This one is easy. Find a guitar (new or used) for $250-300 that you like, then spend the last $100-150 to have it properly set-up by a trusted tech. If you already know how to do your own setups, so much the better.
Your ears will tell you if the tone is “good & clean”, your hands will tell you if the tuners are “respectable”, but the playability and tuning stability are more affected by the setup than anything else.
YMMV