I was just talking to a guy about this.

Seagull- Without a doubt. Try one of the plain looking ones. The more decoration the wose it will sound. A friend of mine and I both have one and they sound like a guitar that is easily over a grand.

Godin- yep yep.

That is my 2 favs under a grand. If I was buying an acoustic right now it would probably be a Seagull. I love my friends so much I would play it at gigs if he would let me lol. He doesn't trust me with ;)

I don't care about the dollar value Seagulls are good guitars period. At any price they are good. I know I sound like a commercial but sometimes man the truth is the truth.