The LP Specials can be great guitars. I'm still waiting for the perfect price for a TV Yellow one.gggmann said:
The tributes come w/ a maple neck if I remember correctly. I've considered buying a LP Jr. or Special DC tribute as I need a P90 guitar, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.
However, the best P-90 guitar I have ever played is my ES-330. If that is a little over your price range, you should try playing an Epiphone Casino.
There's just something about the P-90s with the fully hollow body guitar that is just amazing. For mine, in particular, the Gibson MHS P-90s with the hollow body and Bigsby just all blend together to be one of the best sounding and punchy guitars I have ever played.
The one issue with the ES-330 is that the body meets the neck at the 17th fret instead of the 19th or higher, unless you get a long necked version.
EDIT: Gah... just pulled up the ES-330's on Reverb. Damn, they have gone up in price. I bought mine and an Olive Drab green version for $2,700 each. I then sold the Olive Drab Green for $2,800 after deciding i would never play it. Someone is now listing an Olive Drab Green version for $5,100, ROFL.
I have this guitar, but in the vintage burst, and I paid $2,700 about a year and a half ago: https://reverb.com/p/gibson-memphis-61-es-330