> Also on a final note, there is a really good book by Huw Price on
> recording bass and guitar that you might want to check out. Sounds like
> you have a pretty good grasp on this already, but I learned a few new
> tricks from this book. It is very comprehensive, yet easy to understand.
> It is put out by Backbeat Books, and it really goes in depth on the
> different ways to mic and record acoustic and electric guitars and
> basses. I don't remember the name right now, but if you look on the
> Backbeat Books website (www.backbeatbooks.com), you should be able to
> find it.

I'll check it out. I read tons of books on stuff like mastering, recording, mics etc.. You don't realize how much you've learned until a couple of years later when you talk to other people and notice they have no idea what you're talking about.

As far as the high end stuff, I agree with you up to a point.
I used to manage a high end music store (ya know, the kind where the speakers are 10 grand and the CD players are $3500 etc..)
When you get to a certain level of equipment, you really do notice differences in things like wires. I used to sell Monster Cable $3 per foot for the subs and about 1/2" thick. RCA cables for $300.
When you get to that level of equipment, and have really spent your time setting up the acoustics of the room, you can definitely tell the difference between a $40 cable and a $300 cable.
So, in some cases that 1% is worth it.
If you're talking about a multimillion dollar album that you've spent 3 years on and iit's going to be around for the next 30 years and used to demonstrate high end equipment in music stores, then every little bit counts.