True - i´d always say: when you are thinking about geting a real expensive guitar (2.000 bucks and more) then consider getting a custom made one from a good luthier - that way you can be sure to get the best for your money plus it has your very own design. Also luthiers tend to use exclusive woods that already are very old (100 years and more) to provide a great tone.

The price on standard guitars is of course an indicator for its quality. Of course the quality-leap from 200 to 800 bucks is much bigger than from 1000 to 1500 bucks - the more expensive the guitars, the smaller are the quality-differences) - to get a guitar thats realy twice as good as a 3000 dollar guitar would probably cost you 5 times as much - and as for the old expensive guitars - i say screw them - quality has improved alot and any 800 bucks guitar can blow away any old dusty axe IMO