A good guitar is just that.....................regardless of price and cork sniffing points.
While I have an affinity to Gibson guitars, I play them because they work for me and make me happy - certainly not to impress others with my guitars. I don't need "long tenons, old growth, single piece" or whatever to qualify a guitar. It just needs to play, feel, sound, and look good to me, whatever the price or bragging rights.
Boutique gear - nothing wrong with it at all if you can actually play it. Lots of players buy into it thinking that it will make them an instant guitar god.........when all it takes is skill.
The cork sniffers sniff corks, the players play.......................................
Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity
Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.
Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.