Acoustic Guitar invited manufacturers to send us samples of their small-body instruments with list prices between $500 and $1, 000. e ended up with 11 guitars that are surprisingly diverse in sound and feel, some inspired by vintage instruments and others with more modern body and neck shapes, materials, and appointments. In checking out these guitars, I was assisted by Pete Madsen, a San Francisco Bay Area fingerstyle blues guitarist, teacher, and frequent Acoustic Guitar contributor. Heres our review of the Martin 000X1AE.