[M.D.Smith]

Good info.
I just recently aquired a new guitar with an addi top and made a recording of it using only a micrphone because I too want to hear the "opening up" process instead of using memory as a baseline.
Even after two months, I can listen to the recording and then play her and hear a difference. Same strings, same pick, same chords, same everything, even humidity. The only variable that has changed is time.

This process, I believe, is better than memory alone.

I will in the future put more recordings on the net so others can benefit and let their own ears make the decision.

I've heard from many a good folks that guitars "open up" so I would just want to be able to hear it as time goes by.