Look here.
http://www.rivbike.com/
Rivendell is run by Grant Petersen, one of the few people in the bike industry who sees the big picture and knows what works v. hype.
I have an A. Homer Hilsen on order--designed by Petersen and made by Waterford (Richard Schwinn). They make a model called the Sam Hilborne that's a little more plain for $1050 (if made in Taiwan) or $1500 (if made in U.S. by Waterford). Also check the new Soma San Marcos ($900), also designed by Petersen:
http://www.rivbike.com/products/show/soma-san-marcos/70-999
Another option is to look for vintage on you local craigslist. Lots of good stuff still out there--much cheaper than new.
Here's a recent Craigslist buy for $200. Top quality Japanese workmanship--cleanest brazing I've ever seen, and I've seen 1000s of lugged frames, and classic Italian stage race geometry:
Look how the edge of the lug meets the headtube at a right angle--no overfill, no underfill:
Someone gave this one to me (seriously) but stuff like this generally goes for well under a grand on craigslist:
Examples: our local Craiglist recently had a De Rosa and a Bob Jackson touring--complete bikes--that were both priced under $1000.
Also, I agree that you need to carefully consider what kind of riding you plan to do. A purebred racing bike is great for, well, racing, and riding fast. There are more comfortable, practical, and versitile bikes out there than racing bikes. I rode racing bikes for years--decades really--but I've slowed down in recent years and like a more upright position, choice of wider tires, but still with drop bars, hence the Riv.
