Introduction: A Foreword about the Best Martin Guitars Under $1000:
Over the past few months, we’ve reviewed quite a lot acoustic guitars and ukuleles. Such acoustic lists couldn’t do without at least one Martin product.
The reasons for this are the high standards that Martin Guitars sets for their products, as well as the traditional way of crafting guitars that have been passed on since 1833.
QUICK RUNDOWN
If you are in a hurry here is a quick comparison:
#1 Martin DRS2 Dreadnought Editor Rating Read Full Review |
|
#2 Martin Road Series DRS1 Editor Rating Read Full Review |
|
#3 Martin Ed Sheeran 3 Divide / Signature Edition Editor Rating Read Full Review |
|
#4 Martin LXK2 Little Martin Koa Pattern Editor Rating Read Full Review |
|
Last Updated on
Today, we’re reviewing some of the best guitars that this company offers.
Of course, as you can expect there are models for all types of budgets aimed from beginners to professional musicians.
But for this article, we are only going to focus on the best Martin guitars under $1000 USD.
With that being said, let’s start the show:
Table of Contents
BEST MARTIN GUITARS UNDER $1000:
This guitar looks like a very normal, average guitar from afar, but what we have here is a great instrument that packs a lot of unique features together.
The DRS2 is a “14 Fret Body”, solid Sitka Spruce Top dreadnought guitar that is as loud and as comfortable as a Martin guitars can be.
Other modern features include a White Corian nut, chrome enclosed Tuners, and a Black RichliteBridge with White Tusq saddle.
The high end parts make this instrument stand out among others in the same price category.
The guitar is very comfortable because of the 25.4″-Scale Modified Low Oval neck. This guitar acts as a perfect backup instrument if you’re playing more expensive guitars, but it is also a great instrument on its own.
The downsides are mostly of aesthetic nature, because the back and sidesare not completely smooth. If you are looking for superior sound and don’t care about perfect looks, then the Martin DRS2 won’t disappoint you.
For more about the Martin DRS2 check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 97%
- Quality 98%
- Price 92%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Electric-Acoustic Design
- Bright tone
- Fantastic tuning stability
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- Rough finish
The Martin Road Series is a balanced series that combines elements of studio and travel guitars into a great live-performance instrument.
The DRS1 is an electric/acoustic hybrid and it is amazingly well-designed for stage performances.
This guitar is very loud and projects a powerful sound.
Combined with the somewhat unorthodox looks, it definitely stands out from the crowd.
As mentioned, the guitar comes with a high-quality, Fishman piezo-pickup with the controls mounted inside the soundhole.
If you are a performing musician on a budget, you will enjoy this guitar, especially with some lighter-gauge Martin strings that will allow you to perform for hours.
For more about the Martin DRS1 check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 97%
- Quality 95%
- Price 96%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Electric-Acoustic Design
- Unique Looks
- Richlite Fretboard
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- Somewhat darker sound compared to other guitars
The LX1 might be the perfect travelers’ guitar as it has a smaller body and scale length, but has all the sound qualities of a full-size Martin. The LX is utilized by Ed Sheeran and based on that specific model, Martin has developed the Ed Sheeran signature model.
The 23 inch scale makes it great for children or people with smaller fingers without losing the well-defined tones of a Martin guitar.
The Sitka Spruce top and the “Tusq” saddle are what makes this instrument sound so great.
Keep in mind, though, that a travelers’ guitar can hardly be as loud as a full-size dreadnought. Unlike the standard LX1 model, this guitar comes packed with a great preamp.
The high-quality materials and chrome small-knob tuners are making sure that the LX1 stays in tune. Lastly, the intonation is pretty accurate up and down the neck, which is especially surprising considering the scale length.
For more about the Martin Ed Sheeran check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 92%
- Quality 93%
- Price 98%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Lightweight and compact
- Unique short-scale sound
- Great deal for the money
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- Doesn’t have a preamp
- Slightly quieter than full-size guitars
The LXK2 is another guitar in the Little Martin series and shares many similarities with the LX1. The biggest and obvious difference is the combination of woods used, which makes this guitar a bit more outstanding.
Besides the visual difference, the LXK2 has an all laminate top, while the previous model had a solid Spruce top. Generally, the laminate top is worse at projecting vibratos, and as such, the LXK2 is not quite as good as the LX1.
On the other hand, this is still a very great sounding guitar with a very crisp and bright sound, maybe even brighter than the LX1.
As such, it is great for practice, beginners and as a travel guitar. The guitar stays in tune pretty well and the sound of the woods used is very unique.
Koa wood is often used for ukuleles and this instrument has a little bit of an exotic feel and sound. If you are searching for a unique guitar at a low price, the LXK2 is a great option.
For more about the Martin LXK2 check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 92%
- Quality 93%
- Price 98%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Lightweight and compact
- Unique short-scale sound
- Great deal for the money
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- Doesn’t have a preamp
- Slightly quieter than full-size guitars
THINGS TO KNOW:
Martin Guitars are especially known for producing some of the best steel-string acoustic guitars available.
The company produces the guitars in the USA and Mexico, which means that you get only the highest quality guitars from them.
The firm has been run by the Martin family throughout its history and has contributed to the evolution of the acoustic guitar as an instrument, including the introduction of the dreadnought body style and scalloped bracings.
Since 1833, Martin Guitar has been synonymous with making the highest quality acoustic guitars on the market. With over 150 models to choose from, selecting a Martin guitar can be a difficult task.
You will need to consider your own needs, the types of wood used, the tonal possibilities and your own budget.
Over the years, Martin Guitars have produced everything from beginner acoustic guitars to high-grade, professional instruments worth multiple thousands of dollars.
CONCLUSION
These are our top choices of Martin guitars right now. Most of the models are available as left-handed models, too, which is a rather uncommon occurrence among other guitar companies.
Make sure to check out our Best Acoustic Guitars article for even more information on Martin Guitars and their diverse instruments.
Was there any model that you prefer and that we didn’t include?
Tell us in the comments!
