Ibanez RC365H Roadcore = Cool
The Roadcore Series from Ibanez is a back-to-basics guitar that, amazingly, doesn't look like anything else out there right now. And that's not an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to mass-produced electric guitars.
I recently came across a listing for a China Fender copy guitar listed as a "Factory Custom Shop Guitar 61 Heavy Relic Guitar Aged Vintage Guitar Faded 3 Tone Sun Set". Yes, guitar is mentioned three times in a row.
If I were in the market for an American Stratocaster right now, my choice would be the Fender American Special Stratocaster in Surf Green, for the following reasons:
At the time I write this, there are a ton of guitars that are priced exactly at $399.99, which basically means $400. When you add in tax and shipping, that usually means you end up spending anywhere from $424 to $475. Being that Amazon has free shipping on an item this price, US buyers can grab a $399.99 for as little as $424. For dudes outside the US, cost goes up because of shipping but usually stays under the equivalent of $500 USD.
Metal players typically get suckered in to buying a lot of worthless crap, and it takes them a good long while before they stop doing that and buy stuff they can actually use.
Every metal player needs a cheap Telecaster. Specifically, the Squier Affinity Telecaster with the maple fretboard, a guitar that at the time I write this is under $200 new.
Why the Tele and not the Strat? I'll talk more about that in a moment.