The materials used in building the guitar do count for something. The skill and care that went into making a guitar out of those materials count for more.

If your guitar was made by people who cared, on a good day, then it's a good guitar.

Better electronics can bring out the best of a good guitar. They can't help a bad one.

A good guitar will make itself known to you. Close your eyes, open your ears, pay close attention to what your hands and your ears are telling you. If the guitar in your hands speaks to you, then it is worth the effort and expense to help it be the best it can be.

Price, and the name on the headstock mean [u]nothing[/u]! One of the best-sounding guitars I've ever played was a sad-looking pawn-shop derelict, missing the truss rod cover and the plate over the control cavity. But even before I plugged it into an amp, I knew it had something special to offer. I bought it for CDN$250. And I doubt that I will ever sell it.

If you're not sure, then you need to spend some time playing as many guitars as you can get your hands on. The differences soon become noticeable.