Since I play classics, I have no specific advice to give on steel string guitars. But if brand name counts for anything, I got an Alvarez (AC60S classic) for a student of mine for about $270.00 from Music 123, and I was really surprised at how good it was. So you might check out the Alvarez steel-string line (also, Music 123 seems to be pretty good, and they sell things for way under list price).

I've found this web site to be a great help:   Harmony Central user reviews. A few years ago I was looking for a good small travel guitar, I had passed up the Go-guitar web site because the guitar didn't really look like much (very plain, looks like a canoe-paddle). But when I read the user reviews on Harmony Central, I decided to get one. Great little guitar, with extraordinary tone quality and volume for so small a box! I use it all the time. When my student wanted to replace her apple-crate guitar but couldn't afford more than about $300.00, before ordering the Alvarez classic for her, I checked the reviews in Harmony Central. That's two for two.

Check it out. I hope this helps.

Don Firth