So here's a thought to ponder: In Nov 2007 I went out to buy a new guitar, totally ignorant at that time of the contribution of different tonewoods to tone....
Here's my take: long ago I "thought" I knew what factors contributed to tone. And being the good lemming, I chased that which the market offered as "better." It took me a while --call it "maturing," jaded cynicism, perhaps even disillusion-- but I eventually
grew to learn what tone
I wanted; as in "my" tone and not that alluring magic promised by ad copy. Don't get me wrong as I do not deride Taylor in the least for how they market their wares; in the big scheme of things I love what they do and like many here continually anticipate their new goodies. But I accept all "improvements" in the marketplace as "changes." A simple fix in my mind.
So these days I still like "educating" myself on that which constitutes "better," but I purposely instill a measured "ignorance of specs" when it comes time to actually physically demo any gear as such knowledge tends to predispose me, potentially coloring my opinion, and I risk drawing an incorrect tonal conclusion (ahem, to which I have come to regret at a later time, to my chagrin). My version of a true "blind test" is to pretend I know nothing and I just listen.
This bears no disparagement to anyone else as I am truly offering
my tonal journey over these decades, FW(little)IW. All simply to say perhaps that extra knowledge really
may be a dangerous thing; or conversely, measured ignorance makes me a blissful guitar player
Edward