Is this the PERFECT CAMPING GUITAR?! - Synthetic woods out in the woods - Martin LX1e

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#MartinLX1e #BabyMartin #MartinTravelGuitar
I took my Martin LX1e travel guitar out camping, testing its performance under wild temperature and humidity fluctuations. How did it perform?
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Опубликовано:

4 май 2022

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Комментарии : 91

@Mick_7878 Год назад

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had my “Little Martin” (LX1E) on a boat on the lake where it was extremely hot, in a mountain cabin in front of the fireplace with 3 feet of snow outside, and by the pool in Phoenix, AZ. Let alone the plane rides…. This little guitar sounds amazing, stays in tune, and has become an outstanding travel ‘companion’ so I can keep playing while away from home. One of the best purchases I’ve made!

@RobertCassard Год назад

Thanks for the corroboration, Scott! I’m getting progressively more attached to mine as I realize it’s many wonders. One thing that distinguishes its sound is that Martin specs medium gauge strings for this little guitar. Helps compensate for the small body size and keeps the sound well-balanced. Plus, it records really well as my travel videos always demonstrate. Sometimes even I’m shocked by how well it records! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@threadoflife Год назад

You definitely sold me with this review thanks for sharing! It sounds amazing wow 😯

@RobertCassard Год назад

Glad this was helpful, Yolo. Come back and tell me what you think!!

@frankrizzo5710 2 года назад

I couldn’t agree more, love that Guitar. I’ve never made mine sound like that though lol. Great playing!

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Thanks, Frank. Really lends itself to finger-style, which is perfect for small campfires and close friends or family.

@WebertRLZ 2 года назад

Wow you make that guitar sound so much better than it's supposed to be. Nice work mate.

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

I appreciate the compliment, Webert, especially since the video was shot on my iPhone using only the on-board mic!

@eashwar1231 Год назад

Hi Robert, one of your earlier videos encouraged me to buy Little Martin LX1E. This is a wonderful guitar. As you said, it stays in tune (relatively) for up to weeks to months. Great playing, by the way. I am always in admiration of your smile!!

@RobertCassard Год назад

That’s great to hear, Eashwar. I’ve been using my Little Martin on all my recent “travel edition” videos. Like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html Keep on playing and I’ll keep on smiling!

@georgescannelli3814 2 года назад

Robert thanks so much for this informative video. I picked up an LX1R, seems same as LX1, but has a pick guard. and it’s great, to your point for travel and durable for various locations and climates. Thanks again..it’s a great alternative to the backpacker, even though they should not be compared- 2 different type of string instruments. But thank you as always.

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

LX1R is a new model. Guessing it’s pretty sweet. Mine is actually an LX1e (e=electric). It has a Fishman pickup system. haven’t even used that yet!

@eashwar1231 Год назад

Hi Robert: since you specially mentioned humidity, I wanted to share my experience with this guitar under highly humid conditions here in south-eastern India. I knew nothing about humidity-guitar relationship 18 months ago. Last year, it took only 3 weeks of an unusually very rainy spell to cause bowing of the neck. The LX1e had become almost unplayable before the problem was fixed. Now, I have a small guitar room equipped with an AC, a dehumidifier, a guitar cabinet, desiccants, a couple of reliable hygrometers, etc., that help maintain a very nearly 50% humidity. In my scientific approach to guitar maintenance, I have ‘discovered’ some interesting elements. Comparatively, I find my Fenders and Corts to be more resistant to high humidity. I tend to think that this is probably because they were made in Indonesia where factory settings are generally not as stringent as in the U.S. or in Mexico. I am beginning to reason that where guitars are made really matters. Your opinion about synthetic materials as a contributor to superior resistance to environmental conditions is very interesting. Perhaps the weather conditions here are too harsh to offset that advantage. Thank you for your reflections in this regard.

@RobertCassard Год назад

Interesting story, Eashwar. I'm surprised that a synthetic wood like the neck of an LX1e would bow like that! I've often wondered about where a guitar is manufactured being that guitar's "baseline" of humidity. So if the guitar is made in a low-humidity environment, e.g., Mexico (where the LX1e is made), then perhaps, it will MORE susceptible to problems when moved to a wetter environment like yours. I've always assumed large guitar factories are climate and humidity-controlled, but your experience makes me question that! Thanks for watching and commenting.

@jaytc3218 4 месяца назад

Playing outdoors with temperature/humidity fluctuations pretty much demands a laminate body or some kind of synthetic material. I wound up getting the LX1RE only because I wanted the option to plug in. The LM is probably one of the best travel guitars out there right now. A lot of travel guitars have intonation problems (to be fair, the more you shrink a guitar down, the more likely that will happen). But the LM plays sweet pretty much out of the box. When I was in the decision phase, I wasn't too sure about the whole "plastic fingerboard" idea. But once it arrived, that mindset quickly evaporated. I will say that I did get a setup done on mine as soon as it arrived, which is always a good idea.

@RobertCassard 4 месяца назад

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, Jay. Like you, I got mine setup properly, and it made a significant difference in the action. This little guitar gets a fair amount of air time on my channel just cuz it comes with me almost everywhere! Here it is with a partial capo in a Los Angeles hotel room: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.htmlsi=u58xG0sh0wrVDh6m

@sithhobbit Год назад

Great video! Just in an order for my Little Martin.

@RobertCassard Год назад

Have fun, Hobbit Ways! Couple tips: it comes strung with medium gauge strings. If it feels stiff, it’s worth a trip to the luthier to get the action how you like it (true of any new Martin). You can also switch to light gauge, although you’ll lose a little bass if you do. I keep Mediums on mine and that’s one reason it sounds bigger than it is.

@markrobinson8949 Год назад

Nicest version of Poems, Prayers and Promises I've heard in an age, and this is from someone who plays John's songs along with my own for a living. You made that guitar sing, dude, and it's got you a subscriber

@RobertCassard Год назад

Thank you, Mark. Any kudos are welcome here. If you have any music to share, please reply with a link. I’d love to hear you play and sing.

@MarkRobinsonMusic Год назад

Here you go, Robert.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--erM1ua0zQ8.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PUyqDvxpyC4.html One is John Denver's last song, 'Yellowstone, Coming Home, and the other is my latest original song, ''Fire on the Water'. I'm desperately trying to copy your version of 'Poems, Prayers and Promises'! Some of my friends have seen this video and love it.

@crisslastname9417 2 года назад

Sounds very nice!

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Surprising, eh Criss?

@Jack-zr2kv 2 года назад

A little while back I was working near a music shop and would drop in and have a play of one of these little Martin's in there acoustic room and was dead set going to buy one but didn't , still might one day they are great

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Well Jack, if you ever get around to buying a Baby Martin, you’ll be able to bring it everywhere…

@KurniadiPrathomo-sp5zd 2 месяца назад

Yamaha GL1 fits the bill. Not really a guitar per se, but you got the point.

@RobertCassard 2 месяца назад

The venerable Guitalele. You're right, it serves a similar purpose.

@georgescannelli3814 2 года назад

My second comment- The song you played was great, I forgot to mention that. The picking was spot on. I looked at buying one, but realized it was an LXM! Seemed basically the same, but the top was also HPL…not spruce. In any event, I’m getting an LX1..thanks for bringing this guitar back to the forefront, as they say…….

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Last time I brought my LX1e “back to the forefront,” I was hanging out in Hawaii! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ngw9LdtAf7g.html

@georgescannelli3814 2 года назад

Robert that guitar sounds really good! The perfect guitar for temp changes. I’ve always thought of the backpacker on those kind of trips. But this guitar sounds like regular tone woods, sounds full, crisp, and best of all, you can leave the big boys back home, without compromising sound. Thanks.

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Thanks, GS. You know how much I love and use my Backpacker for ultra-portability, unique tone and how great it sounds in high-strung tuning. As for this “Baby Martin,” it serves a different set of purposes for me, including a fuller tone and on-board electronics if I need to plug in for any reason. Part of why it sounds this “legit” is that Martin specs it for Medium Gauge strings. That’s how it can handle Drop D tuning, like in this song. The discovery of how it handles temp and humidity changes was frosting on the cake!

@jimmythefish Год назад

I have one, it’s a better finger picker than a strummer. Strumming is ok with a very light touch. It’s also very string sensitive - light gauge strings really bring it to life. The silk and steel strings in extra light are a good choice for it.

@RobertCassard Год назад

Hey Jimmy. Did you know that Martin specs medium gauge strings for this guitar? That surprised me for such a short scale guitar. I think the heavier gauge is needed for it to feel like a decent strummer. But it gets a nice glisten and sheen with lighter gauge strings, especially, as you noted, for fingerpicking. I did a strum and fingerpick hybrid on this video using medium gauge strings: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@jimmythefish Год назад

@@RobertCassard I had mediums on it at first. I like it better with the lighter ones. I typically put mediums on my D28 but have been exploring lighter gauges lately.

@RobertCassard Год назад

@@jimmythefish Good to know. The three biggest differences I often hear from any acoustic guitar are: 1) string type (80/20 vs. Phosphor Bronze), 2) string gauge and 3) pick gauge. I've done videos about #1 and 3, but not #2! 80/20 vs. Phosphor: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sfIkEKvF8P4.html Pick gauge: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iTWVbB36Cmw.html

@400_billion_suns Год назад

Really nice demo! I was curious how this guitar sounded acoustically/unplugged, and I have to say it sounds waaaaaaaay nicer than it has any right to! I might have to pick one up for myself some day.

@RobertCassard Год назад

Thanks, 400 billion. Here’s another example, from an LA hotel room. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@luc5798 8 месяцев назад

It's a cool little guitar. I almost bought it... but for just a little more money, I ended up choosing the 000-Junior! Slightly bigger but not too big, a really perfect 24" (610mm) scale length and a slightly wider 45mm neck, more comfortable. And above all, built entirely from solid wood. I've tried both, and unamplified the Junior sounds better, especially in the bass!

@RobertCassard 8 месяцев назад

Good choice, and I'm sure you're right about 000-Junior's added features and bass response. For me, though, the solid wood construction would be a drawback due to the humidity and temperature changes my travel guitar gets subjected to while camping in California. This is probably the only case where I prefer synthetics over something natural!

@luc5798 8 месяцев назад

@@RobertCassard For extreme conditions, there are the "LAVA ME"... But I'm not sure what they're worth...

@RobertCassard 8 месяцев назад

@luc5798 yep, there are carbon fiber options. For me, the LX1 has the right blend of a real wood top and a bunch of synthetics to keep it stable

@kristopherdetar4346 Год назад

The neck is not synthetic, it is a long thick plywood piece. The finger board is synthetic. Love your playing, absolutely beautiful.

@RobertCassard Год назад

You are right, Kristopher! Martin specs say the neck is Rust Birch Laminate. Thanks for the correction and the positive feedback.

@jwukulele Год назад

@@RobertCassard I think more specifically, the HPL neck is like a mini micro version of “glu lam”, commonly used as load bearing beams in home remodeling & construction. Have a few exposed lam beams in my house. A more environmentally sustainable than traditional beams. Also have an almost vintage LX1 from 2004 & appreciate it so much now. I think LX1s were originally shipped with 13s/medium strings, which IME works best.. After almost 2 decades. & recently starting actual lessons, I found that switching back to my LX1 actually accelerate learning intervals & interval scales, thus can speed up learning the fretboard. Knowing the fretboard fluently unlocks so much beyond cowboy chords that I was once content with (or really, for many years only had time & brain space for).

@RobertCassard Год назад

@@jwukulele Thanks for this insight on the neck material, much appreciated. I love my LX1e more and more. I keep making videos with it when I travel. Like this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@gurtana 2 года назад

Wow, how did you record this? It sounds so full and has good bass, mids and highs. Was it recorded into a mic or line input? Or a combination of both?

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Thanks for the compliment, gurtana. Funny story. The video was shot with my daughter’s iPhone, because my phone’s battery was dead. I often use a Shure MV-88 when shooting iPhone videos, because sounds really accurate and offers true stereo. You can hear it in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ngw9LdtAf7g.html. But that morning at the campground, I got the Shure all set up and then realized my daughter’s phone didn’t have the software for the MV-88 installed, so it wouldn’t work. No cell service at the campground either. Which means… the sound you like was recorded with the iPhone’s on-board mic only!! Not gonna lie, though. I added noise reduction, compression, EQ, and even a touch of reverb to bring it up to par.

@gurtana 2 года назад

@@RobertCassard You've got to be kidding me! You got that kind of crystal clear audio from an iPhone mic? I'm flabbergasted. Good news for me though, because I have an iPhone and record regularly into it - didn't think it'd record so well an acoustic. Perhaps the ambient open air helped it open up too.Where was the iPhone positioned?

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

@@gurtana you can tell where it was positioned from the shot. I’m guessing it was about 8’ from me and the guitar

@threadoflife Год назад

Pretty insane I was wondering the same thing it literally sounds like it was pre recorded in your DAW. It sounds amazing super rich and full tone through earbuds! Nioce 👌

@RobertCassard Год назад

@@threadoflife Thanks. Yep, pretty impressive for such a small guitar through such a tiny mic!

@benr4856 11 месяцев назад

How useful do you find having electronics on your LX1E? There is a Little Martin offered without electronics (LX1). I’m not sure how often I would be plugging this guitar into an amp. I like the idea of the convenience of this guitar, having it close by to pick up and put down without messing with cables, etc.

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

Hi Ben. Interesting that you should ask this question right now. I've owned the guitar for about 3.5 years and have never used the on-board pickup. But this week, I'm heading off to Chris Thile's "Acousticamp" on Long Island. Even though it's labeled all acoustic, there's clearly a need to plug into a PA system to play for the audience. Since I'm traveling from California to New York, I'll be bringing my LX1e and a cable! This is why I got the "e" model to begin with. You never need a pickup...until you DO!

@benr4856 11 месяцев назад

@@RobertCassard Thanks! Have fun. 😎

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

@@benr4856 Fun for sure!

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

@@benr4856 Chris Thile, Chris Eldridge, Juilan Lage, Madison Cunningham, etc. I'll be in music heaven!

@s1m0nh4rtw1ch Год назад

I have a question ? How is it when u play with a capo on 6 . Like for sound of silence . When u have big hands?

@RobertCassard Год назад

Hi DNA. The neck is a bit chunky from front to back, but the fretboard is standard width, which works well for me with relatively large hands and fingertips. It handles most capos beautifully. My favorite for this guitar is a Shubb Fine-Tune, but it works well with lower-cost capos, too. Here it is, played with a partial capo in an LA hotel room: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@s1m0nh4rtw1ch Год назад

Thx

@7593777 11 месяцев назад

This sounds really good, much better then my LX1E. What kind of strings are you using?

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

Medium gauge coated 80/20 bronze strings, specifically: Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Medium (.013-.056) amzn.to/44J0wYj

@7593777 11 месяцев назад

Thanks! I'm using Elixir 16546 nanoweb Phosphor Bronze .013-.056. I wonder if it is the the added brightness of the bronze gives your guitar such a good tone? I use Phosphor Bronze because they seem to deal better with my corrosive sweat. It seems pretty dull in comparison. I share your appreciation of the Backpacker - it is useful for what it does. I had the fretboard extended by four frets, and had a pickup installed. It works great with a headphone amp, and also sounds good amplified.

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

@@7593777 With Elixir Strings, the coating should make 80/20s equally resistant to corrosion as Phosphor. As for tone, watch my video to see why 80/20s sound so good on this little guitar. It's not just top-end brightness, it's tamed mids and deeper bass, too: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sfIkEKvF8P4.html

@7593777 11 месяцев назад

Interesting - I'll give the 80/20 bronze a try next time I change strings on the LX1E. I've got phosphor bronze on my Martin Dreadnought, and I think they sound great. Thanks for the wealth of guitar-related information, it's fun viewing!

@RobertCassard 11 месяцев назад

@@7593777 I really appreciate your positive feedback.

@robinaltun1816 Год назад

Hi, i want to buy this martin guitar but i won’t use it as a private guitar, it will be my main acoustic guitar, i will record my song with this. would you recommed it ?

@RobertCassard Год назад

Hi Robin. The LX1e is very similar to the small Martin that Ed Sheeran played at the start of his career. When mic'ed properly, it sounds remarkably rich and full. You can also blend sound from the mic and sound from the guitar's built-in pickup. It's not a typical choice as a primary guitar , but it can certainly work as one, particularly if you'll be adding other instruments to your recording like bass. I'm often surprised how good it sounds when recorded. The recording on this video was done using only my iPhone's camera mic, then adding some enhancement afterward (EQ, compression and reverb). Here's another example, recorded in a hotel room last Fall: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8uvSimp5bzw.html Does it sound as good as a high-quality full-size acoustic? It's DIFFERENT. Here, for comparison, is me playing my larger Gibson J-50 on a bunch of James Taylor songs: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YFThZipY-BY.html

@robinaltun1816 Год назад

@@RobertCassard thank you very much sir 🙌🏽

@partnerstechnology612 Год назад

@@robinaltun1816 my pleasure

@Euthymia2020 3 месяца назад

So is this guitar considered a parlor?

@RobertCassard 3 месяца назад

Hi Dan. It's designated as a travel guitar, and is significantly smaller than a typical parlor guitar. That said, it plays nicely in any parlor. LOL

@mattengelphoto4936 Год назад

indian princess events?

@RobertCassard Год назад

Yeah, I guess that comment dates me. Indian Princesses was a group activity for fathers and daughters. (The female equivalent of what used to be called Indian Guides, which was for fathers and sons.) When my daughter was young, we were part of a tribe in Southern California. I’m sure that by now it’s been woke and goes by a different name…

@coreyoffman8739 4 месяца назад

You still have that guitar?

@RobertCassard 4 месяца назад

I sure do. I rarely travel without it.

@coreyoffman8739 4 месяца назад

@@RobertCassard but you travel with it, right?

@RobertCassard 4 месяца назад

@@coreyoffman8739 yes, it comes with a nice gig bag that has shoulder straps. Easy to carry. Easy to fit in an airplane’s overhead bin.

@coreyoffman8739 4 месяца назад

Do you have Instagram and do you still have that

@RobertCassard 4 месяца назад

I still own the guitar, but I rarely post on Instagram... @rjwcassard

@GRJ-uz7kf 2 года назад

I hate the label "TRAVEL" guitar, although the small, bullet-proof LX1 is better than a full-size all-wood instrument. Many of us non-professionals choose ONLY small guitars like the LX1.

@RobertCassard 2 года назад

Thanks, GR. I tend to love small-body acoustics… but then again, I love each and every instrument for its own uniqueness. I have a lot of guitars, and I often reach for the parlors because they’re so fun to play.

@catedoge3206 Год назад

ed sheeran guitar

@RobertCassard Год назад

You're right, CateDoge. This model is almost identical to the Ed Sheeran X model from a few years ago. Martin is no longer able to license Ed's name for new models. He now endorses Lowden Guitars out of Ireland. Not surprisingly, they cost a lot more: amzn.to/3neXt9M

@catedoge3206 Год назад

@@RobertCassard o0f. I have a cheap fg800 200 dollar yamaha and a great case (heavy) I put some semi folk strings on em (metal string on first three) then nylon for the other 3. Its nice but not as mobile. Thats why I was looking for a good compromise. And i knew ed has a smaller guitar but he still rocks with it. Maybe in the future hehe. I also have an electric guitar. Got my hands full atm. Oh and a piano too. I love music!

@RobertCassard Год назад

@@catedoge3206 the little Martins are really nice for the price. I’m always surprised how well this guitar plays and sounds. Here’s a more recent example, using a fun partial capo: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k6cgzYGL4ag.html

@catedoge3206 Год назад

@@RobertCassard Nice!!!