You have $2,000 to spend on guitar(s):

Purely hypothetical.

1st payment on a Custom ESP

If this was me, at this moment, I would buy an Epiphone 1957 J200 and an Epiphone IBG J45 (I would say IBG Hummingbird instead of j45, but I already have an IBG Hummingbird and love it). The IBG j45 would stay in open E tuning from now on, or maybe open D.
If I wanted something that might be an investment and really not needed to play a lot, I would look for a deal on a Les Paul of some type, or maybe a nice Fender USA B bender Telly.
If this is going to be a choice of electrics to be played a lot, probably a new Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard and some pretty nice Fender telly.
Then again, I just might buy all the stuff to build 3 really nice Telecasters, then sell them.....

The higher priced. But no matter what, follow WEP’s First Law of Purchasing.

It’s the same with cars. Here’s how it works: Whichever price point you are in, get the highest model trim in that price point. You want a Lexus, get whatever deluxe F model or whatever they have loaded. You want a Toyota, same thing, get the highest model Camry or whatever.

Fender basses for example, with MIA, get the Ultra, an artist signature, or the reissue. MIM or Squier, same thing, get the artist, reissue, or deluxe, classic vibe, etc.

You do better getting say a Classic Vibe Squier than a standard model MIM. You do better getting a Geddy Lee or Steve Harris model than an American Standard. Quality is better at the top trims no matter the price point.

With a $2K budget, I'd buy a Gibson Les Paul Classic or SG Standard, before I'd buy anything Epiphone(s). Similar scenario for acoustics, I'd get the nicest J series Gibson I can get within budget before I'd get two Epiphone anything.

Regardless of the path, shop for clean used pieces to maximize bang for buck.

Honestly, I would not buy anything, keep saving my money for a Martin D-18 or 28. I already have enough guitars and just spent $700 on a Yamaha Nylon String which I love so I don't need anymore mid level guitars. Although I want one of those Squire Bass VI's which may be my next purchase if I can find one to play first. But those are only $500. Did I just talk in a circle?

quote:

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Would you buy one higher quality $2,000 range price point or two $800-$1,200 price point?

Example: one Gibson or two Epiphones?

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Two used Gibsons. I prefer "player grade" guitars, because I gig with them, so nothing too precious is practical... they're going to get dinged up no matter how hard I try to prevent it.

I would never spend $2k on a guitar. The most expensive guitars I could reasonably talk myself in to purchasing are in the $1200-$1400 range. I would be investing that money in my amp or pedals.

I would rather play a $500 guitar through a $2k signal chain than play a $2000 guitar through a $500 signal chain.

I've had a few "inspired by Gibson" Epis cross the bench. Nicest modern era Epi acoustics yet, I'll give them that. But $1500 for a Chinese-made acoustic new or around $1,000 used is hard to swallow when I can get a clean used American-made Gibson J-45 Studio Walnut or the Rosewood variant for similar pricing. But that's just me, your YMMV