Nothing beats the feeling of beating the hues of the blues. But if acoustic guitars are your thing, then read on to know some of the best blues acoustic guitars available in the market today.
Overview (Best Acoustic Guitars For Blues)
One of the best things about the acoustic guitar is that you can take it with you almost anywhere.
Thanks to its raw and authentic sound along with its portability, it has been a go-to instrument for almost every singer-songwriter.
It just has this uncanny ability to bring out the natural creative juices of a storyteller. This makes the acoustic guitar the perfect fit for artists like Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, and even John Mayer!
But for some players, the acoustic guitar means more to them than just a song with several chords. Some blues players have certain preferences when it comes to playing the instrument. But what exactly is an acoustic guitar?
Let’s look at a brief introduction.
What is an acoustic guitar?
The beloved acoustic guitar is renown as a fretted instrument, developed in the 13th century.
It produces its distinct sound thanks to its vibrating strings. One of the major things that make the acoustic sound stand out among the rest is its body construction and material.
Usually made of wood, the acoustic guitar’s soundboard (or the top) is responsible for the overall tone quality of the instrument.
The acoustic guitar usually consists of six strings, which are usually made of two materials – nylon and steel. Over the years, several brands and manufacturers have introduced their own unique takes on the instrument. Some have little or short-scale acoustic guitars. Some have larger tops, while some even have neon-colored strings!
Now that we have the basic introduction to an acoustic guitar, let’s jump right into the buying guide.
Buying Guide
Personally, I like it when an acoustic guitar incorporates being budget-friendly while still being decent for a gig or a recording session.
This is why the first factor you should always consider when purchasing an acoustic guitar is your budget. Thankfully, a lot of brands have been kind enough to release quality guitars at a fairly decent price. Of course, you do have to compensate for some factors (like build, electronics, or hardware).
Another thing would be the size. There are also varying shapes and sizes to the acoustic guitar. Ed Sheeran popularized the mini guitar (or a travelers guitar). This makes it portable and lightweight.
If you’re also planning on sticking to the stock parts of your acoustic, then you should consider the strings. Nylon should be beginner-friendly, while steel strings are better for overall volume and tone quality – especially if you’re going to be using it for blues.
With all of that out of the way, let’s get right into our roundup.
Taylor GS Mini
Spearheading our list is a mini offering from the folks over at Taylor Guitars.The GS Mini is a lightweight and portable instrument perfect for those only starting out with acoustic guitars.
It boasts a Mahogany backwood, a 23.5″ scale length, an ebony fingerboard, to go along with a varnish finish. The GS Mini also houses a solid Sitka top, and its slim design makes it comfortable for the average player.
Despite its compact size, it still manages to produce a warm and lush sound, making it a wonderful choice for blues.
Gretsch G9200 Boxcar Resonator
Coming in at number 2 is an acoustic offering from one of the most renowned electric guitar manufacturers. The Gretsch G9200 is a lightweight acoustic guitar with an interesting design.
At a glance, you immediately notice the F-holes that give the guitar a premium look and feel. It also offers a rich tone with a warm character to the notes.
A lot of players also mentioned how it’s still comfortable to play despite it being a relatively larger acoustic instrument.
Martin LX1 Little Martin
At number 3 we have a popular offering from one of the most renowned acoustic guitar manufacturers.
The LX1 Little Martin is a portable, lightweight, and rich-sounding acoustic guitar from Martin & Co.
It also boasts a Sitka spruce top, a Mortise & Tenon neck joint for its construction, and a modified low oval neck shape, making it comfortable to play for hours on end.
This guitar has been regarded as the perfect campfire acoustic guitar thanks to its size, but it also takes pride in being one of the best-sounding acoustic guitars out there today.
Ibanez AVN6 Artwood Vintage
Aesthetically speaking, this fine offering from Ibanez is my favorite among the bunch.
The AVN6 Artwood Vintage is a modern classic from Ibanez, sporting a Tobacco Sunburst finish. Supporting its looks, this instrument offers a classic tone and feel, to go along with a parlor body shape.
It also sports a mahogany neck, Sitka spruce top, and Mahogany back and sides, making it durable and warm-sounding at the same time.
Fender PM-2 Standard Parlor
Completing our roundup is from a company that almost needs no introduction to the guitar community.
The PM-2 Standard Parlor offers Checkerboard purfling and rosette, solid Mahogany back and sides, and a solid Sitka spruce top – a feature common among our best picks in this roundup.
One of the aspects that make this instrument different is the mother-of-pearl “Concert Tone” fingerboard inlays. To top it all off, it also houses a Fender and Fishman Designed PM preamp, completing the vintage sound and feel of the instrument.
Conclusion
Now I know what you’re thinking – almost any acoustic guitar can make it as a blues acoustic guitar, right?Well, yeah. But there are still some aspects to the instrument that make it ideal for the genre.
And our roundup is just some of the best ones available out there today.
So get on to your research and try out a couple of these models yourself, and find the right one that speaks the most to you. Show me the blues!
