To read about my crazy 6-month adventure as an international homeless man with the Little Martin, check out my book 'Planes, Trains, & Broken Strings' on Amazon: :) www.amazon.com/Planes-Trains-B...
Carter Martin if ur from Georgia I have it because I found mine in someone’s trash believe it or not it had a crack but it’s fixable and in good condition other than that
Excellent guitars, I keep mine round the house and basically walk round playing it when the inspiration takes me. I use silk and steel strings on it which make a very easy playing guitar. With its all lam construction it is basically bomb proof. Which as well as travelling is grearlt if you have young kids, dogs and want to keep it out all the time. No worries about humidity etc, brilliant. Also good for kids to learn on with its small size but good tone.
I love mine. I have a parlor guitar, similar in size, but these seems to get the most play time. It is damn near indestructible! Loved you sharing this, Tom. I came back to view after having been here a few years back. I always talk this guitar up and reference your video. Thx. Cheers!
I have the LXM. I thought it sounded better than the one with the spruce top. I am sure the spruce top will improve over time. But, spruce is so easy to scratch and dent. I love this little thing. It’s amazing toy like with a fuller sound.
Cheers brother! Love NZ, the part where I was bouncing the pine cones into the cup was when I was stranded at Lake Tekapo on the South Island for a couple of weeks lol
Just 2 comments relative to what others have posted. While I would prefer the LXM for traveling, since it has a decal for the sound hole rosette which would eventually wear off due to picking, I opted for the LX1 which had the inlaid rosette and the LX1R which has the rosette in ink. As for the guitar going out of tune easily, I use heavy gauge strings since due to the instrument’s short scale there wouldn't be as much tension on the instrument as there would be on a larger instrument with a longer scale.
Solid wood version is LX1. It is louder but tone and balance is lacking. Martin Backpacker for kayaking is genius because it can double as a paddle in a pinch...
thanks man! Ive been looking for videos on folks that travel with guitars... anyway you can make a brief video about your experience flying with the guitar? like where you stow it on board or how to not worry about losing guitar cause you cannot bring it on board. thanks
People my brother and I both have one of these. Great great guitars but if you do get one, spend the little bit mare and get the LX1e. Having a fishman pick up and a built in tuner is well worth the extra few bucks. These little guitars go out of tune pretty easy so it is great to have the tuner. With the pick up you can actually gig with it! They sound killer with the fishman loudbox. Do it!
+Blueturtleman1 I'd definitely recommend the LX1e for a certain type of travel! I was talking to someone about this a couple days ago. I prefer the LXM for camping or impoverished travel because of its lighter weight and imperviousness towards warping or cracking due to weather conditions. Depending on your specific plans, the pickups would be nice, but you're also counting on the venue to have a house PA wherever you'd do that. I've generally made it work with the LXM by running a USB mic or large-diaphragm condenser mic and interface through Logic and running the output into a guitar amp or whatever else I can bum from the venue or an employee. That way I can record the show as well. Either guitar is a great choice!
Mate - awesome review!! Just what I was looking for. Plan on travelling solo across Europe and South America with a guitar at the end of the year want a suitable for travel so thanks. 2 questions for you bro 1: Any reason you didn't get the LX1? 2: Do you save much money (how much?) for your travels or do you just scrape through it? Cheers
James Hoyle Hey man! I went with the LXM because as weird as it will probably sad, I didn't want real wood for this guitar. Too much chance of it getting warped or damaged from heat or humidity the way I travel. I don't save much money. I'm usually just barely getting by, playing for tips a lot of times or picking up shows here or there! That type of travel isn't for everyone, though. It can be very frustrating and challenging at times. I give a lot of tips for that kind of travel on my website: tuneupandtravel.com/category/travel-tips-guides-gear/
Hey, great video! I have a question? This is the LX1 it doesn't have the built in picks ups so it could be be an acoustic electric. In that clip I saw that you had it plugged in. What pick ups did you use?
Awesome honest review dude!! 💪 From the looks of it, I guess would be a badass beginner guitar. I'm looking to learn lots of Beatles and John Mayer songs. So would you say it can handle lots of hammer ons? And what if I slap a capo on it? Thanks dude. :)
It would be a perfect beginner guitar! Easy to play and of course you can put a capo on it, most of the songs I play are capo'd including Beatles and John Mayer covers ;)
Hi, you are playing the guitar unplugged? I am thinking about buying this guitar but i am worried if this small gruitar will make a large sound when unplugged or if the size will really hit the volume
The volume of the guitar UNPLUGGED is VERY loud for its size! It's almost as loud as a full size Yamaha Id say 8/10 if 10 was a full size sound. The little martin sounds like a full size when it's PLUGGED in and you won't be able to tell its a 3/4 size guitar. I already bought mine and its on its way too me :)
Hey I've a short question. I mean this guitar is a dream and how you did this review was also very good. But I search for a good guitar (I think I'll buy this one) and also for a guitar bag and also for a guitar strap And can you tell me the Name of your guitar strap?
The bag comes with the guitar :) The strap I use is a 2-inch suede strap you should be able to pick up at about any music store! Here is a link to one on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Perris-Leathers-P20S-201-2-Inch-Guitar/dp/B0083EFXCA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1420207157&sr=8-9&keywords=suede+guitar+strap
Nice review. Are you sure that is true about HPL being better for travel for reasons of damp/heat etc? I had my mind set on an LX1, I tried one the other day and was mind blown by the sound quality. I have a washburn rover which is terrible to play (too small) and crap, slightly interesting sound.
I can vouch for the LX1 suffering under humidity. I bought my LX1 ten or so years ago and moved to Taiwan. Last year, the saddle/bridge piece simply fell right off the body, I have made attempts to repair/reglue it back on, but discovered the body has warped and is now impossible to secure it. SUCKS and I cry! Should of went with the LXM
Hey dude I need some advice . I don't usually play for tip and travel with my guitar but I am planning to (since my Yamaha c70 CL is a bit of a pain in the arse for traveling) Here is the twisty point , I hate being too careful to guitars . I am treating my C70CL like a baby (literally) because finish damages really really hurts the sound of it . I wanna be less careful to guitar and I am planning to get an electronical mini martin so can you recommend me one please ?
+Cem Aksoy And I wonder if playing a 3/4 for easy travel permanently damages your playstyle , I could use a full sized keyboard but small bodied guitar (if it exists) so please help me bro .
+Cem Aksoy hey brother! On damages, don't even worry about it. I lived under bridges, hitchhiked, camped, hopped trains, and lived on beaches for six months with this thing and it still looks good as new. Not to mention when I was out West this past summer and RAN OVER THE THING in Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park. hahaha In terms of it messing with your playing style, don't worry about it. I've played nothing but the little martin for months and months at a time while traveling, and it usually takes about a day or two of playing on a full size to get back to normal. Nothing permanent by any means :)
+tomedwardsmusic if you're interested in reading about the Little Martin's crazy adventures around the world, check out my book on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Planes-Trains-Broken-Strings-Indie-Musician/dp/0692342389/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
+tomedwardsmusic Im so grateful thx for sharing knowledge man . How can I find the same guitar's electric model ? It looks like LXME (same guitar but electrical one) has different red-ish wood on it (which makes it awful) and LX1E is wood , you said wood makes it sensitive for bump and bangs so : Do you know how I can I find a guitar looks just like yours but electronic ? BTW I really appreciate your work and life . Hope you have a happy life
call me stupid if you want (I'm new at guitar) and I've loved the Martin OO guitar, but don't have the cash to dish out. How does this differentiate from a OO Martin? Please let me know if you can, I'd love to know.
Honestly, I'm not familiar with that model, so I don't really know! Bear in mind that the "Little Martin" will probably not have as deep of a sound, being a smaller guitar.
