Welcome to the forum. I started playing guitar again after many years of having no interest and no guitars so I was sort of in a similar place as you are but for different circumstances. I had a similar budget. I bought a second hand name brand guitar which I warmed up to gradually over a couple of years. Again, remember I just woke up one day and felt I wanted to have a guitar again so my level of passion at the beginning was less than yours and it took some time. As I got more interested I was seriously looking at Ibanez guitars (both new and used) in my budget range. Although we are talking about different dollars I could have gotten a good pre-owned one for around $500-$600. For various reasons I just stuck with the Yamaha I had purchased. It was after that when I got interested in parts guitars. It took me a bit of time to start learning about parts and components so that I could decide what would make me happy. Then I had to find a competent person to assemble and set up the project because I am just now starting to dive into learning how to do at least some of my own work.
I don't think you need to put off considering a Warmoth for a large amount of time but I would agree with the suggestion of starting with a brand name guitar in good condition and stay within your budget and also network who could do a proper set up on it as that makes a huge difference in play-ability, reliability, and the physical sound of the guitar as a starting point for what you want to add to it. Then I would continue your research on parts and components. For any style of metal you are going to be pursuing a different parts guitar than I was for blues. And it will help in making some of the important decisions like choosing a comfortable neck profile (thickness essentially) if you go through the experience of trying out some brand name guitars in shops and having one to work with for a few months. I think it will help you make decisions you'll feel more solid about with a Warmoth. It will also make a parts guitar more of a personal instrument as it should be.
For what it is worth (and remember guitars are very personal and subjective things so at the end of the day you have to go with what you know you feel strongly about) I personally think Ibanez has some good options and a number of metal players like them. I don't know what the price point is on Chapman guitars but I know he is a metal guy. Some of the lower end PRS guitars are assembled in Korea and then go through a serious set up and inspection in the US before they are shipped for sale. But I think its great that you are interested in the electric guitar. If you remember it is a path in life and your experience with it is singularly yours it can feel rewarding as you progress. I would also add that remember that recorded guitar is a sound that has been through many hands and processes and live guitar has some differences but also comes the most from the heart. (IMO) And I would not get too hung up on selecting what wood for the guitar body when you get to looking at a Warmoth, I agree with those who feel the neck and pick ups have a more direct impact on the instrument. The Soloist, Switchback, Diamondback, Iceman, Z body, Regal, WGD would all fit a metal oriented guitar. They even have a 7 string body option if that turns out to interest you. As there are people who play metal with Telecasters and people playing country with a Les Paul just be creative with whatever you do get together. As stated, its your own path.
