I'll highly recommend looking for a PRS Studio. The version with the two Narrowfield pickups and a 57/08 humbucker at the bridge from 2011-2013 is my favorite of SSH guitars. It covers the bases of Strat sounds really well, is very quiet, sounds like a monster, but cleans up beautifully. And the humbucker balances with the Narrowfields very well.
They had an S2 version but the core version is what I recommend as they're different models. There were also a couple of older versions, but you really want the Narrowfields and that 57/08. Check out reviews of it; Every one I've seen has been very positive.
It's also available as a hardtail, but the PRS tremolo is great.
Another I'm interested in trying is the PRS Fiore, which is Mark Lettieri's signature model.
Used mint is always the best option if you are confident to QC it and let someone else take the hit. It also gets more great gear in to budget .I got a Suhr Classic Pro S a few days ago and it's fantastic!
Thornbucker Plus in the bridge and MLs in the middle and neck
Just a complete thoroughbred and I got it second hand and in your budget
Go for a drive, try some guitars.I wish I had a proper guitar store nearby but the next ones are 100+km away. The local ones only sell firewood guitars for a tenner to scam some gullible parents into buying a concert guitar for their spawn.
Tempting but a bit too plain for my taste
Definitely, your spending a lot of money on something that you might just keep for the rest of your life. Buying guitars is serious.Go for a drive, try some guitars.
Oh absolutely! Just currently stuck in 6-day work weeksGo for a drive, try some guitars.
Unpaid time off or sick day oclock. For your health.Oh absolutely! Just currently stuck in 6-day work weeks
Nothing beats being able to put your feet up for a few hours.Unpaid time off or sick day oclock. For your health.
SameMy Charvel USA Select HSS is the one guitar I'd keep if I had to sell my others.