strat is the most versatile...hands down.   A Squier strat will do it, if you want to save money, otherwise there are plenty of deals on American Standard strats that won't send you back too much. 

Go to Musician's Friend.com.   They have all kinds of sales, especially now with the holidays upon us.

I just bought a little Squier Tele, and love the thing. I'll have to change the tuning pegs, and at some point, the bridge, but the neck is soooo easy to play, and it has that great Tele tone, perfect for bending and getting those country sounds.  Certain pickup positions give a blues/Stevie Ray sound, and it has acceptable Jazz tone also. 

Can never go wrong with Fenders.  Gibson...depends.  Les Pauls (which I never liked) are very expensive; new they start at at least 3500 and go up from there.  I have a 335 that is wonderful, but I bought it when I was in my twenties ( ie ages ago), and at that time (used) it was around 400 dollars.  It will fetch 2500 easily nowadays. 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/?rsrc=00630

Gene