I recently picked
THIS up after wanting a more modernized American strat. I got it new for $1200 (with the case) which is a bit out of your price range... but, if you're looking for a diverse guitar that is of high quality and not too expensive, it's worth checking out. The combo humbucker/single coil is sweet as it lends to more diversity in sound and you can hit the S1 switch and have all pickups activated at the same time for a pretty thick sound. The LSR roller nut is also a nice feature as you never have to worry about filing it down and it helps keep the guitar better in tune.
Overall it plays beautifully, no regrets.