Originally Posted by cudak888

Extremely subjective, as noted.

However, if I may offer a very rudimentary guide (YMMV):

Super Vitus 980 = Lightness at all costs. Very whippy for larger frames. The ideal thing for the steel-minded weight weenie.
Reynolds 531DB/Columbus SL = Traditional stuff, perfect for folks who want excellent tubing, but don't agonize over it.
Reynolds 501: Less fancy version of 531, and supposedly heavier. Never ridden it (and if I have, I don't remember it), so I don't know how it feels.
Columbus SLX = For someone who thinks SL isn't good enough.
Columbus EL = Arguably the liveliest, stiffest late-C&V-era tubing ever developed.
Ishiwata 022 = Underrated Japanese rough equivalent of 531/SL, possibly the most underrated of rough equivalents.
Reynolds 531 straight-gauge = Good for someone who wants to point to the Reynolds sticker and make a big to do about it, but could care less about ride quality. I haven't ridden a straight-gauge 531 frame yet that didn't feel deader then run-of-the-mill 4130.
Tange 2 = I've heard some say that it's about on par with Reynolds 501. Personally, I've found it to be quite similar to 531DB/SL in ride characteristics.
Tange 1 = Never tried it, probably a lighter form of Tange 2.

-Kurt