The strat and les paul are the two main choices for what u want. However dont count out the tele its just as good...although better for blues unless your talking to bruce springsteen. Anyways in that price range u can get a highway 1 strat or studio les paul used. Ur just gonna have to play em to find out which u like the sound better. I like the hungry sound of single coils so i say strat or tele myself.