I have a Yamaha FG450SA - purchase a few years ago for £140 second hand. Superb solid top guitar with strong bass response and, once the action had been lowered, a more than acceptable action.

I have now purchased a Washburn WG2S (£350), much more lightly built than the Yamaha and very "twinkly" with the thinnest neck I've ever seen on an acoustic guitar and a lighter action than Julie's Yamaha Electric.   

Intention is that the Washburn becomes my guitar for fingerpicking in standard tuning while the Yamaha gets heavier strings and is set up specifically for Open D/DADGAD to make the most of that wonderful bass response.

I chose the Washburn simply by spending every Sat/Sun afternoon I had free in the local guitar shop playing everything they had in stock.   I did this for several weeks, in fact months! The Washburn "spoke" to me.

Any guitar shop worth their salt will not object to you playing their gear as long as you respect it. My advice is ... ignore the name, ignore the price (more expensive isn't always better), play them, and buy the one you fall in love with.

Although Julie's custom made Mansons do show that factory guitars have compromises, there are some amazing instruments out there at very, very realistic prices ... and it isn't the badge that tells you how good they are. Play em!

Best regards
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk