The older I get the more ANY semi-acoustic seems to appeal. Big, small, deep, shallow ... whatever. But I don't have a thinner style ES-339. I can see the Epiphone release being a GAS danger - aaaarghh!
As far as "auditioning" prior to buying, that's the best way to do it, but if you live in a very remote area as I do, you can't usually find what you're interested in locally. So, next best bet is to buy on-line @ one of the big music houses that has a "no questions asked" 45 day return policy for full refund and to have done as much on-line research of demos, reviews, etc. before ordering. It's worked OK for me. Not like a test drive, but it usually works.
Absolutely right. As far as it goes for me "auditioning" prior to buying only tells me if a guitar is good, bad or indifferent - but only several weeks if not months will tell me if it's one I'll connect with and/or one that will be a 'keeper'.
AGAIN: You can NEVER have too many guitars! 
'Too many guitars' 
...... no, I don't recognise that concept!! You're right.
