Hi Guys,
Just an opinion here, but really in acoustics and electrics it all comes down to the wood. Really, the older instruments were built with lumber milled from the "ancient forests" those that were saplings during the "dark ages". Matured slowly and made uniform dense growth rings. We harvested those forests for the wood, or they reached the end of their lives through age, or disease, or infestation, and those stocks are depleted.
Modern forestry practices allow for more rapid maturation of the crop, and results in lumber that has wider growth rings and lower density.... sadly the acoustic properties suffer for it. That's why the older strats have a "different sound" than the newer models, and old martins are mellower. There is also that age improvement factor, which with proper drying and "seasoning" of the wood prior to fabrication into musical instruments can be reduced. Smaller Luthiers choose woods carefully and generally take the time to age their stock. Mass producers use whatever comes down the line and cut materials to minimize waste, as a cost control.
Newer instruments are good, but once in awhile by chance one will come off the line that is "gooder than good". Which is why the best advice is to play everything and find one you like... it's a lottery, but someone wins every day somewhere.
Take Care; Doug
PS: Sorry for the rant, but being here in the Pacific Northwest for a good part of my life, the wood products industry gets in your blood.
