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Martin is the first name in traditional acoustic guitars. For
170
years now, the Pennsylvania family has been constructing some of the finest
instruments from some of the finest woods for some of the world’s finest
players.
In recent years, however, Martin has become a bit more adventurous in its
designs. The aluminum topped Alternative X is a gutsy experiment that, judging
by its sound, can be
called a sizzling success.
NÜ METAL
As the old saying goes,“Never judge a book by its
cover.” Flying in the face of traditional acoustic guitar
construction with its thinbody cutaway design, aluminum top,
and high-press laminate back and sides, the Alternative X proves that you don’t
need the classic rosewood/spruce combo to get a pleasant sound. Plus, the
aluminum top gives it just a hint of resonator guitar character.
The Alternative X arrived in excellent playing condition. The black Stratabond
neck plays fast, and its modified low oval neck shape was a very comfortable fit
for my
paws. The medium frets were well-dressed, and the relatively low action (for a
Martin)
provided for easy chording and single-note lines, yet there was enough room to
facilitate
string bending.
UNPLUGGED
As the Alternative X comes equipped with a Fishman Prefix Pro
preamp, the guitar
really gets two reviews: acoustic and electric. Played acoustically, the
Alternative X
produces a full, round sound for a thinbody, grand concert–size axe. Sure, it
lacks
a bit of presence and depth, but compared to other traditional tonewood guitars
of the
same physical dimensions that I’ve played recently, its sound was markedly
better.
The best feature of the Alternative X’s acoustic sound was the slight resonator
effect it generates. Though it won’t replace a resonator if that’s your style
of choice, the Alternative X may just inspire self-accompanied singers to pick
up a
slide and get a little swampy, like the riff below.
FIT FOR A STAR
Plug in the Alternative X, and much of its aluminum character
disappears. Although this was a little disappointing, the good news is that it
sounds as good
as any tonewood-built guitar in its category. Played through a Carvin acoustic
guitar
amp, I was able to dial in plenty of tonal variation, including an impressive
bass
response, thanks to the Fishman preamp. A few tweaks of the notch filter
eliminated
the feedback that started brewing at giglevel volume. Also, the guitar’s slim
profile
was extremely comfortable when strapped on and played in standing position.
With its rock-star good looks, the Alternative X is a grand electric-acoustic
alternative for the image-conscious picker. But for those of you who prefer
to get down ’n’ dirty, unplug it, grab a seat and a slide, stomp your foot,
and mic this baby to capture a bit of that aluminum sizzle. |
