I getcha, lefty, but I've played a few Taylors lately which simply blew away virtually everything else in the store, most Martins included...but there are usually a couple of Martins which are at about that same level (as good as it gets). You can go wrong with a Martin. Not drastically wrong, mind you, but some of them are not very remarkable. Some Taylors are like that too, and some will be, as you say, too bright and not warm enough...

There are 3 Taylors I've played lately, though, which were just incredible...warm and bright also, loud, good right across the sonic range. The other guitars I've played in the same store which were very, very good were, again as you say...Martin D-28s. Played one Gibson which was pretty good too, and a couple of Larivees that were just fine.

I bought one of the Taylors, and remain very happy with it. I also have a Martin D-28H which I am equally happy with. They sound quite different, and they both sound great.