A Loar 600/700 would be good. Buy used so someone else has already done the fret and setup work for you. But these are definitely old-school guitars, as you would expect from what is essentially a late-20s L5 copy. And you have to like a beefy neck with a strong V (I do, despite my smallish hands).
I recently bought a used 700 on the Bay and other than the expected roughness in the f-holes and under the fingerboard extension there are NO QA issues - it’s very clean. But no, not at an Eastman level. But perfectly fine. I am delighted with the guitar.
I also got it for the upper end of your budget, with an installed K&K Definity and external K&K preamp. I was the only bidder. Second time in 45 years of playing I’ve gotten lucky. (First time was a pair of like-new AKG 414B-ULS for €500).
Steven
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