Reply #4: Is this for playing or?

[here_is_to_hope]

If its to play, get a used Sheraton and hot rod it, if its because they are 'pretty', get a used 335 Gibson.
New guitars are never a deal, ever. Not only do they lose half their value when you walk out of the store, the resale market is swamped, driving the price even lower.
I have done many swap outs to hot rod lower end Epi's, as long as you have a set neck, everything else is relative.
I am a player first and a wall hanger kind of guy second.