Camera suggestion for instructional videos

I apologize if I've misplaced my question, this seemed the closest fit.

I make DVD and online video for guitar lessons. I use 3 cameras, Sony CX110 cameras that are 2-3 years old now.

Generally, I shoot in SD because it's going to end up on DVD or on the web. I often record with a Roland VR-5, but sometimes I also just record the raw video to SD cards and edit in Sony Vegas Pro 10 (currently, might upgrade to 12 if I can see a reason.)

The quality that I have now is fine, it gets the job done and looks reasonably professional. But I guess my eye has learned to see some of the subtle variations that I believe a better camera would bring... in particular more detail and the colors just really seem to "pop" better.

My cameras always are stationary, and never more than about 8 feet away because of my studio size (a bedroom) and location (my house.)

So what I believe I would like is a camera with great optics and a great sensor, but not much else in terms of "bells and whistles."

I record audio separately as well so that's not a concern from the camera's perspective.

So for those of you who know more about this, do you have any recommendations for cameras around or under the $1K mark that you believe would give me a noticeably better result?

Or, if I'm barking up the wrong tree, I'd like to know that too. Thanks in advance for your help.

I currently use 2 lights with flourescent "daylight" bulbs. I'm sorry I don't know what to call them. They each have 4 bulbs and I run them through a diffusing umbrella to spread them out around the room a bit. I usually don't have all 4 bulbs on as it makes the room really bright and I look washed out on camera.

Behind me is a simple black theater curtain and I have a small flourescent light over and behind my head to add a little depth. I sit about 6-8 feet from the camera and probably 6 feet from the curtain.

I don't know what color-grading is so that may be part of my problem. Can you elaborate?

I don't think a new camera is going to solve this. Can you put up a still or short sample here of your work? Based on your replies, I think you're not making the most of what you're already using. It's telling that you say you're unaware of color-correction in post. A little research and practice in this area will give you faster results than buying a new camera. Cameras are not magic. That is, until you put them into expert hands. Become more expert at using what you have now, first, before you buy something more advanced.

That looks pretty good already. If you raise the lights just a teensy bit, you'll lose some of that excess reflection off the pick guard. Your closeup on the strumming hand in the box doesn't match the main camera so great in terms of color and brightness. Use the 3-way color corrector, use the eyedropper sampling tool on the left arm, apply it top the right.