Why is Martin Dave's go-to guitar at Radio City?

[bookbinder]

Here's my theory on why the HD-28V is his go-to at RC -- it's the Sitka Spruce top. It can take some seriously heavy strumming (think Dancing Nancies, Two Step).

Compare the DM3MD -- I think that has an Englemann Spruce top, which isn't as stiff as Sitka, and thus doesn't have the "headroom" of Sitka, i.e. it tends to break up when strummed heavily. Engelmann can handle strumming, but it is loved by fingerpickers for its responsiveness. Think Crush.

As for the Taylor GS that Dave's using for Raised B tuned songs -- I could be wrong, but the top on that GS looks awful dark -- if it's the same GS I've seen him use for Oh, Sister, Stay or Leave on YouTube, then I think it's a Cedar top, which is ultra responsive, warmer, richer. Perfect for those songs.

I thought of something since my original post -- there's a YouTube clip of Dave playing Crush solo, and what guitar is he using? His 914c. Englemann top there. Maybe he likes to use the Martin because Tim's using a Martin D-35, and the two Martins combine nicely.