[Rick Lee]

I have one of the nicest Les Pauls you'll see and I bought it for $1000 a few yrs. ago. I also have a Mexican Strat I paid $300 for new 10 yrs. ago and have since put EMG's in it. Both are super guitars and a lot for the money. Every time I go to the Guitar Center, I try to play some of the most expensive guitars they have there. I can't see $5-10k worth of difference between theirs and mine. Guitars are like guns - you can always have more than you need and never as many as you want. Depends on what you'll use it for, your own body style, whether you play sitting or standing, how loud you play and even the quality of electricity where you play most. Strats will buzz at high volume in a place with flourescent lights. Les Pauls sound best when cranked up real loud, but they're real heavy to hold too.