I remember hearing over the years how certain types of wood had an influence on tone.
It wasn't until 1990 that I had a chance to put that idea to the test.
While I was stationed in Korea, when prices had already started to soar, I bought a 4 foot plank of Phillipine Mahogany for 16$.
It measured 4ft x 18in x 2 and it was heavy.
I cut it into 3 pieces and quickly fashioned a rudimenmtary strat body out of one of the pieces, and attached it to one of my Korean strat necks.
Awesome sound was the result.

Now that was 20 years ago and honestly, you can't dictate what a guitar is going to sound like.
Yet, if you do a swap, the sound will change for better or worse.
Its a lot cheaper than buying the whole guitar.

There are so many factors that affect a guitars tone, body wood, neckboard, electronics, strings, etc.,. All my guitars sound different unplugged as well plugged in. even where the woods were harvest effect its sounds, My opinion. A guitars look usually catches my eye first, then its feel. After playin' it, and I get the sound I like, I'll consider buyin' it. I've always played c-shape necks, but over the past year fell in love with my u-shaped neck on my deluxe tele. hope to try and build a guitar someday. happy new year.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e