that abalone shell taken off. Never understood why they decided it brought anything to the instrument. The beauty of the acoustic guitar is in the wood and the craftsmanship.
agreed. I don't want something that feels like an heirloom. I love broken in acoustics so much. For me that means obvious wear and tear from someone who played it a lot. You get any kind of mark on that and you'd cry. No thanks.
Every guitar is worth exactly what you would pay for it. Been playing 50 years. I have old Martins, old Stellas, old Nationals, and a few cheap newer models. Pricier guitars will sound better for many reasons, but, sometimes, a cheap guitar can be very surprising. In the end, it is simply what one prefers.
As a previous owner of the 000-X1, it is the absolute best bang-for-your-buck guitar on the market. The tone, playability, and visual character of the guitar are spectacular for a guitar of that price point (about $600, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a guitar in any budget below $1500.
The 42 is possibly the most beautiful tone I've heard to. The tonal difference is noticeable in comparison, the resonance and the tension felt absolutely dream like. Hands down 42.
I actual prefer the sound of the cheaper model, especially when you played lead and scales. The notes sounded more distinguishable on the cheaper model, whereas the expensive one started to wash out with the more echoey resonance. I just bought the Martin road series and I love it.
The low priced one was more lively whereas the expensive one had more audio depth and restraint ,but was a sleeping tiger sonically. Thanks for your hard work.
I have a Martin DXc1e. Had it for about ten years now. I believe it was Martin's first low budget offering. It is the first and only Martin that I have ever owned and when I first picked it up to play it I instantly recognized that Martin sound. The neck is made out of a resin composite that kind of resembles Heartwood. At first i hated the fact that it was not wood, But! It turns out that the neck is incredibly stable. It is un affected by temp and climate. Awesome!
The switch from the 42 to the X1 was drastic, with the X1 sounding flat in comparison, lacking the overtones and resonance of the 42. On the solo, the 42 nearly had a deep beautiful growl on the low strings. The 42 sound is clearly superior. Yet after the initial shock of the switch from the 42 to the X1, the X1 sounds fantastic the longer you listen to it. In fact, there are times I would prefer the X1 cleaner sound on full open cords rather than the 42’s complex overtones sounding jumbled. I would gladly welcome both Martins in my home!
I listened to it without looking (phone was in my back pocket) and I didn’t hear the announcement of which guitar. Had on decent bt earbuds and I could definitely hear the 000-42. Over all EVEN without highend cans I could hear the difference in the harmonic structure. Everything rang with a different clarity. The HPL isn’t a bad guitar but it’s not close to the 42. That said having a guitar that plays well will make all the difference in the world to beginners and intermediate players... the lower end martins are head and shoulders above most other inexpensive guitars.
I definitely hear a richer tone with the more expensive guitar. I grew up playing my mom’s older 1940’s Martin. I just bought a 000-28 (Eric Clapton edition). I haven’t played in quite a few years and I felt like I needed a really good instrument to inspire me.
Personally I really like the warmth of the “cheaper” guitar. The rosewood definitely bring out a broader spectrum of tones including the crisp high end. However I felt the x1 had a richer bass and mid response.
I have a trip 0 28. Absolutely agree that the 000 28 is perfect. I also don't need the 42 for the abolone shell either. my trip 28 is so beautiful nd has the most beautiful sound. The Indian Rosewood sides and back give it all of the warmth it needs. Great video series man!
I can tell you that I absolutely love my Mexican Martin DX-1 for bringing out to parties or campfires. After a good setup, it's a wonderful players guitar.
Just a side note: The volute, on the headstock of a Martin, is a nod to their past. The headstock and neck used to be two pieces joined together, and the volute was the joint. When they switched over to a one-piece neck, they left the volute there for aesthetic purposes.
A Martin GPC-X2E owner here. I love it and enjoy playing it day in day out :) And even though it has HPL back and sides, I still noticed it sounded better after months of playing, probably its solid top has opened up. Its resonance is beautiful. Would love to have an all-solid Martin one day, maybe an all-solid mahogany, but I am happy with my GPC-X2E.
Great demo man. I’m amazed at these Mexico made guitars. I have some nice standard Martin’s. I love them. But I find myself often picking my south of the border Martin. It’s a great time for owning great sounding guitars. The technology that goes into them is the reason they sound so good. Thanks for the great demo. It’s great that in these hard times most anyone can own a Martin.
So i will make a comment with a single name drop☝️……. In LA back in the late 90’s i would do afternoon sessions with Tim Pierce- we would knock out overdubs on 4-5 tracks in an afternoon and mid way we would grab something to eat and hang……. He knew my father was a guitarist in Vegas in the 50’s and yet i did not have a guitar in my studio - so he took me to guitar center on Ventura in Sherman oaks and played about 10 different acoustics…… including 4 Martin DXM’s which i believe were their new low end line and selling for around $300- he handed me one and said- “this one sounds the best”. Well 25 years later- and many many recordings- it is still one of the best sounding guitars to record- for the same characteristics as the inexpensive one you are playing here- it has a flat naturally compressed sound that while not as full as the more expensive cousin- is a much better choice for layering - a neck mic with a second mic on the body and you get a broad/even signal which allows you to layer in without a ton of eq- pair it with a Pultec and some LA2A compression/limiting- and you have a classic acoustic that can be layered in and spread throughout the track…….. some of those hand made McPhersons (Bruce Gaitsch has one that i believe is 6 figures) are amazing for live environments- but take a bit of work to get them to sit into the track well- i have recorded with Bruce for almost 40 years………. Of course the higher end Martin’s are amazing- but there is something about their entry level lines- that have an even - flat response and in an overdub situation where you are looking for the motion as opposed to the sonic character……. They really work well……. My ,02…….. and apologies for the second name drop ;)
When the guitars are all solid it's completely subjective imo, soundwise not the build quality... I really enjoy all mahogany guitars as an example because I pretty much only play fingerstyle and the bass notes are always there they never get lost while playing they almost feel like the focus when I play I love that.
What was cool, is that I dropped the remote between the cushions of my couch and low and behold, I found $6000 dollars in there. So I went and bought that 000-42. Are you kidding me? Who has that kind of money? I would love that guitar, but I don't think I'll ever have that kind of money to spare. Martin is the best ever made, but I will have to stick to the working man's version. I'll take it. Thanks for the review, amigo. You are very articulate and knowledgeable, even if you are a bit out of touch with working people's budgets. Thanks!
Agreed. I always thought, that Martin is putting out some awesome budget guitars in their X series. I think, at that price point it’s hard to find a better sounding/playing guitar.
I have a handmade Lowden that cost me £1500 about 20 years ago. But I mostly play a Japanese guitar that cost £14 about 50 years ago. Music is about feeling. Hard to put a price on.
It is called "diminishing returns." Not real to expect the 6K guitar to perform 10X better than the 600.00 guitar. The cost to advance past a certain point is not linear,it is exponentially more. The best point was at the end. That would be your statement as to how you can feel the difference. The feature that made me select the D16E was feeling that body vibrate under the strings. Done deal. I don't even need to hear what i am playing to know it is done right. i can feel it through the body and the strings.
What I love about Taylor is the fact even a cheap model sounds good enough next to the expensive one so it always become a matter of style and taste than a matter of what sounds better. Whereas with Martin I always feel I would be better off investing in the more expensive models
I just bought a Martin X Series Special and I honestly thought it sounded better than many of the $2,000 - $4,000 guitars that I tried. Every guitar is different and sometimes you can find a cheap guitar that just sounds and feels incredible.
I bought a $20 bucks Mexican guitar and $10 bucks d’adario classic nylon strings and I enjoyed playing it and taking it to parties or to the beach or friends houses and letting other people to play it was a lot of fun..Then a bought a $500 bucks Ibanez electro acoustic and I was worried about her all the time. Not fun. Pick the right guitar for the right moment.
The previous comment by Jon Williams is so right on. If you have five grand and Desire a "Art" level instrument Go for it. If you are of more Modest means rest assured That Martin and other guitar Makers have you covered. Try a basic guitar with the Basic fishman pickup through A loudbox. It will make you Smile 😊
You will definitely get some sour grapes reviews on this one. Once you have invested in a quality guitar, it’s hard to go back to a base level. That said, when I was 22 years old, I could only afford gas and lunch. I think you could work your way up to a few nice guitars over time and the more you play, the more worthwhile the investment. The first time I strummed a D-42, I was blown away. How can this sound so much better than my D-35, which sounds amazing? Put it on the wish list!
I picked up a used X series dreadnought back in 2006. I walked into the store that day ready to pay as much as $1,500.00 on an instrument, but after playing most of the acoustics in the store, the X series Martin sounded so good and they were selling it for $400.00, so I went with that and it still sounds great today.
The 000-42 sounded warmer and more resonant to me. I kind of felt like you played better on 000-X1 though, maybe because you were more warmed up. They both sound great anyway! Thanks for the cool demo 👍
The difference between the two was rather drastic in my opinion. It fully drove home to me that I do not need or would ever have a use for the expensive guitar because I don't have a need for recording but if I were a professional I would absolutely go for the more expensive guitar but instead I would love the cheaper one so that I could entertain my drunk friends with. Lol
Very fair comparison. Thanks for including a full description of the builds for each guitar. One thing you didn’t mention is cost of ownership. I just bought a 2019 Martin D-18 used for about $2500. I will enjoy it for years and when I-or my family-sell it 10 or 15 years from now I could probably get all of my money back (I admit, in inflated dollars). But I would have enjoyed a very fine guitar for 10 years. So if I can readily pay $2500 I should enjoy the higher priced guitar. It’s just a better way to enjoy life and play an upscale instrument. It’s a personal choice. My cost of ownership is very small. I should mention I am almost 72 yrs old. I won’t be owning my Martin guitar for 55 yrs, as I have owned my 1969 Mosrite combo electric. I am the first and only owner, and the Mosrite is worth about $3k to $4k today. I paid $325 in 1969.
I picked up a Little Martin LX1E last year and absolutely love it. I have a full size DCME that I've had for years too, but I pick up the LX every time now and will probably give the DCME to my nephew since he seems to like it better. The X series are really amazing for the price range, and you don't have a mini heart attack when you accidentally ding it against the coffee table 😂
I had a Martin DX-1 I bought several years ago and got in a tight and had to sell it. Well it caused me to stop playing guitar period. I didn't want to play anything else. Well, in what I could afford. Those cheaper Martin's are fantastic and sound so beautiful. Most definitely worth the price.
Loved the review and obviously the 42 is a better richer sounding guitar, but the x1 is a fantastic guitar for that price. I love the sound the x1 produces and the materials used for the neck and body are extremely durable especially if you play a lot of jams where I would feel uncomfortable bringing a $6k guitar. I think you are getting more for your money with the X1.
We can debate the tonal quality and feel of guitars all day. One thing that cannot be debated is that this guy has the most glorious locks on the internet. ( and decent player as well!)
There is beauty in the simplicity of the the 000x1 as well.....sounds beautiful too! IM in the middle I like my 000-18. ....solid wood.....no bling....just does its job very well......although I could be quite happy with the 000x1
Well, if you have a musical ear, you can surely hear the difference between the cheap guitar and the expensive one. The latter has a richer and fuller sound, with more harmonics and sustain, and it is more balanced : It's got a more bassy low end and crystal clear tops, as well as a more articulate midrange tone, more presence and projection/volume to it. But I tend to think any non-musician will not hear the difference, it is the player that makes 90% of the sound. The difference in the price comes from the wood, the worksmanship, and the fancy appointments like all the abalone inlays and stuff. And mostly from the brand name, the historical model, and the legend behind all that.
Martin makes fantastic instruments, no doubt about it and the 000-42 is amazing but also amazingly priced. In contrast, I was fortunate/lucky enough to buy a 1989 Takamine FP 360-S when they first came out and to this day, the sound is equal to or better than any Martin I've owned or played and honest to God, if you blindfolded me and put a D-28 in my hand I couldn't tell the difference. The Takamine was $939.50 with Parametric EQ. A Martin D-28 was $1,350 with no electronics.
@@herbythechef7624 wish you hadnt said that I just tell myself the difference is purely cosmetic but theres always 2nd hand market some great deals out there if your careful
@@michaelcameron2292 true but if you ask my opinion the cosmetic difference really only starts at over 3 grand. Guitars between 1500-3000 are just better quality instruments than guitars that are less than that. If you see pretty guitars above 3 grand then you are paying for looks. If you are serious about guitar playing just save your money and make sure you buy something thats all wood. Not laminate with a fake wood fretboard like the X series martins
Difficult to get an opinion on sound on a smartphone as the speakers aren't good enough. But as a general rule the 6,000 dollar model will probably sustain better and sound will be about 20% better. The 600 dollar model will be better value dollar for dollar but the more expensive model will always sound better. The best way to get a good guitar cheaply is to buy a second hand one which is already played in or get one from a Taylor road show where Taylor will put their best sounding models on show and you get the benefit of getting a model that is played in as well. You can get a 6,000 dollar model for a lot less that way.
You definitely played the lead guitar licks better on the X Series! Or it could be that I’m biased because I just bought a Martin 000 X Series Special Acoustic-Electric. Lol. Great demo!
I had a 000X1AE model and it was a great guitar. I sold it as I had upgraded to the American Martin OOO-17. However, I'm very partial to the American Martin guitars as they are a huge improvement over the Mexican built models. I'am a firm believer in getting what you pay for in most cases. I say the 42 sounds the best. I also love the OM models too.
Obviously the more expensive guitar with the quality woods, and better workmanship, and setup would be a little better than cheaper guitar. However, the quality of the sound has a lot to do with the person playing the guitar. Therefore, both guitarists sounded damn good to me
The cheap one sounds beautifull in your hands Cooper!! Wich proves as always that the player makes the difference in the first place , then the guiars . IMHO. Thank you for your demos .
I think people should listen to the difference through high-end headphones, there is a big difference in tone between the two. The more expensive has a richer tonal sound but the cheaper guitar isn't too far behind. They both sound great in the right hands and I would be happy with either. Nice job.
I prefer the more rounded tone of the X - it is less tangy than the 42 albeit the 42 looks lovely… the X also sounds warmer - that fireside chill out feeling - nice video my friend👏😊
You have to hear the comparison in person. My old guitar teacher had a wide range of Martin guitars and the difference between his D-15 and his D-45 was the difference between sitting and enjoying as light breeze and being the guy in the old Memorex adds. We used to call his D-45 "The Cannon". Of course the D-45 also had beautiful inlays and exotic wood backing whereas the D-15 was plain looking but still sounded great.
Great comparison! I much preferred the pricey model sound, but they BOTH sound great. Excellent intonation up and down the fretboard for both. My ears heard distinctively more sustain in the 4 figure guitar, as well as something I don’t have a word for but know it when I hear it: “ringy-ness”. Meaning, I could hear more detail in each string and note, very much like the difference in sound you get when you FIRST string a guitar and the strings have that amazing tonal quality for a few days. The “Inexpensive” guitar sounded great and I’d be more than happy to gig with it. It sounded a bit more dry and muffled in comparison to the other. An intangible that only YOU can answer: it appeared to me you were working harder to play the lower end model to get the same results, maybe pressing harder, concentrating harder…. I don’t know. It’s just something I noticed. I can see how a sound guy would prefer it though. The more dry sound is much less likely to feedback and the crispness of the notes during the solo portion of the demo I think edged out the expensive big brother. But the open chords, hands down to our $5k friend!
As a retired 'soundman' (and I prefer that name as opposed to the more grand sounding sound engineer), I have found that sound is very subjective, in concert audio systems and in guitars. I have travelled the world producing live sound for many top artists with a variety of different cheap to expensive instruments. It was my job to make them all sound as pleasing and as good as possible. In this video I actually prefer the brighter sound of the cheaper guitar for my own personal use and it being better to add into a mix with other instruments. Many will prefer the more mellow tones of the more expensive one. Both sound great and it is your personal choice. Do I think the most expensive is worth 10 times more...definitely not. In a live sound mix or studio I could make either sound great, the same or entirely different. I think there may be a playability difference but that would be personal again and of course there is pride in ownership for some with all the fancy inlays etc. of the more expensive guitar which may persuade some. However do not be fooled by the most expensive or the most complex being the best because often it isn't.
Oh for sure you’re right. The more expensive one is much more complex. I would imagine a “flatter” or less complex would suit a modern mix better and be easier to work with. The 42 however: would sound great accompanying a voice or in a simple context where it could really add some depth to the soundstage. Really interesting to hear the differences.
I think the price is more about wood quality, build and finish quality and of course the endurance.
That's a very good point. An instrument with less dynamic range (in terms of both volume and frequencies generated) will be easier to set up for both recording and amplification.
I preferred the crisp and warm sound of the lower end Martin too.
I always thought the best sounding standard series Martin is the cheapest one. (D18)
My dad bought a Martin New Yorker for around $200 in 1959 when I was 13 and had proved I loved to play guitar on the Stella it replaced. Loved it even after someone fell on it at Ocean Beach and had to have it completely repaired in 1972. It was stolen from the trunk of my car in 1992. Still Miss it
AFTER A FEW GLASSES OF WINE EVERYTHING SOUNDS GREAT REGARDLESS OF PRICE
My better half doesn´t, she sounds weird and complains a lot. I am a hugger when I get a few glasses and she hates it, she doesn´t drink much.
NO
Wrong
The more you drink the better I sound.
@@brucemarrs2596 ...and the better she looks.
you know the topic is of importance when jesus himself has to explain it on youtube.
Lmao
As am I
Hehe
😇
They’re both nice Jewish boys!
I'm a retired musician, life time Martin player. Price is more about woods, craftmanship, appointments rather than the more you spend the better a guitar sounds. My favorite guitar is not my most expensive, a first year OM-18 Authentic. I have others 3-5 times the price, I don't expect them to be 3-5 time better. My lifetime experience is different tone woods for a variety of voices. I have 3 OM's with 6 different woods (OM-18 Authentic Adi/Mahogany, Custom Shop OM-28 Alpine/Madagascar, 2005 OM-45 Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood w/alternate torch). 50 years of playing and 37 Martins has shown me personally that different tone woods in different body sizes gives a wonderful variety. Don't get hung up on just rosewood, or just mahogany, try tweener woods like Koa/Tasmanian Blackwood. FWIW my high enders were not closet queens, they went on gigs, carefully monitored, and I never had a problem, "play your best to sound your best".......
😃 Wow! A Man of The People. That OM-18 was $3,000 new.....
🤔
@@lowellcalavera6045 Good luck with your musical journey.
@@rmyAddison Nice demonstration of restraint there! ;-)
Yes, play your best, sound your best. I agree. Ever try Ziricote with Adi? love it.
@@texhaines9957 Adi=Adirondack spruce? I've actually never even heard of zircote. And I see Martin is using it--live and learn!
I picked up a D42 and strummed one chord. I’m sure my jaw dropped when I heard the wonderful tone and resonance I then pu it back on the wall. I couldn’t afford $6995 and I already had a $4200 Taylor. Once you have heard and felt the D42 or 00042 you will be plagued by the desire to own one even if you only play that one chord after you have it. Thanks Cooper.
The trick in guitar store, is walk fast past Martin display, and look the other way.
That's because you are Guitarded! Just like me.
I bought a £130 guitar when I first started, I handed it to my guitar tutor and it sounded amazing. I believe, a £500 guitar can sound like a £5000 in the right hands.
Yes--so much is the player. James Taylor (for example) is recognizable as James Taylor on a Martin or an Olson.
Ive been doing this a while and no, not even close. A trained guitarist will definitely make any guitar sound great but a high end guitar is a completely different instrument to a 130 guitar. That being said, you shouldn't be learning on a high end guitar. Think of the expensive stuff as something you must earn through mastering guitar with the lower cost pieces.
@@StevenBornfeld Jimmy Olson? Super, man!
@@acedia4453 Having the good fortune to start out on a Martin D-18 didn't hurt me one bit. I hadn't played guitar in 30 years when I bought my D-18, but way back then my guitar was a cheap entry-level acoustic and I never progressed beyond strumming a few cowboy chords which I'd long forgotten, so I was effectively restarting guitar from ground zero with the D-18.
The biggest advantage of having a guitar of the acoustic quality of the D18 (properly set up) from the get-go is how richly it facilitates and rewards advancing skill - the instrument is never an obstacle to improvement. I like that the D18 has a bling-free understated appearance; you are paying for the quality of materials and workmanship that contribute to the D18's sonic qualities, e.g. nitrocellulose finish. A KEY sonic difference to my ear between the sound of most of Martin's less-expensive lines (made in their Mexican facility) and their flagship lines made in Pa - is that the lower-end Martins have that over-bright sound that's nearly indistinguishable from the tinny (to my ear) characteristic tone of Taylors (I have a Taylor 110e as my backup acoustic) - and the warm resonance of the D18s and up. The D18 is simply far more fun to play than the Taylor 110e.
Nope!!!
Martin guitars, to me, have always sounded well balanced with crisp, clear overtones. But, from the first chord on the expensive Martin I heard the mid tones project with a brilliance that I could not believe. Without hearing it live I still believe it may be one of the most beautiful sounding guitars I have ever heard. The less expensive Martin sounded muted an dull by comparison although still with a good Martin sound.
I actually had purchased one of those less expensive one on line, but I sold it right away because it sounded cheap. I bought 000-15 Streetmaster instead, and I was finally satisfied.
Martin made a huge mistake when they start building knock-off versions of their own product.
Lol
For a working musician it comes down to this "for me". I have both. For gigs (when we could actually play clubs w "people") played the way less expensive one. For home and studio played the nice one. You don't want a 5 or 6 K guitar at a beer joint and they play and sound just great. Np. Plus, the biggest thing for me is I can relax on breaks not worrying about a 6K guitar as I go to bathroom or outside for some musicians cologne.....
Whats musicians cologne haha ive never heard that before
@@emmanuelserrato7805 legal in several states now aka mary jane
@@steveb9325 I figured haha
That's my take, too.
Now when youre talking cheap are you talking under a grand? I would take my 2k gibson so a gig instead of settling for a low end for performance. I want my nice guitars to be heard not just played at home
I bought a Martin D10e to upgrade my cheap used Yamaha I had been learning on. I absolutely love it. It’s a solid wood Martin dreadnaught for under $1000. You can't beat that.
All of these videos you guys have been putting out the last 6 to 8 months have been awesome.Keep it up!
Agreed.
Agreed!
@@sergi23 ditto
Agree, yes!
I have been playing for 49 years, and it took a long time before I got to own high-end Martin Guitars. Both of the guitars you demo here sound good, but the 000-42 definitely has a warmer sound to it - a depth that is not reached with the 000-X1. The low end projects out more and is more in balance with the higher notes. And the sustain is fuller for a longer time. I have a Martin J12-40, a D12-35 with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, a D-41, and a D12-41 with Adirondack top. All of them are top of the line for Martin. But I would not take one of them camping. The 000-X1 would be great for camping and still get a great sound while playing around an evening fire.
Definitely a difference,,,,
@@michaelmendillo7513 "Definitely a difference,,,," -
BUT perhaps those two guitars compared may have different quality and gauge strings installed from their different factories.
I put more expensive (12-54) strings on my very cheap guitar that came with 10-48 cheap strings and there is also "Definitely a difference,,,," too especially the bass and sustain.
Then I change my pick to thinner ones and I get nice high frequency out of the thinker strings too.
Online comparison may be misleading?
I agree with your analysis absolutely.
Lol. You read too many forums.
6:32 vs 7:59
6:59 vs 8:30
7:26 vs 8:57
appreciate it:))
Thank you !
The 42 had a more full bodied sound for lack of a better way to describe it. the x1 had a certain constraint to it. But each sounds good in it's own way. I would probably eq each one to it's own voice so to speak, but I assume you recorded them both with the same setting. Only way to get a fair comparison of how each sounds unadorned so to speak.
Clearly the expensive one has a brighter sound and has a bit more “echo” on the sounds and the “cheap” one sounds deeper and personally I prefer deeper sounds over the brighter sounds tho the echo on the other one sounds cool but I stick to the 000X1 plus no gloss is 🔥
I think the gloss finish really diminishes the sound of raw spruce.
The expensive 42 will open up and dry out and be a monster
I normally prefer the sound of the high-end Martins, but in this case I actually prefer the cheaper one. It just sounds better to me. And now I'm really perplexed.
My opinion just go for a high end Sigma. It'll look the part and it'll probably cost less than the bare bones Martin
@@lukekelly4360 Martin will last forever and sound better over time. PERIOD
@@gregoryschleitwiler9601 Anything can last forever as long as you look after it.
@@lukekelly4360 my 00018 is 50 years old and looks like Willie Nelson's as far as being beat up. Aesthetics has nothing to do with the sound.
@@gregoryschleitwiler9601 The older guitars I agree fair enough but the way guitars are made and mass produced today all you are paying for is the name, especially with these budget Martins. I have a faith Venus acoustic guitar that I bought for 400 bucks 2 years ago. I’ve played Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. Sound wise my guitar competes with the big brand’s that are 10 times the price.
I prefer the $6,000, but my 64 year old fingers only have about $600 worth of life left in them. The X series sounds great-tho not as great as the TPL0 42.
i have a OOOX1 it's the best of the 50 or so guitars I've owned, including my 66 j45 and 69 epiphone texan....
Harry Nicholas
Absolutely Harry!!!!
My xxx 1AE is by far the best sounding
guitar I have owned. My 64 yo deaf ears have been looking for a long time.
45 years and at least 25 different guitars.
I hear you my 67 year fingers would be happy with either one☺️
still young.
I've seen people pick up a sub-$600 dollar guitar and get $6000 dollars worth of sound out of it. If you let me play a $6000 dollar guitar it'd probably sound like six bucks 😁.
The gain is actual, but it is not a straight line. The sonic benefit gets incrementally less as the price goes up. At a certain point, you begin paying for things other that sound and more for perceived value of exotic woods and bling.
and the fact it will hold or go up in value and........... snob value...which of course you can never put a price on!!! :)
Is there a sweet spot model in regards to Martins?
@@JustinSmith-hr6qg Sure. Order a quality Martin without the bling for half the asking price of the piece of art above. I have an HD-28 and I play it all the time. I use it for my job. A straight up HD-28 costs $3,199.00 retail. You can possibly get a better deal from a music store. I got mine for $2500. Still a lot of bread. But it's a lot less expensive than a custom version HD-28 with all the trimmings at $4,499.00. In my opinion, it's worth it to play a quality instrument. They are also easier to play IMHO.
@@timlarson9033 Thanks for the response!
Good comparison video. Way to tell it like it is. I worked for Martin back in the 80's at "Woodworkers Dream". It was in the old plant on north street. Dick Boak was my boss at the time. I assisted customers and Martin repair centers in ordering parts for repair and spec's for all the Martins. I say all that to say this, the triangle on the back of the headstock is their for looks and to mimic the old Stauffer guitar that Martin made when they first started. You see the wood they could purchase was much to thin to make a "one piece neck" so they pieced together the neck from three pieces. The headstock triangle was a dovetail joint of sorts. It allowed the neck to be attacked to the headstock. Since the guitar was strung with gut strings there wasn't the strong pull on the headstock to cause issue. Many of Martin guitars still carry that triangle like the D28 but the D35 does not. So yes it adds strength to the area but it's more for cosmetics than anything.
Side note when I worked at Martin a employee D28 guitar was 600 dollars. That's how they have grown in value. Wish I took them up on the offer and bought a few back then. I'd be the richer man for having done so. I would say what a great company to work for. They treat everyone like family still to this day. It was a time in my life I'll never forget.
I had no idea Martin was copying Stauffer. Thinking about some day looking around for a nice Stauffer copy. Good to hear that Martin is a good boss. Was a little sad (but not surprised) when they moved some of their production out of the country.
Staffer was what Fredrick Martin guitars were named in 1833. To copy a guitar they made was only to pass on something they thought was signature of their name. The "volute" as it was called must have been that signature.
@@edsautter51 What, on the headstock?
@@StevenBornfeld the volute is as they call it the diamond on the back of the headstock.
@@edsautter51 Thanks!
I've been player guitars since 1957, with a Sears Silvertone F-hole with bridge adjuster, a Martin folk in 1960, an electric Guild Starfire 1967, a Ymaha FG-50 classical, a F-800 acoustic (2021)...my verdict on this: The least expensive guitar beats the expensive guitar handsdown.
I owned one of the x series for a bit. Fantastic guitars.. I sold it to a friend that wanted a good acoustic and it allowed me to upgrade. If you only have 600 to spend versus 6k then it is a no brainer. A wonderful guitar for the price.
Yes, I agree there's a difference in the tonal quality of each guitar. The more expensive one has a lighter overall precise sound while the less expensive one has a deeper flat sound that more, or less resonates along with each chord as you play it. To me it's like the difference between mono and stereo. Both are excellent instruments.
I'd be so paranoid about every little nick and scratch on the ultra high end instrument that it would completely take the enjoyment out of playing guitar. Isn't that the whole reason we pick them up to begin with?
The day I got my OM-45TB ($14K MSRP in 2005) I was the opening act at a Dallas Songwriters event and asked to do the sound check. The sound tech accidentally hit my guitar (small ding) setting up microphones. He was really upset and knew it was a brand new very expensive Martin, and started apologizing. I said it was an accident, the world wouldn't end, and we ended up having drinks after the show. Guitars, IMHO, cheap or very expensive are meant to be played. At least with my player friends, we had no "closet/case queens", we played our best to sound our best, but to each their own.............
@@rmyAddison this begs the question, what is the point of such expensive instruments in the first place? Never handled one so I don't know if it feels all that better but the sound isn't worth the price
@@user-ib8ky6eo4f The hell it isn't.
Originally felt that about my Lowden (Irish) but 35 years later it is beat to hell and still sounds beautiful (very Irish compared with Martin's classic Americana)
I have an OM 28, love it to death, I play daily and acoustic is my go-to. I do take a better care of it than say my Stratocaster, but guitars are meant to be played. I don't sweat it in a manner that keeps me from enjoying using it, and I don't worry too much if I can't help sweating when I'm playing it.
I love how an acoustic instrument moves with humidity changes. My electric axes also feel entirely alive, the Martin is a whole different category.
In a quick an easy way to narrow it down. The 000-42 has a fuller Warner sound with more frequencies in the bass. The 000-X1 has less bass. Both guitars high end sounded exactly the same. Both guitars sounds extremely amazing.
Martin have been around such a long time that they have perfected a regime of design,tonewood selection and construction that works well no matter the price point.
I may sound like an advert which I'm not,but currently owning four at different price points I am an advocate.By virtue of the above,Martin can produce a consistent sound through all of their instruments which has become known as the "Martin sound."All guitars have a different voice depending on size and wood selection,Martin have the skills to minimize that difference..................
I own 2 martins, which i could play as good as the quality they have. lol. D76 and a D28 150th anniversary
I do find that they are more consistent than (for example) Gibson flat tops
I didn't know Ashton Kutcher knew so much about guitars! Seriously though, nice comparison video. I love when someone does this and plays the same chord/lead riffs for each instrument in comparison. Unfortunately a $6k guitar will never be in my budget. Thank you for this video.
Both sound great but honestly the more expensive one sounds so much better the highs really ring out brighter and the tone all together
It does't sound 10 times better ; it sounds a thousand times better.
I've spent alot of time trying to decipher the difference between high vs low dollar guitars. His playing is incredible on either guitar. But the 000-42 is far superior in tone, sustain, and resonance. If you have the resourses the decision is easy.
The difference was there but not as noticeable as I anticipated. I’m a 000 fan and I love the 42, but there’s no reason to be disappointed with the X.
I have one of the x series guitars and I love it. It might not be quite as nice as the high end Martins but at around $500 I don’t think you can get a better acoustic for the price. It blows everything else in that price range out of the water
I have always liked the sound they put out. Great guitars for the price!
I have a dx1 and i agree, they sound great. I am looking to upgrade to an all wood but i am satisfied with what i have for now.
I have an X and it is pretty good. Don't count out Seagull guitars at 500-600
I'd pay to have that abalone shell taken off. Never understood why they decided it brought anything to the instrument. The beauty of the acoustic guitar is in the wood and the craftsmanship.
Agree
agreed. I don't want something that feels like an heirloom. I love broken in acoustics so much. For me that means obvious wear and tear from someone who played it a lot. You get any kind of mark on that and you'd cry. No thanks.
with you on your abalone take. They can loose that finger print magnate high gloss finish too.
I agree. I really don’t like all those embellishments on the high end one.
Spot on makes no difference to the sound Excuse to hike the price
Every guitar is worth exactly what you would pay for it. Been playing 50 years. I have old Martins, old Stellas, old Nationals, and a few cheap newer models. Pricier guitars will sound better for many reasons, but, sometimes, a cheap guitar can be very surprising. In the end, it is simply what one prefers.
As a previous owner of the 000-X1, it is the absolute best bang-for-your-buck guitar on the market. The tone, playability, and visual character of the guitar are spectacular for a guitar of that price point (about $600, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a guitar in any budget below $1500.
I personally find the Martin x-series guitars absolutely horrible. But to each their own.
The 42 is possibly the most beautiful tone I've heard to. The tonal difference is noticeable in comparison, the resonance and the tension felt absolutely dream like. Hands down 42.
I actual prefer the sound of the cheaper model, especially when you played lead and scales. The notes sounded more distinguishable on the cheaper model, whereas the expensive one started to wash out with the more echoey resonance. I just bought the Martin road series and I love it.
The Martin Guitar factory is about 4-5 miles from me . Worth the time to do the tour .
Lucky!
Your noodling is much different than my noodling lol... Great demo, young man! I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Love your comparison. Both guitars sound beautiful.
The low priced one was more lively whereas the expensive one had more audio depth and restraint ,but was a sleeping tiger sonically. Thanks for your hard work.
I have a Martin DXc1e. Had it for about ten years now. I believe it was Martin's first low budget offering. It is the first and only Martin that I have ever owned and when I first picked it up to play it I instantly recognized that Martin sound. The neck is made out of a resin composite that kind of resembles Heartwood. At first i hated the fact that it was not wood, But! It turns out that the neck is incredibly stable. It is un affected by temp and climate. Awesome!
The switch from the 42 to the X1 was drastic, with the X1 sounding flat in comparison, lacking the overtones and resonance of the 42. On the solo, the 42 nearly had a deep beautiful growl on the low strings. The 42 sound is clearly superior. Yet after the initial shock of the switch from the 42 to the X1, the X1 sounds fantastic the longer you listen to it. In fact, there are times I would prefer the X1 cleaner sound on full open cords rather than the 42’s complex overtones sounding jumbled. I would gladly welcome both Martins in my home!
I agree. Complex overtones can become just annoying, especially if you are singing with the guitar.
@@bobaldo2339 Yeah you can deaden that with different strings. Different types and brands
I own a 000X1, I am very happy and pleased with the sound
I listened to it without looking (phone was in my back pocket) and I didn’t hear the announcement of which guitar. Had on decent bt earbuds and I could definitely hear the 000-42. Over all EVEN without highend cans I could hear the difference in the harmonic structure. Everything rang with a different clarity. The HPL isn’t a bad guitar but it’s not close to the 42.
That said having a guitar that plays well will make all the difference in the world to beginners and intermediate players... the lower end martins are head and shoulders above most other inexpensive guitars.
I have an '80s X1, it sounds absolutely fantastic. It smells, looks, feels, and plays like it's big brothers.
Same! Love my 80's X1!
Wow, I was surprised that even on my phone I could hear the difference. looking forward to trying it out on a sound system.
I definitely hear a richer tone with the more expensive guitar. I grew up playing my mom’s older 1940’s Martin. I just bought a 000-28 (Eric Clapton edition). I haven’t played in quite a few years and I felt like I needed a really good instrument to inspire me.
The 42 sound deeper and brighter in sound. That being said they are both nice sounding!
Honestly I could instantly hear the difference but the cheaper one still sounds good.
No two guitars sound alike. Maybe similar but just like we have unique fingerprints, guitars never have the exact same tone.
totally agree. I could immediately hear the "tinny-ness" of the new one and the warmth and age of the old one. I could hear it after 3 notes.
Martin really knows how to make their higher end guitars sound considerably nicer, fuller, basically grand.
haha not true... there is really no way to say that the higher end will sound better. In this video the cheaper guitar is far better sounding
@@devinmichaelroberts9954 youre deaf or need to level up your listening abilities
@@brohemian oh jesus your fucking name "broheim" says it all.
@@brohemian I agree. He must have cotton in his ears.
@@brohemian It usually is uncureable.
Personally I really like the warmth of the “cheaper” guitar. The rosewood definitely bring out a broader spectrum of tones including the crisp high end. However I felt the x1 had a richer bass and mid response.
I have a trip 0 28. Absolutely agree that the 000 28 is perfect. I also don't need the 42 for the abolone shell either. my trip 28 is so beautiful nd has the most beautiful sound. The Indian Rosewood sides and back give it all of the warmth it needs. Great video series man!
I can tell you that I absolutely love my Mexican Martin DX-1 for bringing out to parties or campfires. After a good setup, it's a wonderful players guitar.
I was fortunate to find a US made Dx1 years ago. It's one of my favorites. Plays nice, sounds good to me.
Totally agree. Love mine too and dont have to worry about losing 3500 if it gets damages or stollen.
Just a side note: The volute, on the headstock of a Martin, is a nod to their past. The headstock and neck used to be two pieces joined together, and the volute was the joint. When they switched over to a one-piece neck, they left the volute there for aesthetic purposes.
Bingo
A Martin GPC-X2E owner here. I love it and enjoy playing it day in day out :)
And even though it has HPL back and sides, I still noticed it sounded better after months of playing, probably its solid top has opened up. Its resonance is beautiful.
Would love to have an all-solid Martin one day, maybe an all-solid mahogany, but I am happy with my GPC-X2E.
Great demo man. I’m amazed at these Mexico made guitars. I have some nice standard Martin’s. I love them. But I find myself often picking my south of the border Martin. It’s a great time for owning great sounding guitars. The technology that goes into them is the reason they sound so good. Thanks for the great demo. It’s great that in these hard times most anyone can own a Martin.
So i will make a comment with a single name drop☝️……. In LA back in the late 90’s i would do afternoon sessions with Tim Pierce- we would knock out overdubs on 4-5 tracks in an afternoon and mid way we would grab something to eat and hang……. He knew my father was a guitarist in Vegas in the 50’s and yet i did not have a guitar in my studio - so he took me to guitar center on Ventura in Sherman oaks and played about 10 different acoustics…… including 4 Martin DXM’s which i believe were their new low end line and selling for around $300- he handed me one and said- “this one sounds the best”. Well 25 years later- and many many recordings- it is still one of the best sounding guitars to record- for the same characteristics as the inexpensive one you are playing here- it has a flat naturally compressed sound that while not as full as the more expensive cousin- is a much better choice for layering - a neck mic with a second mic on the body and you get a broad/even signal which allows you to layer in without a ton of eq- pair it with a Pultec and some LA2A compression/limiting- and you have a classic acoustic that can be layered in and spread throughout the track…….. some of those hand made McPhersons (Bruce Gaitsch has one that i believe is 6 figures) are amazing for live environments- but take a bit of work to get them to sit into the track well- i have recorded with Bruce for almost 40 years………. Of course the higher end Martin’s are amazing- but there is something about their entry level lines- that have an even - flat response and in an overdub situation where you are looking for the motion as opposed to the sonic character……. They really work well……. My ,02…….. and apologies for the second name drop ;)
When the guitars are all solid it's completely subjective imo, soundwise not the build quality... I really enjoy all mahogany guitars as an example because I pretty much only play fingerstyle and the bass notes are always there they never get lost while playing they almost feel like the focus when I play I love that.
What was cool, is that I dropped the remote between the cushions of my couch and low and behold, I found $6000 dollars in there. So I went and bought that 000-42. Are you kidding me? Who has that kind of money? I would love that guitar, but I don't think I'll ever have that kind of money to spare. Martin is the best ever made, but I will have to stick to the working man's version. I'll take it. Thanks for the review, amigo. You are very articulate and knowledgeable, even if you are a bit out of touch with working people's budgets. Thanks!
The lower priced guitar has a cleaner sound to my elderly ears; it truly does!
Most the money goes to the bling and craftsmanship.
The 42 sounds great but for the price wow tht X series sounds good!!
I thought so too. Would be a great guitar to have around the house laying around. I bet it can take a lot of punishment too.
Agreed. I always thought, that Martin is putting out some awesome budget guitars in their X series. I think, at that price point it’s hard to find a better sounding/playing guitar.
I have a handmade Lowden that cost me £1500 about 20 years ago. But I mostly play a Japanese guitar that cost £14 about 50 years ago. Music is about feeling. Hard to put a price on.
Le facts.
I like the X series sound for the price difference !
The pricey one had better clarity but I kinda liked the cheapo because it was deeper and fuller to my ears. A blind test would have been interesting.
I had no idea the price, the start of the expensive one sounded harsh to my ear, I'm trying out an x2 when I can find one
It is called "diminishing returns." Not real to expect the 6K guitar to perform 10X better than the 600.00 guitar. The cost to advance past a certain point is not linear,it is exponentially more. The best point was at the end. That would be your statement as to how you can feel the difference. The feature that made me select the D16E was feeling that body vibrate under the strings. Done deal. I don't even need to hear what i am playing to know it is done right. i can feel it through the body and the strings.
What I love about Taylor is the fact even a cheap model sounds good enough next to the expensive one so it always become a matter of style and taste than a matter of what sounds better. Whereas with Martin I always feel I would be better off investing in the more expensive models
Without question. I highly doubt those X-series guitars will hold any value over time, while a genuine Martin will almost always appreciate.
I just bought a Martin X Series Special and I honestly thought it sounded better than many of the $2,000 - $4,000 guitars that I tried. Every guitar is different and sometimes you can find a cheap guitar that just sounds and feels incredible.
I bought a $20 bucks Mexican guitar and $10 bucks d’adario classic nylon strings
and I enjoyed playing it and taking it to parties or to the beach or friends houses and letting other people to play it was a lot of fun..Then a bought a $500 bucks Ibanez electro acoustic and I was worried about her all the time. Not fun.
Pick the right guitar for the right moment.
The previous comment by
Jon Williams is so right on.
If you have five grand and
Desire a "Art" level instrument
Go for it. If you are of more
Modest means rest assured
That Martin and other guitar
Makers have you covered.
Try a basic guitar with the
Basic fishman pickup through
A loudbox. It will make you
Smile 😊
You will definitely get some sour grapes reviews on this one. Once you have invested in a quality guitar, it’s hard to go back to a base level. That said, when I was 22 years old, I could only afford gas and lunch. I think you could work your way up to a few nice guitars over time and the more you play, the more worthwhile the investment. The first time I strummed a D-42, I was blown away. How can this sound so much better than my D-35, which sounds amazing?
Put it on the wish list!
I picked up a used X series dreadnought back in 2006. I walked into the store that day ready to pay as much as $1,500.00 on an instrument, but after playing most of the acoustics in the store, the X series Martin sounded so good and they were selling it for $400.00, so I went with that and it still sounds great today.
For that price, why not?
The 000-42 sounded warmer and more resonant to me. I kind of felt like you played better on 000-X1 though, maybe because you were more warmed up. They both sound great anyway! Thanks for the cool demo 👍
I was hoping to say "no difference," but really, the 000-42 sounded like heaven. Thank you.
The difference between the two was rather drastic in my opinion. It fully drove home to me that I do not need or would ever have a use for the expensive guitar because I don't have a need for recording but if I were a professional I would absolutely go for the more expensive guitar but instead I would love the cheaper one so that I could entertain my drunk friends with. Lol
LOL, true. That why marching bands use cheap instruments.
Very fair comparison. Thanks for including a full description of the builds for each guitar. One thing you didn’t mention is cost of ownership. I just bought a 2019 Martin D-18 used for about $2500. I will enjoy it for years and when I-or my family-sell it 10 or 15 years from now I could probably get all of my money back (I admit, in inflated dollars). But I would have enjoyed a very fine guitar for 10 years. So if I can readily pay $2500 I should enjoy the higher priced guitar. It’s just a better way to enjoy life and play an upscale instrument. It’s a personal choice. My cost of ownership is very small.
I should mention I am almost 72 yrs old. I won’t be owning my Martin guitar for 55 yrs, as I have owned my 1969 Mosrite combo electric. I am the first and only owner, and the Mosrite is worth about $3k to $4k today. I paid $325 in 1969.
God I love the lower end of Martin’s guitars. The satin og wood feel and look just so good.
The sound to me is so much better as well.
I picked up a Little Martin LX1E last year and absolutely love it. I have a full size DCME that I've had for years too, but I pick up the LX every time now and will probably give the DCME to my nephew since he seems to like it better. The X series are really amazing for the price range, and you don't have a mini heart attack when you accidentally ding it against the coffee table 😂
As a woodworker, I always favour satin bringing out the grain, over inch think varnish...
I had a Martin DX-1 I bought several years ago and got in a tight and had to sell it. Well it caused me to stop playing guitar period. I didn't want to play anything else. Well, in what I could afford. Those cheaper Martin's are fantastic and sound so beautiful. Most definitely worth the price.
Loved the review and obviously the 42 is a better richer sounding guitar, but the x1 is a fantastic guitar for that price. I love the sound the x1 produces and the materials used for the neck and body are extremely durable especially if you play a lot of jams where I would feel uncomfortable bringing a $6k guitar.
I think you are getting more for your money with the X1.
The 42 is the kind of guitar that stays at home, and the X1 you can take camping.
"Rich & Famous, that buys nice jewelry & creams & lotions!! "
Love that line
Did he just say for someone rich and famous that creams lotion??? Haha Chris would be proud of that one
I also did a double take when I heard that 😂
Someone rich & famous that buys nice jewelry, creams, & lotions... 😁
I bought a guitar because of you guys and I couldn’t be happier with it.excellent job fellas.thank you
We can debate the tonal quality and feel of guitars all day. One thing that cannot be debated is that this guy has the most glorious locks on the internet. ( and decent player as well!)
There is beauty in the simplicity of the the 000x1 as well.....sounds beautiful too! IM in the middle I like my 000-18. ....solid wood.....no bling....just does its job very well......although I could be quite happy with the 000x1
Well, if you have a musical ear, you can surely hear the difference between the cheap guitar and the expensive one. The latter has a richer and fuller sound, with more harmonics and sustain, and it is more balanced : It's got a more bassy low end and crystal clear tops, as well as a more articulate midrange tone, more presence and projection/volume to it. But I tend to think any non-musician will not hear the difference, it is the player that makes 90% of the sound. The difference in the price comes from the wood, the worksmanship, and the fancy appointments like all the abalone inlays and stuff. And mostly from the brand name, the historical model, and the legend behind all that.
I couldn’t have said it better.
Martin makes fantastic instruments, no doubt about it and the 000-42 is amazing but also amazingly priced.
In contrast, I was fortunate/lucky enough to buy a 1989 Takamine FP 360-S when they first came out and to this day, the sound is equal to or better than any Martin I've owned or played and honest to God, if you blindfolded me and put a D-28 in my hand I couldn't tell the difference. The Takamine was $939.50 with Parametric EQ. A Martin D-28 was $1,350 with no electronics.
Your cheap guitar is more expensive than my most expensive guitar.
Ha ha Agree the cheap one ain't that cheap
I hope that you all one day get to own a guitar more expensive than $1500 because they are so much better above that price.
@@herbythechef7624 wish you hadnt said that I just tell myself the difference is purely cosmetic but theres always 2nd hand market some great deals out there if your careful
@@michaelcameron2292 true but if you ask my opinion the cosmetic difference really only starts at over 3 grand. Guitars between 1500-3000 are just better quality instruments than guitars that are less than that. If you see pretty guitars above 3 grand then you are paying for looks. If you are serious about guitar playing just save your money and make sure you buy something thats all wood. Not laminate with a fake wood fretboard like the X series martins
Difficult to get an opinion on sound on a smartphone as the speakers aren't good enough. But as a general rule the 6,000 dollar model will probably sustain better and sound will be about 20% better. The 600 dollar model will be better value dollar for dollar but the more expensive model will always sound better. The best way to get a good guitar cheaply is to buy a second hand one which is already played in or get one from a Taylor road show where Taylor will put their best sounding models on show and you get the benefit of getting a model that is played in as well. You can get a 6,000 dollar model for a lot less that way.
After listening to this video a few times I decided to order the x2e, we'll see in 2 days 😀
You definitely played the lead guitar licks better on the X Series! Or it could be that I’m biased because I just bought a Martin 000 X Series Special Acoustic-Electric. Lol. Great demo!
Hey, 2024 here, I bought a Recording King RO standard, got it set up professionally, and it is a killer, a Martin Killer.
I'm just sitting here waiting for the video comparing the $4.99 creams and lotions with the $49.99 ones.
😆
I had a 000X1AE model and it was a great guitar. I sold it as I had upgraded to the American Martin OOO-17. However, I'm very partial to the American Martin guitars as they are a huge improvement over the Mexican built models. I'am a firm believer in getting what you pay for in most cases. I say the 42 sounds the best. I also love the OM models too.
I would never uy a Mexican Martin. I think they bring the Martin name way down.
I love a soft V too, Coop! 😇
Obviously the more expensive guitar with the quality woods, and better workmanship, and setup would be a little better than cheaper guitar. However, the quality of the sound has a lot to do with the person playing the guitar. Therefore, both guitarists sounded damn good to me
They both sound great!
The cheap one sounds beautifull in your hands Cooper!! Wich proves as always that the player makes the difference in the first place , then the guiars . IMHO. Thank you for your demos .
I think people should listen to the difference through high-end headphones, there is a big difference in tone between the two. The more expensive has a richer tonal sound but the cheaper guitar isn't too far behind. They both sound great in the right hands and I would be happy with either. Nice job.
I think you should also listen through cheep headphones to hear which headphones are better
I prefer the more rounded tone of the X - it is less tangy than the 42 albeit the 42 looks lovely… the X also sounds warmer - that fireside chill out feeling - nice video my friend👏😊
Expensive .....full body and warmth
Cheap....brighter sound. Not as warm
That being said it's not 10 times better IMO
You have to hear the comparison in person. My old guitar teacher had a wide range of Martin guitars and the difference between his D-15 and his D-45 was the difference between sitting and enjoying as light breeze and being the guy in the old Memorex adds. We used to call his D-45 "The Cannon". Of course the D-45 also had beautiful inlays and exotic wood backing whereas the D-15 was plain looking but still sounded great.
Great comparison! I much preferred the pricey model sound, but they BOTH sound great. Excellent intonation up and down the fretboard for both. My ears heard distinctively more sustain in the 4 figure guitar, as well as something I don’t have a word for but know it when I hear it: “ringy-ness”. Meaning, I could hear more detail in each string and note, very much like the difference in sound you get when you FIRST string a guitar and the strings have that amazing tonal quality for a few days. The “Inexpensive” guitar sounded great and I’d be more than happy to gig with it. It sounded a bit more dry and muffled in comparison to the other. An intangible that only YOU can answer: it appeared to me you were working harder to play the lower end model to get the same results, maybe pressing harder, concentrating harder…. I don’t know. It’s just something I noticed. I can see how a sound guy would prefer it though. The more dry sound is much less likely to feedback and the crispness of the notes during the solo portion of the demo I think edged out the expensive big brother. But the open chords, hands down to our $5k friend!
The 000-42 has a sharper sound whereas the 000-X1 is mellow.
I'll take the 000-X1 for the price, and I won't freak if it gets scratched.