I understand your call on the midrange priced guitars then upgrading them yourself. That's what I want to do with my Fernandez. I'm gonna get a custom air-brush paint job on it & put the Zakk Wylde EMG's in her....along with some other mods.
She will be a cranker!
As for the expensive guitars....you really (in most cases) get what you pay for.
But in my research I have come to discover that the big names (Gibson, Fender etc) are not the holy grail of guitars.
I mentioned McPherson acoustics...also go check out Ed Roman Guitars & check out some of the axes he endorses & sells. In particular check out Jet Guitars. True things of beauty!
