I am looking at buying an electric guitar, mainly for playing rhythm guitar with my band. We do a mix of Blues, Soul, and Rock and Roll. I am looking for a guitar that's realiable and fairly versatile in sound characteristics, but I have only slight familiarity with electrics.

I am asking any of you players out there who play electric (there must be a couple) for some advice. What guitar do you use? What are the sound characteristics of different models? What about pick-ups and controls?