Martin LXK2 Reviews

Forum username: skixtremist82
Date: 10/24/08
Review: KOA Little Martin
Rating you give the Martin LXK2: 5 - Best thing I ever played

Likes: Small, High quality gig bag, Sound

Dislikes: Needs a pick guard

Additional Comments: I absolutely love this guitar. I just started to play a year ago and need a small guitar to take on deployment. The size of the guitar is perfect, but what impressed me the most was it's sound. It sounds so much clearer than my full size Mitchell. I can't wait to replace the strings with some Elixir ultra lights! By far one of the best purchases I've made. There's no need for my full size Mitchell now!

Date: 9/8/2008
Review: Martin lxk2

Likes: Fits its niche very well

Dislikes: None that I can find

Additional Comments: A great addition to my guitar quiver... First of all, this Little Martin is not going to replace my D-28 or 000-15 or any of my other "full-bodied" guitars. It was purchased as a travel/camping/paddle-the- canoe guitar, and it fills this role very well. I've been playing for 40+ years and have owned several (many) small-bodied guitars intended for my travel needs, including the Baby Taylor, small parlors, etc., and untill now, had not found the right one. This guitar is built like a tank, and stuffs easily in the overhead bin when I fly. Just a slight set up adjustment, Tusq pins, and Elixer Mediums and I was good to go. My playing style is across the board-fingerpicking to thrashy strumming and have no problems massaging sound from this "Formica Wonder". Build quality is surprisingly good at this price point, and unlike the Baby Taylor, its intonation is spot on. I have medium-large hands and adjusting to the fret spacing is easy. Note that the newer ones now have rosewood fretboards and bridge. Looks great...sounds louder than it should and has an even, mellow tone. Thanks Maury and Andrew!

Name: Dai Douglas
Date: 20/11/2007
Review: Martin LXK2
Rating you give the Martin LXK2: 4 - Highly recommend it

Like about the Martin LXK2: Plays in tune right up the neck, can fly as hand luggage, good for children & travel, a reasonable sound.

Dislike about the Martin LXK2: Quality varies - so try several before buying, the "koa" is High Pressure Laminate (HPL), the sticker with the serial number peels off.

Additional Comments: I tried many 3/4-size guitars for a lot more money than this, and none of them played in tune past the 4th or 5th fret. The store I bought this one from had several, but one had a faulty neck, and one had an unattractive koa pattern, but the two I bought were great. It always pays to try as many as you can. I also bought a solid-spruce top LX1 for my neice, and strangely I prefer the sound from the laminate koa guitars than the very toppy spruce models. Let's not get carried away here - this is a sub-$300 guitar, which plays in tune, sounds reasonable and holds its own with many a parlour-size guitar costing much more. And it is MUCH better than the baby Taylor. I'm coming across to the States again soon, and will again buy two more, as the interest these guitars have generated here in UK is immense.