Player conservatism plays a huge part in the whole brand name thing as well, I've found. I used a 58 Tele onstage till 1980 when I bought a neck-thru, all singing, all dancing Vantage VA900 which I've never once regretted doing as that guitar and I put up some big miles and sleazy dives over the next 25+ years - never missed a beat and still has it's OEM fittings, though they are a bit tatty these days!! Was even used as a stage intruder punishment device once or twice which still makes me shudder...

Point is, that guitar was, and is, the equal of anything ever made in a guitar factory at any price. Simple as, but other players in an audience would look at it, then you'd see raised eyebrows and pursed lips as they realised it wasn't an Alembic but a Japanese built instrument and they were instantly dismissive of it, even though the sounds it made had made them sit up and take notice in the first place!!

I do have a Strat - heavily, heavily ratted out - which is basically a wall hangar these days as my custom Japs get all the loving these days but the Fender is the one that people recognise when they visit, then they see the other 7 in the living room!!

I'm quite happy for the hoi-polloi to go Fender and Gibson hunting; leaves all those yummy Japs from the 80s for me but I will admit to wanting a Rick 360/12.... I have an electric 12 but a Rick?! Yes, please!

See... I'm as bad as the rest...