I like my Gibson Explorer, but Gibson quality has really plummeted recently. If I hadn’t gotten a great deal, I would have sent it back because of the finish wrinkles around the set neck. A friend returned two Les Pauls because they were complete crap.
I own a few guitars, all with different tone and feel, and I love them all. Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Danelectro, Hagstrom, Ibanez…it’s a toolbox, and each is the perfect tool for a particular job.
Same with amps and effects…
As for acoustics, my all-time favorite is a cheapo Ibanez Talman acoustic-electric, probably the sweetest little box I’ve ever played- but then again, it may just be one in a million. That’s how it works.