to me its playability first. If a guitar doesnt feel right in my hand, i just cant play my best. And since most of your tone comes from your fingers, i tend to buy on feel more than anything. the "sound" can be changed easy enough through new pickups, amp settings, pedals, etc....but the true tone is in the comfort in your hand. Example, i love the sound of les pauls, but i never play my gibsons. the '59 profile feels like im holding a 2x4, my epis have the '60's profile and just feel plain good to me. stock, there's no comparison, gibbies all the way, but a pickup and wiring upgrade and my '98 epi std will rock toe to toe with any stock LP, at 1/3 the price too! my fenders, ahh, love the C neck, hate the tinniness. fatten up the pickups and crank my tubescreamer, im in heaven. my '06 MIM fat strat is the guitar i pick up anytime im feelin down, 12 bars later...not a care in the world. rock on