Great idea for a thread topic.

When I'm seriously looking for a guitar I do and don't do certain things.

1. I view the mission as looking for a certain tool for a certain job. For instance, I am currently looking for a mahogany dred. When I go test driving I don't drive any S's, J's, OM's, M's etc. I already know why I want what I want and testing something that's not within those "tool" parameters will only confuse me and waste time well..I came in here for a wrench, but powwweeeeeerrr toooolssssss.......mmmmmmmmmm! Doh!

From there I a/b in much the same manner as you but I try again to eliminate confusion as I go. I try to put myself facing a corner or at least a wall first. I a/b for a while, try to assess if I'm giving a fair chance to a great guitar with old strings. I try to eliminate things that will make a difference but can be compensated----for instance, making sure that I'm a/b'ing with my right hand equidistant from the bridge not the soundhole.

once I'm really serious about a few, I go to a testing room (I'm lucky enough to be close to Elderly's, but Front Porch in Valparaiso IN is equally accomodating to privacy---and has one VERY fine guitar player if I want to be on the recieving end of some sound).

This brings me to another point. It's a little controversial, the subject of "projection" but regardless of where you stand on the issue of whether a "projecting" guitar may not sound as good to the player, any guitar will sound different from the other side. I try to listen to someone else play it.

I don't do much in the way of altered tunings but I always do a bit of drop D to see how that sounds too.

hey.....I'll let someone else talk now.