I don't quite agree, but it's my personal view anyway. e.g. What if EC is given a guitar with frets not exactly in the right position and you are given his strat? Of course, still you can play worse depending on how good you are (not to mean you are not good, I'm just trying to explain what I mean), but if you are an average guitarist you will sound better. Most probably EC will refuse to play that guitar, but if that's the case he accepts that he cannot make that guitar sound good.

I personally don't believe good instrument or good player itself translates to a good final product, it's got to be a good combination overall.

Shiral