I got my 1951 Martin D-28 in 1980. I shaved the braces a little at a time until I got the full balanced sound I wanted. You can drive it as hard as you want too and it's still clean and even. I use GHS med. bronze strings. I had another 1951 D-28 and it couldn't touch this one even tho it was an outstanding guitar, so I sold it. I have an 0-17 1942 Martin that I sit around and finger pick on. I have a lot of fun playing rhythm behind fiddlers with a 1927 TG0 tenor guitar. A 1932 wood body National El Trovador is great for bottleneck playing. I'll stop here before I get too boring. If I could only have one guitar it would be the 1951 D-28.