Can anyone recommend a decent budget acoustic guitar?

I'm looking to spend about £300 ($500 ish), or thereabouts, sometime in the future on an acoustic guitar. Does anybody have any suggestions? Like brands to avoid? Or important features to consider?

__________________
http://www.soundcloud.com/retrax

I have one, Its a beautiful Fender Squier SA-100 acoustic. Beautiful sound on it. Nice and full without loosing the bright sounds in the higher 3 strings. The It only cost about 130 after tax. Down side is is that it has no cut away. I got it as a pack too so it came with six picks, a leather gig bag, strap, and a Chromatic tuner. Plus a lesson book.

This really kind of depends on a few things like your 'style' or the way you play, whether you prefer a "C" shaped neck or a more flat neck- lots of variables to consider. Are you looking for a purely 'acoustic' guitar or considering a(n) Acoustic/Electric and have at least "some" , if not "the best" of both worlds. I would seriously consider going with the Acoustic/Electric (A/E), myself and at that price point I would highly recommend either the Yamaha APX500 Thinline A/E-thinner body with a nice "C" shape to the neck with a very comfortable and very 'playable' feel to it, not as "full" of a sound unplugged due to the thinner body style, but sounds great plugged in an has a very 'electric guitar' feel to it for $299.99 (U.S.) or along more traditional lines I'd take a look at the Dean "QSA" series of guitars for that great A/E 'full bodied" sound in a bigger bodied guitar with an 'essentially' flat neck. A Very Nice, loud, full bodied sound at $349.99 (U.S.). Both are single cut away body style.

Thanks for the reply guys.

I already have a very nice Prestige Ibanez for the electric side of things, so a fuller bodied sound would be preferable. Style wise, well, I'm wishing to do some solo, chord-strumming-type covers and also wanting to put lots of time into some finger-style stuff.

I guess I'd have to try the differences between the different neck shape variables. I think I'm only familiar with the 'C' shape. To be honest, I was unaware of the differences. I've played guitar for a while, but know not much about the actual instrument design.

Some of the Dean A/E guitars look lovely.

__________________
http://www.soundcloud.com/retrax

Look into the Yamaha acoustic line of electric guitar. One of my best friends has one and I go over to his house constantly to play it :P. It´s the model APX-5a. It is of great value, beutiful instrument! It has that sexyness of a Les Paul.

If I had only $500.00 I would consider a Used Breedlove (Atlas Models) Seagull guitar or a Blueridge. If you can find one on craigslist or used somewhere might be able to buy an all solid model like a Blueridge. I recently purchased a Blueridge BR-160 with the hardcase case off of craigslist. It is in mint condition and plays beautifully. As far as what to avoid.. that is hard to say. I would have to play them first as each one plays differently. I would avoid guitars that don't play easy (or have no room for adjustments). I would also avoid guitars with problem necks or bridges.

Thanks for the advice guys.

__________________
http://www.soundcloud.com/retrax