Little Martin LXK2 Review

When it comes to choosing a small acoustic guitar, there's something on the market for just about every price range. However, many of the very inexpensive guitars offer basic functionality, but they don't have a lot going for them in the way of tone.

Martin's Little Martin series of acoustic guitars offers players excellent build quality and surprisingly big tone, and the LXK2 little martin adds in a stunning aesthetic. If you want a smaller acoustic guitar whose sound rivals that of a full-sized Martin dreadnought, the LXK2 is worth looking at.

Things To Think About Before Buying A Smaller Or Travel-Size Guitar

Generally, if you only plan to buy an instrument, it's a good idea to purchase a full-sized acoustic--larger guitars will have a greater tonal range, and they'll give you a fullness of sound that a smaller body can't reach.

However, if you have the money to buy a travel guitar (or if you have smaller hands and would prefer to play a smaller guitar), it's worth looking into purchasing an LXK2 little martin or another smaller guitar. Before buying, here are a few things to ask yourself:

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Sound Quality

Sound quality is almost always a concern when purchasing a smaller guitar. And if you've read product descriptions of this guitar, you know that Martin emphasizes the guitar's big tone for its size.

This sound demo gives you a sense of what the little martin LXK2 sounds like--we think it's an instrument that sounds surprisingly good for its small size. It doesn't quite have the sustain of a full-size dreadnought, but its tight, focused sound will go well with a variety of genres.

Body Size And Shape

At first glance, a LXK2 Little Martin looks a lot like a traditional Martin dreadnought. These guitars are substantially scaled-down dreadnoughts, which may explain the surprising amount of bass they can produce given their size. This Little Martin has non-scalloped X-bracing.

This bracing type is a little more stable than scalloped X bracing, and it helps create the tight, balanced sound you hear from the lxk2 little martin.

If you compare the LXK2 little martin to any other instrument ideal for travel you'll likely hear the sonic differences--many buyers have said their Little Martins can stand up to full-size dreadnoughts. When you hear the little martin LXK2, you'll see why.

Tonewoods

At first glance, you probably think that this Little Martin will have the unique, bright sound of koa. However, even though it's advertised as a koa guitar, the little martin LXK2 is simply a koa-finished laminate. It's made entirely of high-pressure laminate (HPL), but the top is patterned like koa.

There's very little difference in sound between guitars made with High-pressure laminate. The difference isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's essential to realize this isn't an instrument that will sound like a solid-wood instrument.

This guitar's neck is also made of a laminate material--specifically, laminated natural birch. The fingerboard is made of RichLite, a laminate material that looks a lot like ebony.

An all-laminate guitar usually isn't any player's first choice. But when you're looking for an instrument you can travel with or a quality instrument to learn on, laminate has some advantages. Namely, it's much more durable than solid wood. When you need a guitar to take on trips or something for a small child to play, an all-laminate model may be the right choice.

Appointments

The wood used on an instrument is vital to consider, but some of the smaller components used can also shape its sound. Many inexpensive instruments designed either for travel or for smaller people learning to play come equipped with cheap plastic nuts and saddles and cheap tuners.

The LXK2 little martin, on the other hand, comes with higher-quality components that improve your playing experience along with the guitar's sound.

For instance, this instrument has a Corian nut and a Tusq saddle. Corian is a specialized plastic composite that mimics the tonal properties of bone. While some might look askance at it, Corian is the material used by Gibson to make the nuts on most of its instruments. Tusq is a composite that is designed to sound like ivory.

The nut and saddle are small parts of the instrument, but they add some sustain and improve the tonal quality of any instrument. In-house chrome tuners help it stay in tune, so you can play for hours on end without needing to stop and re-tune.

Handedness

Along with the rest of the Little Martin line, the LXK2 has an exciting feature. It's listed as being left-friendly. The added functionality means that Martin will make and sell you a left-handed version of this guitar without an upcharge. If you're a left-handed player, you know how hard it is to find a lefty instrument without having to pay extra.

The comment is a brief review, but this reviewer's sentiment is similar to that of most people who purchase Little Martin LXK2 guitars. Many players think the lx2k little martin has a sound that comes very close to that of a full-size Martin.

This review highlights one of the many purposes of the Martin LXK2--it makes an excellent starter guitar for children. While it's small enough to be easy for children to play, its build quality and sound make it an instrument they can grow into.

Some players may hesitate when considering the LXK2 due to its all-laminate construction. However, in this review, a devotee of solid wood instruments finds that they ultimately like the sound of this all-laminate smaller guitar.