Martin Acoustic - Sub line of guitars.

[whoatherechunk]

What is Martin Acoustic's sub line of acoustics? (e.g Fender/Squier)

[Robert B]

I believe The DX line is the cheapest they offer in a full size guitar. Then you move up to the bottom of the next tier with the D15.

[cdef]

They used to make the Sigma line up until last year. Those are very good guitars indeed for being so affordable, and sometimes turn up on eBay. Here's the Wiki entry:

In 1970, guitar maker Martin created a line of inexpensive guitars made in part from laminated wood, instead of the solid wood used in their main line. (The name may have originated by turning the Greek letter Sigma (Σ) on its side.) Construction moved from Japan (1970 - 83), to Korea (1984 - 93/94), to Taiwan (1993 - 2007). The first Sigma's were dreadnought acoustics, DR-1 through DR-7 (D for dreadnought and R for rosewood). Sigma built the GCS (Grand Concert Series) to Martin's 000 body specifications. There were models in the CS (Classical Series). Other instruments included mandolins, banjos, acoustic and electric basses and solid body and hollow body electric guitars. Some solid body electric guitars were made by Tokai Guitars Company, LTD. After finishing, "Each Sigma instrument was brought into the Martin factory to be inspected and adjusted by Martin personnel before going to the authorized retail store for retail sale.

[HeavyDuty]

I have a late 90's Sigma D12ST (I think it is) - a solid top dread twelve. Not bad at all!

[tplyons]

Funny you should mention this. I just went on a tour of their factory the other day, and someone asked this question. The DX line is the lowest, which are now made in Mexico out of High Pressure Laminate and are shipped to Nazareth, PA for final QA. They're good guitars, but very much the Squier to Fender. They're simply made cheaper, out of cheaper materials that require less labor. The HPL can be bent without any need for heat or pressure.

That being said, I'm still very impressed with Martin, even their work in Mexico. Each time a new product is to begin production in Mexico, several Nazareth employees travel down to set up the machinery and train the staff. They're apparently very well trained, and the quality shows.

[Liko]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Funny you should mention this. I just went on a tour of their factory the other day, and someone asked this question. The DX line is the lowest, which are now made in Mexico out of High Pressure Laminate and are shipped to Nazareth, PA for final QA. They're good guitars, but very much the Squier to Fender. They're simply made cheaper, out of cheaper materials that require less labor. The HPL can be bent without any need for heat or pressure.

That being said, I'm still very impressed with Martin, even their work in Mexico. Each time a new product is to begin production in Mexico, several Nazareth employees travel down to set up the machinery and train the staff. They're apparently very well trained, and the quality shows.

CX, DX, I guess the model numbers changed. The main feature was the laminate neck, sandwiched together out of about 20 layers. Durable, rock-solid, and VERY heavy. You can, if you look REALLY hard, find a CX that was made in Nazareth, PA, which is the better option IMO. Those guitars will still use real wood for the back/sides; the top, I'm pretty sure, has been and continues to be solid spruce. Most of that type are now MIMs as was said, and the back/sides are made of a material not far removed from Formica in its look and feel; that pretty much turned me off from budget Martins; Taylor's entry-level 100s-200s, while a bit more expensive, still use real wood everywhere and their older 200s are solid wood (all 100/200 levels are now laminate; sapele on the 100, rosewood on the 200).

[tplyons]

Also, for the record, I play an Ibanez as my primary guitar. It's a copy of the Martin dreadnought, but for the price, there's a lot better out there than Martin.

The Martin DX series are good guitars, but there are better deals made out of real wood.

[whoatherechunk]

Sigma....there you go! Thanks.

[iamlowsound]

Better guitars out there for the money. Yamaha makes some amazing acoustics, Simon & Patrick are great, Segual are very solid, Ovation makes a really good entry level acoustic. Martin and Taylor have had their day and are just running on reputation now.

lowsound