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And with the caveat that we're talking brand-new here.......
OM size or what a lot of makers call Jumbo size body is easier to deal with than a dreadnought onstage, when it comes to feedback problems. Also much more balanced frequency response that works out much better overall, especially in a band setting or recording. Most dreads are very bass heavy and relatively weak in the treble end of the spectrum - this can be an especially big problem if you're trying to record using mikes
In this price range, you will very likely have a choice between various brands of Chinese-made instruments and not much else. This makes it imperative that you play the actual guitar before laying down the cash - there are wide variations in quality at this price point. Some that I've tried have been surprisingly good. Some have been garbage.....
Since you are setting a high limit of ~$300, you will be stuck with a laminated top. Not necessarily a bad thing, since laminated tops are far more durable than solid. They'll stand up to environmental extremes and rough handling that would hurt a solid top badly. The downside is that a laminated top won't "open up" and improve with age like a solid top will. OTOH this tends to be a minor factor in an electric/acoustic situation anyway, since no A/E is going to sound like a really good flat-top through a PA or amp until you are well into the $1000+ range
Specifically:
For my 2¢ worth, it's hard to beat Yamaha, both for dollar value and consistently excellent quality control
Check out the lower end of the Yamaha APX or CPX range if you want to buy brand-new. APX500 (thinline) will set you back about $300, the CPX500 (conventional depth) about $350. The pickup/preamps give acceptable tone for live work, and the EQ options are easy to work with
FWIW I have a CPX700-12 that I'm very happy with, but I tried a few CPX500's and CPX700's as well just for the sake of comparison, and found no difference at all in the workmanship. The price difference went into the solid top on the 700 series, plus a slightly different p/u system
Ibanez may be a possibility. I once owned an Ibanez A/E that was a good bang-for-the-buck. No idea what the new ones are like
IMO I would definitely stay away from the lower end Takamines. Too many reports of lousy fretwork and questionable durability at the bottom of the price range
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