go Standard.. if you're not so into the flame top and fancy stuff. the standard 22/24 is a great guitar. i had one and it was a completely different animal to my other custom 24 and CE24. all mahogany, so good bottom end. very meaty/chunky, great for rock.
but being the idiot that i am, i sold the standard and custom and kept the CE24
the CE, is kinda like a compromise between afforddability and looks. you get the flamey stuff, really i don't think the neck joint affects it that much. purist would argue otherwise, but let's look at fender.
that said.. i'd love to get my hands on a custom again
