Better late than never...
![grin :-D](http://talk.philmusic.com/Smileys/default/big_smile.png)
In all fairness, everthing that fm55 seems to espouse are based on factual realities that anyone who could read would have known already since the 80s. I've known them since then as much as I'm sure that all of you do and will not argue about it. He does present the better, if not the best, possible options as far as materials and build goes but like I said, everyone knows this already.
FM55 will now probably ask why we do not follow it if we knew and I will have to answer by saying for a lot of different reasons. I'm not even going to use monetary reasons as a factor because I know of at least 3 forum members who have acquired the same stuff that fm55 raved about, only to find out it is not their cup of tea.
Tone, materials and build preference are subjective and this could be proved by the mere fact that even the brands that fm55 look up to have different materials in their similarly priced and featured high-end products. Why? Because preferences are subjective and NOBODY really has the best formula or combination of materials to come out with the best gear that will be regarded by everyone and anyone as being the best. A difference in color or shade maybe enough to turn-off a person with the best sounding gear and that is just the realitiy of life. Some go for blondes, I go for brunettes.
![grin :-D](http://talk.philmusic.com/Smileys/default/big_smile.png)
Ban fm55? No, I don't think so. He is the only one willing to preach unendingly about the facts to great gear that everyone here may most likely know even before he started preaching. This will always be a side of fm55 that will benefit few who may not know yet. My unsolicited advice for fm55 is that he should be more "diplomatic." He should realize that his tone and style of writing often has that put down essence. FM55, I believe will not achieve what he is trying to preach this way. Read up on great reviews from published magazines and books. Sure they may say one product is better than the other but they always do so without demeaning anyone who may have the inferior product.
Brands are not important and neither are prices indicative of a great gear. Case in point: a black, all-stock, ceramic pup Squire Stratocaster that fm55's luthier knows about. It was bought by a señores who collects authentic, great sounding vintages for a mere Php7K to help out a friend. It sounds great. If fm55 doesn't like it unlike most people that have heard it, nothing wrong with that. I will not say that it is his brand-consciousness nor will I say that his great gear (yes, he does own them) is to compensate for something else that make him snob cheap or locally made gear. But if he starts putting down people about their choices because of a personal belief, he is sadly mistaken and is wasting the amout of information and knowledge that he can share.