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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I know it's not an Ovation, but since we're such an understanding, embracing group...
Anyone tried one of these yet?
Martin DXK2
I saw them in the Musician's Friend catalog, and played one in GC the other day. It plays awesome, but the best thing about it is that it smells awesome! Seriously, it would be worth the $499 they have it priced at just to hang on a wall and smell up your house - imagine intensely fragrant fresh cedar, times 10!
It's a sweet-playing acoustic only Koa HPL guitar.
Only question is - what on earth is HPL? |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | It is purdy... |
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January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | High Pressure Laminant |
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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | I just sold a DX1. Solid top,laminant back and sides.These are good guitars, sounded close to a D18. I`ve seen a couple go for $350.00 over on the Martin forum in the last week. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by edensharvest:
Only question is - what on earth is HPL? Sawdust and resin. AKA Formica.
I'm all for non-traditional materials as long as the result sounds good at the price point. Unfortunately Martin's all-HPL guitars get their asses kicked by sub-$150 imports. The HPL's with solid wood tops sound a lot better. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Andrew, I thought you already bought a koa ovation guitar? Dave |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Yeah...but I'm always attracted to beautiful instruments...hence the severe GAS pains all the time!
Besides, I didn't buy this one - not yet anyway. ;) |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Is this part of the line that Martin is now making in Mexico? |
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August 2003
Posts: 430
Location: Lebanon, TN | Nope, made in Nazareth, PA. If you take the tour (highly reccomeded if you are in the Philly/ Eastern PA area) then that's the first place they take you through. They can knock one of these out in around 2 hours total elapsed time including the time for glues to fix. They then hang them for 24 hours and re-inspect to check nothing has popped and that they fit the final quality measures.
Fascinating from a busines industrial process point of view to contrast that process and the productivity they have for that area (and likely profitability per unit) and then compare and contrast it to the process for everything else that goes through the factory. The robotic finish line and buffers are exceptionally cool to watch and explain the very consistent finish on most over $1500 martins that you buy new these days
Martin quality supervisor who was leading our recent tour said that he has a couple of these (DX and LX) just hinging around his dining room for anyone who wants to pick them up. Just answering to martin demand. He says every unit that comes out of that LX/DX area is already pre-ordered by the chains and agents. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | HPL? I'll take a panelmaster anyday! |
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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | Stuart, mine was stamped "made in Mexico" have they made a change? |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
[The HPL's with solid wood tops sound a lot better. I'll second that!
I purchased a DX-1 at a yard sale. It has its share of dings and scratches, but otherwise, it's a bottom-feeder's find for a U.S. made Martin. Tends to be more boomy on the bass, but still a sweet sound overall.
My LXM is made in Mexico ... these days, I will not be surprised if the X series are outsourced for mass production south of the border. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | 500 usd. overthere ? :eek: Overhere such one costs 1100 usd. for 200 more I can / will get a J-15 ,all solid wood,simple cosmetics,yet great looks, ( noh, that it`s a JUMBO has got nothing to do with it ) ;) X -mas is drawing to a close,soooh...allthough there is that Gibson "Sheryl Crow signature " ( 2200 usd. used)or ,perhaps I should just save some more and get that .. # 47 ( never mind it`s brand ;) )... " In dreams I walk alone..." Roy Orbison :cool:
Vic |
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August 2003
Posts: 430
Location: Lebanon, TN | Okay...I emailed a friend and he confirmed that production has opened in Mexico of these units. I apologize for the misteer, but I can confirm a number of these DX/LX are made in Nazareth as I have seen them there 4 weeks ago. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Speaking of Koa, have you seen the Koa Guitar in the new Lost Art Vintage Newsletter? Those things have killer looks. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Fortunately Rick, the head of the model was cut off! The guy has a real face for radio! :D
I'm surprised you haven't seen that one before. If I wasn't indebted to the Company Store that would have been the next adoptee. :cool: |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |  |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Call an Exorsist! |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | ...I'm feeling much better now... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | For some reason, that smiley face has the look of a touch of evil to it! |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Careful, Waskel... would be a shame if Wal*Mart lowered the hammer on you for violating their trademark! :rolleyes: |
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OT - Sweet little Koa guitar