yeah Schecter is a solid choice in that price range too. It’s a huge sweet spot price range, in it we have (all new):
Many Schecters
Several Ibanez SR’s
Yamaha TRBX504 (sometimes 604s too), BB434, BB434M
Sire Marcus Miller line (and others)
about a metric bajillion other excellent choices
A step down from those:
The Squier Classic Vibe line (not as nice as some of the above, but still solid, and cheaper)
Many Cort (often great but very model dependent)
This price range is where you start to get in to the professional level daily drivers for used instruments and the new ones are pretty much there too.
Yeah used you really open things up in the $600 range. I’d definitely grab a used BB734A. My SBV-550 was less than $600 used as well, but that’s due to location; MIJ Fenders are well in that range here too.