The only thing that will make you look foolish strumming a Les Paul is if you're having trouble making the payments because they're expensive.

Screw what they look like, what brand is considered by others to be good....go with what you LIKE!  So, if it's a hot pink Kramer that curls your toes when you play it, go for it man.

What I find to be the most sonically versatile is a Paul Reed Smith Swamp Ash model with  the tapped PAF's and a single coil in the middle position...and I'll call you when I've got the 2500 to drop on one. Until then, I play a fender strat that I rebuilt from pieces, a DEAN EVO which is wonderful and nicely priced.  Dean makes great stuff for rich folks AND for poor schmucks like me.  I also just bought a Fender Fretless J-Bass a la Jaco Pastorius...

So, go with what you like.  That's what I do. (and what I can afford)

PRH