Boy - that is opening up a can of worms! There are so many possibilities. It depends a lot on what kind of music you like to play, what body/neck size is comfortable for you, and of course, what kind of sound you have in mind. My first love is my rosewood dreadnought (Tacoma) for it's big, warm sound, but lately I'm loving a little Recording King ROS-06 triple 0 style guitar I got, which is both amazingly easy and a lot of fun to play, with a great sound for traditional fingerstyle blues - and it goes for $300. I am blown away by this little guitar (very comfortable to play on the couch) and can't believe it for the price. But nowadays, for under $1000, you have hundreds of great choices. I'd start by going out and trying lots of guitars - or, as a new player, go with a friend who plays well and have him/her do tryouts for you - you'll hear what you like best, and they can advise on playability pros and cons. Have fun searching!