Martin X Series Acoustic Guitars Overview (2024)

This post will take a look at all of the different Martin X Series acoustic guitars.

CF Martin & Company has been in the guitar making business for over 180 years and have been at the forefront of many acoustic guitar innovations.

Their X Series guitars may be on the lower end of Martin?s guitars in terms of price but even Martin?s lower end guitars are high quality and the X Series is testament to that.

And you?re still looking at an MSRP of around $729 (USD) for the cheapest X Series model – Martin isn?t focused on budget priced guitars – their focus is on?quality acoustic guitars and that shows in even their lower end (for them!) X Series models.

The Guitars in Martin?s X Series

The X Series is made up of the following guitars:

• DX1AE
• DX1RAE
• DX1KAE
• DXAE Black
• DXMAE
• DXK2AE
• DX2AE Macassar
• DCX1AE Macassar
• D12X1AE
• GPX1AE
• GPCX1AE
• GPCX1RAE
• GPCXAE Black
• GPCX2AE Macassar
• 00X1AE
• 000X1AE
• OMXAE Black
• OMCXAE Black

O.k. so those names sound confusing and there are a lot of different guitars there. Which is the best option? let’s break down each guitar so that you can learn more about each guitar and the differences between each model. It’s not too difficult once you break it down.

All prices are in USD.

DX1AE – MSRP $779

Starting with the Dreadnought models let’s take a look at the DX1AE. To make the name easier to understand let’s see what the letters and numbers stand for.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

The DX1AE features:

• Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought
• Solid Sitka Spruce Top
• HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Mahogany Back and Sides
• X Bracing (non-scalloped)
• Rust Birch Laminate Neck
• FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
• 25.4? (645mm) scale length
• 1.75? (44mm) nut width
• White Corian Nut
• FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
• Cutaway: No cutaway
• Electronics: Fishman Sonitone

With so many manmade or unfamiliar materials it’s easy for some to dismiss the X series guitars. But once you play one (check out my full review of the DX1RAE?for more) then you’ll realize that, whatever they are doing with the materials, it works.

Plus, using some of those materials makes these guitars better for the environment.

The sound and playability of these guitars (at least the ones that I?ve had the pleasure of playing) for under $1,000 is awesome.

DX1RAE – MSRP $779

I loved this guitar when I had the chance to demo it. Check out my review at the link below.

>>DX1RAE Full Review

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

R = Rosewood (HPL) Back & Sides

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

This guitar is virtually the same as the DX1AE (first guitar in this list) except that it has East Indian Rosewood HPL back and sides. Whilst the HPL Rosewood won’t affect the sound as much as Solid Rosewood would, it still makes a difference.

The HPL Rosewood back and sides will help to produce more pronounced lows and highs and more overtones compared with the HPL Mahogany, which will help to produce a subtly warmer, mid-range heavy tone with more subtle overtones.

They?re the same price so the only decision really is if you prefer the sound and look?of Mahogany or Rosewood.

DX1KAE – MSRP $779

The DX1KAE is again pretty much the same guitar – except this time the pattern of the HPL is Hawaiian Koa.? Again between the 3 the only real decision is whether you prefer the Mahogany, Rosewood or Koa sound and look.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

K = Koa (HPL) Back and Sides

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

DXAE Black – MSRP $729

The DXAE is the cheapest of the models – the reason being (in my opinion) is that it doesn’t have a solid wood top.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Black = Jett Black HPL Top, Back & Sides

Apart from the top being HPL instead of solid Sitka spruce (the major difference), the DXAE Black has mostly the same specs as the DX1AE, DX1RAE and the DX1KAE, except for a few minor things.

• Black (instead of white) Corian nut
• Black (instead of white) Compensated Tusq Saddle

DXMAE – MSRP $729

The DXMAE is very similar to the DXAE Black, except that it has a Sitka Spruce patterned HPL top in place of the black one, the nut and saddle are white and the back and sides are Mahogany patterned HPL.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

M = Mahogany Patterned HPL Back and Sides

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

The decision between this one and the black version comes down to which you prefer the look of. If it were me I would pay the extra $50 to get a solid top (like on the DX1AE, DX1RAE and DX1KAE).

DXK2AE – MSRP $729

The DXK2AE has Koa patterned HPL Top, Back and sides. This is the main difference between this and the DXAE Black and DXMAE.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

K = Koa Patterned HPL Back and Sides

2 = Solid Sapele Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

DX2AE Macassar – MSRP – $779

The DX2AE Macassar features a solid Sapele (Mahognay-esque tonewood) top and Macassar patterned HPL back and sides.

D = Dreadnought

X = X Series

2 = Solid Sapele Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Macassar – Macassar Patterned HPL Back and Sides

The major difference here is the Solid Sapele top. This will help to produce a warmer, fuller, mid-range heavy type of sound – compared with the Sitka Spruce topped versions.

DCX1AE Macassar – MSRP – $929

The DCX1AE Macassar has a Solid Sitka Spruce top and Macassar patterned HPL back and sides. It is also the first of the models that we have looked that features a cutaway.

D = Dreadnought

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Macassar – Macassar Patterned HPL Back and Sides

D12X1AE – MSRP $879

Now we come to the 12 string model. The D12X1AE is has the same specs except that it is a 12 string guitar and this naturally also means that the nut width is slightly wider (to accommodate the extra strings) – it is 1 7/8? (1.875? – 47.6mm).

D = Dreadnought

12 = 12 String

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

GPX1AE – MSRP $779

Now we?re onto the Grand Performance models. These models are Martin?s Grand Performance size/shape.

The GP shape has a more defined waist than the dreadnought model. It has a slightly smaller length, a slightly wider lower bout, a slightly shorter body length and a slightly shallower body depth.

You can see the difference between the dimensions in the table below.

>>Learn more about Martins shapes here

GP = Grand Performance Shape/Size

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

The GPX1AE features:

• Body Shape/Size: Grand Performance
• Solid Sitka Spruce Top
• HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Mahogany Back and Sides
• Scalloped X Bracing
• Rust Birch Laminate Neck
• FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
• 25.4? (645mm) scale length
• 1.75? (44mm) nut width
• White Corian Nut
• FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
• Cutaway: No cutaway
• Electronics: Fishman Sonitone

As you can see the GPX1AE is very similar to the DX1AE – the difference being the shape of the guitar. Which does have a big impact on sound. But you can see now that it’s not that complicated to tell the difference between each of the X Series guitars.

GPCX1AE – MSRP $929

The GPCX1AE is the same as the GPX1AE above except that it has a cutaway. This is a great option if you like to reach the upper frets more easily.

GP = Grand Performance

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

GPCX1RAE – MSRP $929

The only difference between the GPCX1RAE and the GPCX1AE is that the GPCX1RAE has rosewood patterned HPL back and sides in place of the mahogany patterned HPL back and sides.

So the choice between the two will basically come down to which one you like the sound and look of better.

GP = Grand Performance

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

R = Rosewood patterned HPL back and sides

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

GPCXAE Black – $879

The major difference between the GPCXAE Black and the GPCX1AE and GPCX1RAE is that it has a black HPL top in place of the solid Sitka Spruce top. This is why this guitar is cheaper than the GPCX1AE.

It also has Black HPL back and sides.

The other small differences are that it that the nut and saddle are black instead of white (but still made from the same materials)

GP = Grand Performance

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Black = Jett Black HPL Top, Back & Sides

GPCX2AE Macassar – $929

The GPCX2AE features a solid Sapele Top and Macassar patterned HPL back and sides. These are the major differences compared to the GPCX1AE and GPCX1RAE. Otherwise is basically the same.

Sapele is similar to Mahogany. So if you prefer that sound then this could be a good option.

GP = Grand Performance

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

2 = Solid Sapele Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Macassar = Macassar patterned HPL back and sides

00X1AE – $779

The 00X1AE is very similar to the DX1AE and the GPX1AE. The major difference being the shape of the guitar. This is DX1RAE/GPX1AE but instead in the 00 shape.

The 00 Shape is more like the Dreadnought in terms of its more subtle waist – but it’s quite a bit smaller. It is smaller than both the Dreadnought and the Grand Performance.

It has a smaller overall length, smaller body length, smaller lower bout width and a shallower body depth. You can check out the dimensions below.

00 = 00 size/shape

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

The 00X1AE features:

• Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought
• Solid Sitka Spruce Top
• HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Mahogany Back and Sides
• Scalloped X Bracing
• Rust Birch Laminate Neck
• FSC? Certified Richlite Fingerboard
• 25.4? (645mm) scale length
• 1.75? (44mm) nut width
• White Corian Nut
• FSC? Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated white Tusq saddle
• Cutaway: No cutaway
• Electronics: Fishman Sonitone

As you can see the only real difference is the shape/size – which is, of course, a fairly significant difference.

000X1AE – $779

And again we have the same guitar in terms of materials – but this time in the 000 (aka 0M) shape.

This shape looks more like the Grand Performance shape in terms of the shape – but it is smaller. However, it is bigger than the 00. Adding one more column to the table you can check out the 000 size compared with the Dreadnought, Grand Performance and 00 above.

000 = 000 size/shape

X = X Series

1 = Solid Sitka Spruce Top

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

OMXAE Black – $729

The OMXAE Black is similar to the 000X1AE. The major difference being the Black HPL top, back and sides. The HPL top in place of the solid Sitka Spruce top is the reason that it’s cheaper.

The 0M shape is the same as the 000 shape.

The other smaller differences are the black saddle and nut and black birch laminate neck.

0M = OM size/shape (same as 000 shape)

X = X Series

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Black = Jett Black HPL top, back and sides

OMCXAE Black – $879

The OMCXAE Black is the same as the 0MXAE except that it has a cutaway for easier access to the higher frets.

0M = OM size/shape (same as 000 shape)

C = Cutaway

X = X Series

A = Acoustic

E = Electronics

Black = Jett Black HPL top, back and sides

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a lot of the X series guitars are quite similar but are offered in different sizes/shapes, with different looks and a couple of different top wood options. So there should be one to suit most people looking for a guitar in this price range.

Personally I wouldn’t go for any of the models with Black HPL tops – the only reason being that the equivalent model with a solid wood top is only an extra $50. So unless you are determined to get a black guitar then I would opt for one of the solid Sitka Spruce topped or Solid Sapele topped models (depending on your sound preferences).

Thanks for reading and I hope you now know more about Martin?s X Series guitars. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments section below.