Reading this makes you appreciate Alembic all the more...! Each instrument is treated like the unique creation that it is.
Bottom line is it all comes back to the wood.
Bad wood = bad instrument. No matter how old it is, where/how it was made or how well it's dressed up & blinged out.
I played a '66 Strat that absolutely sucked, one of the worst guitars I've ever played. Totally dead wood - no resonance whatsoever.
And I've played several recent Mexican Strats that are absolutely alive with resonance - the electronics were a little cheesy - but the wood was lively. Upgrade the electronics in one of these winners and you've got a fine instrument.
But, according to market values, that crappy '66 Strat is worth 10 - 20 x what the Mexican versions are worth.
