I have an Indian Rosewood backed Spruce topped Norman ST68, and a Walnut backed Cedar topped Lowden, both 20 years old. The Lowden sounds brilliant with new strings, but the Norman still sounds good with old strings. Lowden is badly dinked - very easy to mark. Norman looks pretty battered too - but that's because it's my gigging guitar and gets 10 times as many knocks.

Interesting to read about the blindfold testing in Rick Fielding's post, and the Martin D28 coming in around 11th - I did the same thing when I went to buy a Martin D28 in 1987; came away with a Norman and £500 bonus left in my wallet.