That's all very true.
I well remember when I had my music shops someone coming in and saying; 'I have a Strat, a Binson Echo and a Vox AC30. Why don't I sound like Hank Marvin.' And the answer was simple: Because you don't play like Hank Marvin. As Dave says, it's all about technique and feel. Some people with some pretty ordinary gear can get a very impressive 'Marvin' sound.
Stuart


