Interesting. Rex, I too don't find changing strings on my D35 12-fret slothead a hassle and I too use a string crank.

As for tone, a musician friend once remarked about my guitar, "Sometimes I forget that this is what a guitar should sound like." It has a great bass but the balance is good all the way up.

Oh, and Merle Travis played my guitar back in 1977 and liked it!