consult consult consult...... by all means but as you are probably aware your guitar is an extension of your true self, so you may end up not buying by brand but by feel.
Yes go to the music shops try them on for size, but gird your loins for the biggest bunch of patronising bullshit you have ever had dumped on your head .... my favourite from when I was out supporting someone's first buying of electric was " you don't want to spend that much, she's only a girl she'll be wanting a hoarse this time next year."... (it is no surprise that this shop has never been entered since)
Once you have an idea in your head what you are after, start haunting the second hand shops and newspapers.... for what you would pay for a reasonable entry level Ibanez you can pick up something better than nice 2nd hand for the same price.... and as you have been playing acoustic for a few years you don't really want entry level any way.
The next bit of advice I would give is find yourself someone who knows guitars, a player or a technician, you wouldn't buy a car with out an AA check why would you buy a guitar with out one?
oh and don't be put off by age as long as it is good nick... people have been making good ones for decades.

And there are some web sites out there where Guitars are reviewed and rated but sorry I don't remember the addies for them... go find and have a read.

Buy second hand.

Heres what I know: Gats get better with age (as long as they are looked after) its important that you take a buddy that knows a bit about electric guitars (esp secondhand electrics) along for the ride. Look for well known brand names, a good condition second hand Gibson or Fender will never let you down. The lower priced versions of the Gibson or Fender i.e. The Epiphone and the Squire, are o.k. starting guitars but have very poor pick ups which you will regret later, The S.G. 'Epiphone' is a much better variant then the 'Squire' especially the late 80's or early 90's S.G. Epiphones which were made from the same wood (for a short run) as thier much more expensive brothers. After saying this you wont regret paying a little more and getting the real thing (check that they are made in the States, the mexican versions are a little shady).

Things to look out for: Plug the instrument in and turn it up loud (without distortion), check all pick ups, does the sound cut out when you switch between them , is there a marked difference in tone and volume between pick ups, check the lead connection wiggle it a bit, does it crackle or does the sound cut out.
Does it have a nice tone (do you like it), tone is different for all Guitars, Gibson guitars have a more round warm sound where-as Fender guitars have a far more cutting twangy feeling that is a lot less forgiving in relation to makin mistakes. Better guitar players seem to play Fender, i.e. Clapton, Hendrix, Beck, Page (on the later Zep Albums..Houses' - P'Graph').
In relation to looks, in my opinion Gibson are far better looking Guitars which have a wider range of body shapes and styles - Gibson are damn cool, Ibanez are ugly.
Check the neck for straightness and 'fret buzz'
If your in Welly 'Weta' guitars are buy far the best for second hand stuff, Mel (the guy that owns weta) never over prices and hes a great guy (loves his A.C/D.C).

That may sound like its a whole lotta wank, but it would suck if you got something that you regreted later, take you time, shop around see if they will chuck a case in with the deal.

MAtt

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yeah TP_Guitar_E2, Ive pretty much decided that I definetly want one, I'm actually a cellist of 14 years as well so I know my stuff as far as buying instruments go, just not this particular one.
Red Devil: thanks for your advise, unfortunetly I'm in auckland so wont be able to get to weta.