Marcus, I've paid up to $7,000 for a guitar, but I've seen guitars well under $1,000 that are really fine instruments. I don't base my choices on price, but I do like getting a good deal for my money, and if you're not looking for collector material, I feel once you cross that $1,000 mark, they're all good guitars and there are some real gems in that lower range. I'm trying to limit my budget to $3000 ideally, but... you know how it is.
I only have 8 stringed instruments right now... but I've owned over 40 over the years. You just can't have too many.
At any rate, you're mixes are really, really sweet. And the playing is just wonderful... but then.... there aren't any guitarists I don't like.
Daryl