I’ve often been asked to make an acoustic that will deliver that ‘huge’ sound, and there are a few different ways this can be achieved when scratch building but that’s not the be all and end all. I would first off look at your budget. If you don’t have a lot to spend I would recommend taking your top price (for example $400) and then knocking 100 of the top, so your effective (theoretical) budget would now be $300. Now it’s time to chose your guitar. I would warn against internet buying if you have a specific sound in mind. If you must, however, stick to something with a large body, hardwood sides, like maple and mahogany and preferably a solid spruce top. No cutaway. Don’t get anything with carbon fiber in it, or with weird hole configuration. When you have found the guitar that is closest to your sound – and don’t be afraid to try every last one in the shop, it’s going to be your guitar for a long time so choose well – buy it. Here’s where that $100 we knocked off earlier comes in. It’s a common mistake to think that a guitar is bought as a finished product. In my shop I can turn a cheap guitar into something many times better with a few simple setting up tricks, like putting in a harder bridge, setting the neck and frets correctly etc. Find a local luthier and ask him to set up your guitar for a heavy sound. Spending that $100 dollars extra will be as if you spent double the amount in the guitar shop. The make of strings is very dependant on the individual. I personally play one of my customs that I built for big noise, and to help me along the way I like to use ernie ball earthwood strings. Get heavy gauge if you use a plectrum, but if you fingerpick, heavier strings will actually make have the opposite effect to the one you want, not vibrating as much therefore producing a quieter and weaker tone. I do a bit of both so medium (13 – 54) works fine for me. Good luck!