My New Guild D140

Derick, no sir, not doing open mic, not up to being around people I know just yet...

played it last night plum up til bed time and yes it was making me index finger sore.
Thinking about it, it may get the Retro strings sooner than I originally thought it would.

Garland,

 Are you still playing, half a step down tuning, a bit kinder on the fingers.
  Also a good time, to try playing a little with a pick.
 As long as you are enjoying it, that's the main thing.

Garland,

The problem is, you can read me like a book.

You will get attention from the ladies be it this week, next week or next month, it will do you good, when you are ready.

Garland ,

Every guitar has its own sound and tone, within reason, it will grow on you the more you play it.
Harder to fret is usually caused by the nut hight, or having sore or tender fingers.
The other thing that comes to mind is the,  scale length , the longer the more tension on the strings.
 Compare scale length with your other guitars.
 If all else fails ,  tune down.

Garland ,

You don't really want it to sound like your other guitars.
You do need volume and sustain, that's what Dreadnought are famous for.
It may be still a bit subdued due to it been so new.
The only thing I can think of now is to try humidification for a day or two, and or tune it up to pitch and give it a good hard strumming with a pick, for a couple of hours, to see if it loosens it up a bit.
Or it my be like an expensive wine, you have to get a taste for it.
I know it's hard to put in to words, what sound is like.
Been as your only other solid wood guitar is your Martin, how does the sound compare.

The nut slots may be the culprit.