C.F. Martin & Co D-X1E HPL Koa/Koa

The "Remastered" X Series: The Martin Spirit, Designed for Modern Life

With this new generation of the X series, Martin Guitar modernizes the aesthetics with more detailed HPL finishes and revises several lutherie details to improve handling. Updated design elements are also present (redesigned rosette, satin-finished tuners, rounded-edge bridge inspired by the "SC" range), resulting in a premium-looking guitar designed to handle rehearsals, transport, and sessions without stress.

Who Is It For and What Styles?

The Martin D-X1E is aimed at serious beginners to intermediate guitarists who want a reliable, easy-to-play electro-acoustic folk guitar that is immediately usable live or in the home studio. Its Dreadnought format is particularly suited for strumming, pop/rock, folk, and vocal accompaniment, while remaining comfortable for fingerpicking when seeking a round and stable tonal foundation.

Sound

The Dreadnought format naturally provides power, a solid low-end foundation, and generous projection, perfect for filling a room or supporting a voice. The koa HPL top, back, and sides prioritize consistency and resistance to environmental changes, with a clear and balanced response. The X scalloped spruce bracing (carved) energizes the top: you get a lively attack, good acoustic volume, and a responsive playing feel, appreciated both with a pick and fingerstyle. Plugged in, the Martin E-1 electronics facilitate stage adaptation thanks to phase control and the built-in tuner.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

For this electro-acoustic folk guitar, you can opt for steel acoustic strings (80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze) to adjust brightness and warmth according to your playing style. A folk guitar capo and a selection of picks ideally complete the setup to vary textures, from strong strumming to softer fingerpicking.

Technical specifications

Format	Dreadnought	Nbrs of frets	20
Left handed	No	Headstock	Composite Koa
Cutaway	No	Neck Type	Glued
Strings	Steel	Electroacoustic	Yes
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Natural
Back&Sides	HPL	Finishing	Satin varnish
Fingerboard	Richlite	Hardware	Nickel

Body type	Dreadnought	Scale length	25.4" / 645 mm
Body/neck joint	mortise and tenon	Nut	white Corian, 44.4 mm / 1.75"
Top	koa HPL	Neck	selected wood
Top finish	satin gloss	Neck finish	hand polished
Rosette	abalone, single ring	Neck profile	Performing Artist
Top bracing	spruce	Fretboard	selected wood
Top bracing type	X, scalloped	Number of frets	20
Back	koa HPL	Tuners	sealed, Satin Chrome finish
Sides	koa HPL	Electronics	Martin E-1
Back and sides finish	satin gloss	Pickguard	Faux Tortoise
Bridge	selected wood	Case	Softshell
Bridge saddle	white Tusq, 16" / 406 mm