I'd been watching your thread with interest. I purchased both a 2012 NH D-40 which looks to have been seldom used and a 1974 F-30NT during the last 45 days. The F-30 has been getting the vast majority of my play time. I am considering returning the D-40 to Guitar Center prior to the end of my 45 day return period, however, I am hesitant to part with it.
The F-30 plays SO easily and fluidly....and requires little pressure for perfect chords & notes. The D-40 feels as you have described...stiff....and requires heavy pressure for clear notes/chords. The D-40 of course is strung with mediums/13's and I have the F-30 strung with 12's. The angle required to hold the dread vs. the F-30 is slightly different yadda yadda. It seems obvious to me that the d40 is a great albeit new guitar that still requires some breaking in while the F30 if just 'ready'. I am also finding that the smaller bodied guitars are just so much easier (for me) to play.
At this point in time it is hard for me to not A vs. B the D40 vs. the F30....and I know that this is hardly a fair comparison. These are very different guitars in many ways. That said, I lean heavily towards the comfortable and easy to play F-30....to the point where I am considering getting rid of the D40 in favor of another small body guitar.
The D40 is a great guitar...and at the $799 used retail that I had paid for it...understandably again I am finding it difficult to justify returning it to the store. My clock is ticking with 45 days coming in just over one week. What to do what to do. I know with certainty that this is the best hog dread that I could possibly find for $800. But a guitar that I don't play often is no bargain at any price.
The D40 and F 30 are two different beasts
First thing is 13’s are some tough strings in standard tune and action is everything !
Scale lengh is a factor ,
As far as soloing like Joe satrainie forget it unless your the hulk !
Both guitars in standard tune with 13’s to me are a flat picking bluegrass gauge , bending strings etc will be hard .
If it’s hard to play chords or finger pick check the action height first if that’s right then change gauge.
In standard tune the heavier the better strumming / hard strumming .
From that you need adjust string gauge to fit finger picking and or a combo of both depending on your style !
Hard to play guitars either have a bad set up which will include sting gauge, nut height, saddle height,
Neck angle . Neck relief is subject to personal preference.
Other factors are fret conditions are they worn out and low carrying flat tops ? If so low action will lighten the clarity of the note to compensate the action is raised .
Just my take and no one else’s