Last I heard, Tony Rice was plugging Santa Cruz guitars, and making them sound damn good too.

Yeah, but keep in mind that both Santa Cruz and Collings have been very successful essentially by copying old Martin (and a few Gibson) guitars, but making them sound even better, and selling them for top dollar.

No matter what Tony Rice plays, he'll always be associated with the The D-28 - the one that Clarence enlarged the soundhole on, and installed an old Guild fingerboard, and that TR still has but doesn't play out much because it has to much historical value. Martin, Collings and Santa Cruz have all produced close copies.

Peter.