Tony Rice has the real item...

...so what we get here is the modern, production version of the classic D-28 which CW helped make famous. I have played three different D-28 CW, and they are all really good--basically the same sound from each, the same tonal qualities. The bottom end is powerful and not slow. The midrange and trebles sing. Because the upper end is enhanced (by the larger hole, in part), the treble and bass are more balanced than a standard D-28. And it seems louder than most other Martin D-28s. I don't know how much of what I hear in the D-28 CW is due to the Adirondack top, the large soundhole, the shifted bracing, or whatever else it is that they do to their premium models, but it works. It is a big beautiful sounding dreadnaught guitar. The nicest that I have ever heard, except maybe a 1940 D-28 that I played once, but maybe not. I am going to buy a D-28 CW.

Reviewed by ElvisRouge on 3/20/2007 who plays flatpicking, blues, fingerstyle.