Someone asks this at least once a week and I always say the same thing: you can't tell someone to recommend a guitar to you. It's like someone telling you the best shoes to wear. You need to go to a guitar shop and try out a few. See how they fit, see if your body is compatible with the shape, make sure it's made of quality components, etc. I can tell you a few things to watch out for in an acoustic though:
1) Tuners should be of decent quality. I personally love Grover tuning machines. Bad tuning machines will make you sound bad no matter how long you practice.
2) Stay away from guitars made from high pressure laminate (HPL). This is the same stuff they make cheap furnature out of and tends to warp and crack.
3) Make sure they bridge and/or saddle is adjustable (this is where the strings meet the body of the guitar). That way if the strings are too high (you have to press too hard on the fretboard) or if they're too low (you hear buzzing on the strings) you can adjust it.
Other than that, see which one fits you best. Reputable brands include Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Fendor, Ibenez, Ovation, Takamine, and Seagull. Expect to pay $300-$600 for a decent quality low end acoustic.
Good starter guitars (under $300) can be found by Ibenez, Fender, Ovation and Washburn. I'm a little leary or Rogue and Squire as a lot of their lower end products are laminate and simply glued together. Of all these brands, try out an Ovation Applause series first. They can be had for $150-$250, have a curved back to help project sound, and they also tend to be comfortable for the beginner because that curved back lets you tilt the guitar to see what your fingers are doing 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions.
