[tmanson]

D,
The string spacing at the nut is 1 7/8 and at the saddle is 2 3/8 - nice and wide. It works very well for me (with big wide hands). It's not your typical beginner guitar (not that you're a beginner by any means) regardless how much moola you might have. I've strung it fairly lightly to keep the hand stress down, but string it heavy and it is a monster of a projector.

I'm not an instrument designer by a long shot, but it is my understanding that the three-piece back provides more projection because it is slightly stiffer than a typical two-piece back. Granted, the design was not created for this by Martin (my understanding is that the 3-piece back made more backs available from a limited supply of rosewood back in the day), but it does not surprise me that Matthews and Reynolds used these (D-35s) in the Live at Radio City a few years ago.

Thanks for asking,