I do agree with MDV that often we are influenced by brand names and such and I do find that true for myself as well, though I believe I am much more resistant to it than most people (yes my ego wants out here).
For example when I went looking for an acoustic guitar I wanted to try everything, also Martins, which I had never played before but in my mind were like some kind of holy grail of acoustic guitars. Then I went to try some...god I hated them instantly, to me they all sounded bad. Yeah, they were loud, but sounded cheap, often britle...hated them. Setup was cool, playability too, but no, just no.
Actually I seem to not get on with 90% of high end acoutic guitars sound whise, dunno why. My favorites seem to sit in the 500-1000 range. In the end I tried everything, even did a double blind test and with that ended up with my Ibanez Satriani Signature Acoustic (the cheaper version even). Beat out anything else in the sound department. Also loved the playing feel as it was more electric. Sure, the octaves are not as clean as I would like em, but it sounded great and since I have improved on the basic character with different strings and bridge pins.
Double blind testing in a music store really is amazingly helpful. Tought me that I hate EMGs...well somewhat. I can dig the sounds they make when listening, but I despise playing them, just canīt work it.
Main thing I learned is that with both low and high end factory guitars it is hit and miss. Sure, usually at the higher end you chances are better, but still we all know the Epiphone LP that sounds and feels so much better than the high end Gibson. So much comes down to woods. The tonal qualitys of each piece used and how those pieces come together makes such a large difference. Thing is that it canīt really be taking into acount with factory guitars, so you end up with a lottery.
Luthiers can work with this and use it, which is why their guitars are so amazing.
That is also the reason why I have no doubt that Twinfans PRS is utterly amazing. Pernambuco is not a snake oil wood in my mind (they use it for violin bows for a reason) and when that is properly picked and combined...man.
Of course hardware, craftsmanship, etc all come into making a guitar too, but those all can be adjusted after the fact to certain degrees and the woods remain at the core.
I love my Feline semihollow I got second hand just as much as my cheap (little over 200 quid) Dean Vendetta 1.7 7 string. The first is just amazingly crafted and just has that mojo. The second is not crafted as well, but the feel still fits nicely and I got very lucky with the woods, they just work great with each other and create and nice character and resonance. So lucky to have both.
You can get great cheap guitars, but you gotta search to find one that works and then do setups, probably exchange hardware, etc.
Or you can get something like a Feline and be sure to always get an amazing piece right from the start.
Plus with the high end range (and especially Luthier made stuff) you can hit the point where everything that makes the guitar melds together in a way I have never experienced on a factory made guitar, where really takes a live of its own, sings as one. Really hard to describe but if you have ever experienced it you know what I mean. Twinfan for example has the same thing with his PRS I think.
Well that was a strange ranty thing. Poorly written, so I feel somewhat sorry for anyone reading it all already. Stream of thought really. sorry^^
