HollowBody Suggestions.

[dr bonkers]

If you can find a used Epiphone ES-175 or Joe Pass, switch out the pickups and you will still be under budget. The reason why you need to switch out the pickups is because they literally rattle they are so cheap, but the wood and other hardware is pretty good.

 

[tskidmore]

I love my 1980 Howard Roberts Fusion, when I bought it about 5 years ago they were pretty inexpensive. The older ones seem to have gone up a bit, but I prefer the TP6 tailpiece. You might luck out and find one just a bit over your range.