In your price range, the EG Takamines have the best electrics, IMO........... Personally- i'd buy the best solid wood D18 clone available- and worry about the electrics later. You may need something with a certain shape or neck width, so that might limit your options (if you must have a fat neck or a cutaway, for instance). The Canadian brands aren't all solid wood- but in other respects are well built and usually sound great. Used Seagulls, A&Ls and Simon & Patricks come up for sale locally all the time and are a good place to start looking.