Appreciate it! Since posting the DS-1W has gone back on in place of the Friedman. Sometimes fewer parameters is better as the Friedman lends itself really well to spending all my time tweaking rather than playing.
Lately it has been mostly funk, jazz, and rock; so a healthy dose of players like Mark Lettieri and Cory Wong. On the heavier, more progressive side Plini has been a go to for me.
Schecter might be worth a look, too. There are interesting models in that price range like the Nick Johnston and Jack Fowler traditionals.