At the link below is an article written by Seth Broenstein released today by AP describing a blind sound test of six very old and expensive violins (5 were Stradivarius) against new violins costing 100 times less.  The blind players consisted of ten world-class violin players. The results were surprising in that there was a marked preference for several of the new models over the old Italian violins long considered the most superior violin instruments in the world.  I just wonder what type of results we would see if a similar test was conducted on acoustic guitars, say a new Talamine or Guild versus a group of prewar Marrtins?  I don't think an Ovation or Adamas could be considered because the shape would immediately eliminate the blindness of the test.      

http://dfm.dailynews.com/article/you-cant-hear-the-difference-between-a-stradivarius-and-new-violins/6d37fb96366e688654f55e900d8e2199