Before you buy anything I'd suggest you check out Yamaha Pacifica's (like the 012 and 112). I've heard amazing, and i mean amazing things about those guitars, apparently they feel and sound like high range guitars but are only $199. Yamaha are sposed to be bloody awesome for that kinda stuff. They look nice as well (always a plus, makes you want to pick it up and play it) thought i'm generally not a fan of the Strat shape, almost looks like a super strat combined with an SG (very mild SG influence though). http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?itemid=13523