Lakewood has some excellent models that might fall in that price range... Santa Cruz too.

I've owned Guild (D25), Martin (00018), Gibson (J-45), Manson (Kingfisher), Lowden/Flambeau and Lakewood (M-14) guitars amongst others... all excellent in their own ways but, strangely, one of my very favourite guitars has been my rather less expensive Washburn 125th anniversary parlour. My partner now has that and I have two other guitars, a Taylor T5 and a Godin archtop, both chosen for their suitability for the kind of music I play these days.

The point really is that don't just look at the label. You may find a sublime Martin at a very good price or may end up with a duff one of exactly the same model. Or you may find a belter of another make, perhaps even a less "known" label... as people have said, you really need to find the instrument that speaks to you.

And don't get me started on mandolins...!