Hi Ben,
Have you checked out the KAPA Minstrel? There are 6 and 12 string models, both with a whammy. The one I play in THEE DIRTYBEATS (see attached photo) is a 1967 KAPA Minstrel 6 string with a whammy bar. I got it on eBay for around $300.
*Great* guitar. KAPA was a tiny musical instrument company near DC in the 60s. They designed the bodies, manufactured them locally, and assembled the finished product using hardware, electronics and necks from Hofner and Harmony. KAPA guitars played reasonably well; more significantly, they were far cheaper than Fenders, Gibsons or Voxes, which probably explains their popularity with garage rock bands of the day.
These days the KAPA Minstrel is appreciated by postrock bands for its unique tone, vibrato system, and generous "third bridge", the stretch of strings between the bridge and tailpiece, from which one can elicit chiming harp-like effects. (e.g. SONIC YOUTH's Lee Ranaldo occasionally uses a 12 string Minstrel: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gtr11.html)
-A
THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com