I would like to have an acoustic guitar to put on a stand down in my basement. The objective is to play country blues on a guitar that is not too fancy and can be left out of a case where it might be knocked over. What should I be looking for that marks a quality instrument, aside from just feel and sound?

Are there any particular brands that I should be attracted to or avoid?

Thank you!

If you are wanting an acoustic that will be subjected to the climate of a basement stay with a simple laminate top and save yourself the trouble of warping and such. But if your basemant is climate controlled go with a solid top and sides. As far as brands go it's up to you and how much you want to spend. I hear good things about the Fender CD-60 which wouldn't set ou back much at all. You will want to get a 000 size for country blues or even a dreadnought if you like it more boomy. Remember solid woods sound better and the bigger the guitar the more bass response. Judge the quality of an acoustic the same as an electric. Takamine, S&P, Epiphone Masterbuilt, Guild, & Yamaha all make pretty good and affordable acoustics. Stay away from Dean, Ibanez, and Rouge they are all cheap junk. Good Luck i hope this was helpful.

When looking for an acoustic guitar make sure the string height is acceptable. Setting the action higher or lower on an acoustic guitar is more complicated than your average electric guitar since it requires shimming or sanding down the string saddle piece.

Try out a Fender T-Bucket. A few months ago I picked up a T-Bucket 300CE with the quilt maple top in the amber finish. I got it strictly for a beater around the campfire and such. My budget was $300 or less. Even though it has a laminate top (the maple top is a veneer, not sure what is underneath) it was the best sounding acoustic at that price range in the shop, and looks pretty too.
My T-Bucket already got a couple of bangs and I was surprised it never got a scratch. Must be the thick poly coat! It still sounds decent though despite the poly finish and laminate. The neck has been stable too despite temperature and humidity changes, unlike the other new Fender acoustics with the Strat style headstock.

if you are a beginner, check out the Yamaha FG700s. Great guitar for the price. I m partial to Guild and Blueridges for the midrange guitars.

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I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

The only way to find an acoustic is to play them until you find one you like in your price range. In addition to the choices already listed I'd suggest looking at Alvarez, they're consitently highly rated and IMO the best bang for the buck. Their "Artist" series are a really good value.

Loads of choice brand-wise, but as for characteristics I'd say you want more of a fingerstyle guitar (even for flat-picking) than a dreadnought. You'll get more string separation, fidelity... more balance into the high notes, from a smaller body, as opposed to a big (mid-to-bass) strumming machine.

A Martin 000X1 is excellent value, has a solid top and is not too precious to take a few knocks and be left out on a stand.

And it's got Martin on the headstock (although my acoustics are Larrivee's).

I second Guild, really good value. Fender acoustics are decent, but not great.

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Try to get solid woods if possible. Laminates can de-laminate especially the top. Laminates don't sound better as they age either. I've seen bridges lift the laminate. Epiphone's Masterbuilt series are really nice and are solid woods. Parkwood's are nice too. Don't go too cheap because some of the cheaper guitars won't stay in tune.

It really just depends on your budget. The lower end Martin guitars with HPL backs are made in Mexico and are overpriced for what you get. Try as many as you can, the right one will find YOU.

I've no axe to grind, but... "what you get" with the 000X1 is great sound.

I'd hate someone to be put off (like I was before I played one) because they are HPL and made in Mexico...

... maybe they are great sounding guitars BECAUSE they are HPL and made in Mexico. Just a thought.

To kind of glom onto RudyH's question. How about electric/acoustic vs purely acoustic. I would imagine if you forego the electronics you can use that money towards a better built acoustic guitar?

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2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

The HPL back guitars sound okay to me not great and no like a decent Martin. I now people who work at Martin and they were pretty pissed when they moved that portion of the company to Mexico. There's a lot better for the same money. They did have some problems with the tops shrinking and expanding while the HPL didn't, but I think that's been rectified.

I was never put off by them, when I tried it I didn't know what a HPL body was. The one I played wasn't made in Mexico yet. I wasn't blown away by it and it was not like any Martin I've played or owned. Another hundred bucks or so can get you a solid wood guitar.
The only reason I mentioned Mexico is that many people think all Martin Guitars are made in Nazareth, Pa. It is sadly no longer the case.
Just my opinion.

I wouldnt keep a guitar in the basement unless the climate there is as good as the rest of the house. You might consider a Seagull S6. They are very well made, sound good, and are under $400.00.

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