any audiophile guitarists out there?

Daveyf - I started with classical Cordoba R40 and took some lessons then bought Martin D15 to follow by used cheap Silvertone copy of Les Paul (changing pickups to Seymour Duncan Jazz and JB) plus mentioned Valvetronix and finally Ibanez Soungear SR300DX 4 string bass and 100W Carvin bass combo.

Now I don't know what to do with all this since I lost interest. I still play very simple classical a little and hope to start basic bass lessons but most likely it will all end-up in hands of my grandson (currently 5).

I agree that modeling doesn't come close to original thing. Fender Tweed was great but I thought once of finding original 30W VOX (that Beatles played). Tube amp with no feedback, Alnico magnet speakers etc. It amazes me that early rock bands played out with 30W combos while power now is often in kW.

Kijanki,
I would suggest that you go to a local guitar shop and play a Fender Strat or a Tele or a real Gibson Les Paul; Once you pick up one of these and play a few notes, you may re-consider. If not, well so be it, you will then notice that one of the nice things about good musical equip is that it holds its value very well. I would expect that you should be able to get back most, if not all, that you paid for the Martin, as an example.

Anyone ever try this dumb trick - before you were old enough to know better, of course - cutting a guitar cable and rigging it to RCA jacks and then running it through a hi-fi amp? I'm fairly sure those old speakers were never intended to be played directly with a distortion pedal.

Daveyf - Martin is probably the only one that is worth more used than I paid for new - everything else would be a loss. To me Martin and Les Paul (Silvertone made by Samick is decent) are part of history and I really enjoy having them. Strats, having longer scale, have a little bit better definition but I don't mind. McCartney played this super short scale Hoffner before he got wise and switched to long scale Ricekenbacker (starting with Penny Lane).

Samick makes 500,000 guitars a year. Epiphone, Gretsch, Bennet, Washburn are made by Samick. Completely automated and pretty good quality. Often price difference is only name on the headstock. My Silvertone looks and sounds the same as Epiphone (might be same guitar). Gibson is of higher quality but for 10x the cost.

Kijanki, One of the things that I have learnt over the years of playing is that it is FAR FAR harder to get a good sound out of a poor instrument than a great instrument... Which is why I suggested that you go and play a couple of good instruments. You may be able to get a better feel for what your abilities are ( which might make you decide to keep playing) and you may also be able to hear the improvement in the sound quality that the instrument gives off. Personally, I can easily tell the difference when I put on new strings and the quality and/or the gauge of said strings. To me, even string type and gauge makes a HUGE difference in my sound. As a beginner, a good instrument is even more important IMHO ..:0)