There is a few guitars that jazz player use at this site.
http://www.jazzguitar.be/jazz_guitars.html
Most players would suggest try as many as you can. Basically it how the guitar feels to you and the play-ability. In your price range most modern guitar can be set up for good play-ability. These two point will increase your practice time. The foreign made ones are on par with US made.
Here is a site with a few Jazz sub-genre that you may want research to get an idea of playing technique may need to learn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jazz_guitarists_by_genre
I hope you get some more input from other members as I am by no means a guitarist. Just a guitar lover that hacks around with music.
My main guitar is MIM Fender Tele.. Amp is a Vox30vt That would jam at any small jazz club.. if I played Jazz.. if I played anything..