If I had the money to spend, I'd go for a set neck, flame top Fender Telecaster (picture below), but my advice to you is to go to all of your local guitar shops and try every guitar in your price range.

Everybody here has different asthetic tastes (visually and sonically), different sized and proportioned hands (making a comfortable neck for some unplayable to others) and there are differeing options presented to us at all of our localities.

Also, remember that when two (as an example) "Tex-Mex" Stratocasters roll out of the plant, even though they have all of the same specs and are made from the same types of wood, they can be very different guitars. So, be sure to try every single one.




Anyway, on with the eye candy: