- [u]Nobody[/u] can hear what name is written on the headstock. They can guess at what it sounds like, but the only way to be sure is to see it and read it. Which means that if a guitar sounds good to you, it sounds [u]good[/u].
- No one else can decide for you about how a guitar should feel in your hands. It's as personal as buying a pair of shoes. Following that analogy, something that looks really stylish on the rack may be really uncomfortable after you've worn them for a few miles.
- The best buying decisions are made with your mind and your ears open, and your eyes shut. If a guitar speaks to you on a deep personal level, then every other consideration is secondary.
- The amp, and any effects you use, have such a big impact on your sound, that the guitar becomes less of an influence as the signal chain gets longer. Even if you play totally 'clean' the axe is only half of the system.
My personal tastes lead me to old Yamaha and Washburn guitars from the 60s through the 80s. People hearing stuff on tape guess the whole range from Airline through Fender and Gibson to Teisco. After a while, they just shrug, and settle back to enjoy the music. And that's the whole point, right? :D