I have an imitation of a Fender Strat.
It is a Harmony woodgrain, made back in the sixties and still axe grinds to this day.
I have tried Fenders (and also Squires) being fortunate enough to have friends in bands that played guitar.

I don't know if it's the sound or just psychological, but there is something about a woodgrain to where the feel and sound always connected in my body more as I was playing.

Matt