Anyway, Always test the guitar your looking at, unless your positively sure that one is for you. A great looking guitar isn't always a great guitar.
For your styles I would go for a Fender Standard Strat ($350 - US) or an Epiphone Les Paul Studio ($400 US), or LP-100 ($300 US)
Here's some links to them:
Les Paul Studio
LP-100
Standard Strat
Good Luck to ya! Right now I'm in a guitar search also.
There are only two important things in life - There's music and theres girls, not necessarily in that order....
The Ace's Guitar Tricks
The Ace's Guitar Tricks