There have been a number of recommendations of guitar makes, but they've mostly been electrics, and you've got an acoustic. If you decide to buy an acoustic, a good resource is Acoustic Guitar magazine - they have some advice and reviews here: http://www.acousticguitar.com/Gear/index.shtml
The biggest names in the biz are probably Martin and Taylor. They've had consistently high quality through the years and make excellent guitars for a range of playing styles. Gibson and Guild are also classic names but because the companies have changed hands over the years you have to be more careful about the vintage of the guitar if you buy used. Both seem to be making excellent guitars again.
Then there are the boutique, handmade guitars like Santa Cruz, Collings, Larrivee, Lowden, etc., which run at least $2,000.
At the more affordable end are names like Fender, Alvarez, Ibanez, etc. These are mass-produced - usually in the Far East - but you can find good ones if you're paying attention.
Read the magazines, hang out at guitar shops, talk to players, etc. and you'll start to get a feel for things. Try to get someone who knows guitars to help you pick one out. Just remember that there's no single best guitar - you should go with what suits your hands, your playing style and your ear.
The biggest names in the biz are probably Martin and Taylor. They've had consistently high quality through the years and make excellent guitars for a range of playing styles. Gibson and Guild are also classic names but because the companies have changed hands over the years you have to be more careful about the vintage of the guitar if you buy used. Both seem to be making excellent guitars again.
Then there are the boutique, handmade guitars like Santa Cruz, Collings, Larrivee, Lowden, etc., which run at least $2,000.
At the more affordable end are names like Fender, Alvarez, Ibanez, etc. These are mass-produced - usually in the Far East - but you can find good ones if you're paying attention.
Read the magazines, hang out at guitar shops, talk to players, etc. and you'll start to get a feel for things. Try to get someone who knows guitars to help you pick one out. Just remember that there's no single best guitar - you should go with what suits your hands, your playing style and your ear.