In my experience listening to many friends who play...

ANY instrument will tend to have minor differences (and occasionally major ones) in sound from similar instruments. This can be the result of something actually altering the sound, the action being different for the instrument, what have you - it all can affect both the actual voice of the instrument as well as how it is played.

Price is not the determining factor in this, though. The bazouki in our group is a cheap kit job that the owner built and has been playing for years... and it sounds great. A new one (at about 5 times the cost) sounded nowhere NEAR as rich or full... yet might after a decade or so of use.

Rather than go off of the idea that 'more is better' in price, the suggestion that pretty much every musician I know gives is to ALWAYS play it before buying... and make sure you play SEVERAL before deciding. You never know if you'll find the $150 pawnshop special that kicks the tar out of the $4000 pearl inlaid 'limited edition' hanging in the music store...

M