I currently own and play a Strat and a Tele. Love 'em both but if I had to choose one it would be the Tele. I do play much more acoustic but every once in a while I just gotta wail like some kinda deranged adolescent, or do a pale EVH imitation. Besides, about half of my guitar students only own electrics and like to be taught by me with one too.

I suppose I'd be very outnumbered and outvoiced on this issue but I really like the sound of controlled gain/distortion for some traditional melodies. Minstrel Boy comes to mind, also Rights of Man, and various hymn tunes.

I don't know what kinda coin ya got to spend, but the new hollow PRS guitars are very nice. An acoustic simulator on a Tele mixed with an electric tone can be shaped to a nice sound too. These days the Telecaster seems to reign supreme in country music.

Peace, and good luck. Mooh.