Martin Guitars from my experience (D models only) are well suited to Bluegrass and Country since they have that deep bass end. Most of the D models I have played (Quite a few) are not balanced at all. The mids are there and the trebles kinda get pingy and thin unless pumped through a sound system. Of course, if you are pumped through a sound system a good technician can give you basically whatever sound you want. I'm talking about straight out without the Sound management. In a jam I usually just hear that Martin Bass booming away which is great for Bluegrass and rhythym. For fingerpicking I've never heard anything better than a Bourgeouis (sp?) or a Kevin Ryan. You can't get that boomy sound of a Martin but the tonal quality and intonation is awesome and the projection is quite loud also. I think that most folks forget that before the 1900's that there wasn't such a thing as a Dreadnought. Didn't used to be DVD's,CD's and VCR's either. (Sorry you guys under 20, but its true!)Most folks seem to get used to that "Nashville" overproduced sound that is impossible to emulate in a live unplugged performance. Of course, now unplugged means miked and tweaked and EQ'd to the max , but using acoustic instruments.

Ben