I was just corresponding with a friend and he mentioned recently acquiring a new guitar. Thing is, when he got it home it didn't sound nearly as good or full in his living room as it did in the store, so he's returning it and exchanging it for another, and the store is being nice and accommodating him on this.

I know I have had similar experiences. Why is it that they sound one way in a store (even in a quiet room in the store) and then when you get them home they sound entirely different, sometimes better, sometimes not. (Surely the acoustics can't make that much of a huge difference.)

Seems there should be yet a new term to describe this phenomena. Have others experienced this too?

Probably the same "phenomena" at work here, as to why a beer or a mixed drink tastes better in a bar, then at home?