The Best Blues Guitars for Any Budget

Quick Picks: The Best Blues Guitars for Any Budget

1. Martin 000-15M – Natural

Martin is a company that has been making quality guitars for many years. They are well-known for their high quality and for making guitars that can be used in various genres.

They are passionate about crafting guitars with a warm tone. This is why they use mahogany to build them. Mahogany is a type of wood that produces a warm sound. The neck is also mahogany, and it has a rosewood fingerboard. The bridge is made from rosewood too. Tuners are open-geared nickel, which means they are easy to use and stay in tune.

This guitar has a beautiful mahogany finish that makes it look elegant. It is suitable for most styles of music and sounds great with either a finger-picking style or strummed. Blues players often like to use both styles, and the tones are warm and mellow but can be twangy if you want them to be. The sound is clear no matter what style you choose.

One problem that can sometimes happen is when a loud bass note drowns out all the other sounds. This is not the case with this guitar because the frequencies at the bottom are very well-balanced.

2. Epiphone Limited Edition ES-335

When you see the number 335, someone is playing the blues. Some famous blues musicians who played 335 include BB King, Otis Rush, Chuck Berry, and Alvin Lee from Ten Years After. The 335 is an old guitar design that is still popular today. This particular model is the Epiphone 335, a copy of the Gibson 335.

The top is maple, while the neck is made of mahogany. The rosewood fingerboard and typical 22 frets complete the neck. The traditional white binding and the high-quality block inlays on the fingerboard round out the package perfectly.

The Alnico Classic Pro in the neck and the Classic Pro Plus in the bridge positions. If you allow things to spiral out of control, they will give you enough strength and drive to remove your shoes and socks.

Vintage Wilkinson tuners and the conventional Lock-Tone bridge and tailpiece round up the hardware.

Epiphone has created a high-quality guitar at a reasonable price. This instrument has high-quality craftsmanship and tone. Our only concern was how they could make such a high-quality guitar at such a low cost.

It seems well-made and attractive, but the sound crackles at you and yells, “Play the blues!”

This guitar is an excellent value. It’s a great guitar for anyone to own and play. It’s not a Gibson, but it is similar to a 335. So play some blues!

3. Fender American Special Stratocaster, Maple Fretboard

There has always been an argument between people who prefer Fender guitars and those who prefer Gibsons. In the bass guitar world, there is no question that Gibson is better, but it is a close call when it comes to playing the blues. Some great guitarists play Gibsons, and the same is true for Fenders. Some notable guitarists who played Strats were Beck, Blackmore, Gilmour, Harrison, Trower, Hendrix, and Rory Gallagher (until his Strat was stolen).

Fender has released the American Special Stratocaster to make it available to more people. This guitar has a special body shape that is very well-known. It has an Alder body, a maple neck, and a satin finish. The two-tone sunburst lends it a vintage appearance and feel.

The hardware on this guitar is high quality. It has a synchronized tremolo bridge with six adjustable saddles. The tuning is precise, thanks to the Fender ‘F’ tuners.

The Stratocaster has a well-known sound generated by its three-pickup configuration. Fender has stayed true to this sound, which can be heard in this model. It has a revised circuitry to minimize any unwanted buzzing. This guitar plays and sounds great, just like it looks. It is perfect for some people who want a blues guitar that can be powerful and subtle simultaneously.

This US Fender is not expensive, and it still has excellent Strat sound. Even though it may not have all the features that other, more expensive models have, it is a legitimate Stratocaster. Plus, it comes with a gig bag instead of a case, which is one way they saved on costs.

4. Squier By Fender Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom

This guitar is beautiful. The semi-hollow body is made from mahogany which gives it a great sound – A telecaster sound with a natural resonance. The ‘f-hole in the body makes it look even better. The neck is a single piece of maple and has a maple fingerboard with black dot inlays. It looks great with the white-shaped pickguard.

The bridge of a guitar is the section that runs through the body. It has three saddles you can adjust to make your guitar sound better. The tuning is done with old-fashioned machine heads. And, of course, two single-coil pickups give your guitar its sound. You control the sound with one volume and tone control and a three-position pickup selector switch.

The rich mahogany body, combined with the resonance of the semi-hollow construction, results in a gritty, punchy sound that is stunning—the sound of a Telecaster but with a bit more.

If you want a great guitar, Squier makes some great guitars. They’re not as expensive as some guitars, but they still sound great. This one is perfect for blues and jazz music. Plus, it’s affordable. You should consider buying one!

5. Epiphone Les Paul Standard

You can’t ignore the Les Paul version if you want to play blues guitar and maybe play it loud. It is made in China from good quality materials. The body is solid mahogany with a maple veneer top. The neck is also mahogany with a standard fingerboard made from rosewood. At the headstock are the Grover machine heads for accurate tuning, which are also standard on all Gibson guitars. It features a Tune-o-Matic bridge with six adjustable saddles.

The noise is created by two humbuckers, which are pickups that are like twins. They have one pickup at the neck and one at the bridge. The controls are familiar- one volume and one tone for each pickup, plus a toggle switch. This Epiphone guitar is not a cheap copy of a Gibson. It’s about a quarter of the price of its famous cousin, but it still stands out as a quality guitar.

This guitar is great for playing blues. It has a smooth, fast action and is well-balanced, making it easy to play. The twin humbuckers give you a variety of sounds to choose from, depending on the mood of the music. And this price is an excellent option for anyone looking to play the blues.

6. Gretsch G9200 Roundneck Boxcar

A resonator guitar is a guitar that is simple to play and has a different sound than other guitars. This Gretsch model is good if you have not played one before. It is made from mahogany, which makes the sound resonate, and it has two f-holes to make the sound even better. The neck is also mahogany, and it is “c” shaped. The fingerboard is rosewood, and the scale length is 25 inches with 19 frets.

The hardware on the violin is completed with a spider cone and bridge. It also has plastic tuning pegs. This makes it look perfect, and it is made with high-quality wood. It is also physically small compared to other violins but is full-size and sounds very deep and resonant.

This instrument is amazing because it can fit into any style you like. You can play it with your fingers in a hard or mellower way or use a strong rhythm like in the delta style.

However, its most endearing attribute is the sound it makes when given the slide guitar treatment. This style of guitar playing resonates with clarity and power. Undoubtedly, it is a unique guitar with a unique sound that begs to be played with some blues.

The guitar is made in China with good materials. It is designed for a specific blues-playing mode. If this is what you are looking for, then the guitar is worth a close look because of its realistic price.

7. Squier By Fender Affinity Telecaster

If you want to play the blues, you need a Telecaster. We have two different types of Telecasters that you can choose from. The first one is made from Alder and has a solid body. The color of the body is lovely and allows the texture of the wood to shine through. The neck is made from maple and has a maple fretboard. It has that vintage Telecaster look.

The neck on this guitar is 25.5 inches long and has 21 frets. The neck is satin, not glossy, and it is in the comfortable ‘C’ shape design. The black dots on the neck showing where the maple is. There is also a black pickguard on this guitar, making it look traditional. And just like all Telecasters, the headstock is also black.

The fittings are standard, with two single coil pickups at the neck and one at the bridge. They are controlled via a single volume and tone control for each pickup and a three-way pickup selector.

There are six saddles on the bridge that you can adjust. The strings go over the bridge and don’t go through the guitar’s body like a normal Telecaster. The tuners are chrome and good quality.

This guitar was built to be simple and still sounds great 60 years later. It is still a popular choice among blues players. The bridge pickup setting gives you a hard bluesy sound.

The Squier Affinity Telecaster is a great guitar. It sounds good, and it also looks good. It is an affordable guitar worth considering if you want to buy a new one.

8. PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 22

PRS guitars are of high quality and are sometimes not liked by some people. But many people do like them. The body is composed of mahogany, which has long been utilized and is an excellent option. The top is made from maple, which is also a good choice. The double cutaway design means that you can reach all the frets easily. The beveled top makes it more comfortable to play with and looks nicer. The flame maple finish on the top is beautiful.

The neck is made from maple and rosewood. Maple is used to making the neck, which is a different material than most guitars. The fingerboard is also made from rosewood. PRS chose these materials for the neck because they are comfortable for some people to play with. However, the neck width and thinness are unusual, so some people might not be used to it.

This neck is fast and comfortable and makes the guitar easy to play. We think it’s a great addition to the guitar. The hardware is well crafted and designed by PRS. The tremolo bridge and tuners are nickel coated.

The PRS 85/15 S humbuckers make a lot of noise. If you start to play this guitar in the middle of a blues song, it will take no prisoners. They can also be mellow and easy on the ear, but they are always crisp and clear.

The pickups are controlled by a single volume and single tone control. This makes it easy to set up your basic sound. There is a three-way toggle switch for pickup selection. These simple, easy-to-use controls generate a powerful sound.

This is an excellent guitar for blues playing with a powerful sound. It also has a neck that is comfortable and fast, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s not the cheapest guitar we’ve reviewed, but it’s still a great value. It’s well-made and worth considering.

What Makes A Great Blues Guitar?

The truth is that most legendary blues players didn’t give their guitar or tone much thought. They began playing the first guitar they could buy or obtain. Most essential players from the past received their infamous axe by accident. No one specifically sought out a “blues guitar,” so to speak, whether by picking up the first guitar they could afford or even just playing a hand-me-down guitar.

Today, guitars are more affordable and accessible than ever before. Many players are looking to recreate the sound of their heroes. So, where do you start when looking for the ultimate blues machine?

Some classical guitars are always a good choice. Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul, or ES-335, for example. These guitars are great to play and have a unique sound that will make you stand out.

When you choose your guitar, it must be playable. This means that the guitar feels like a part of your body, and you can easily play it. You want the guitar to stay in the way of your music.

Best Blues Guitars: Single Coil or Humbucker?

There is no definitive answer to this question. It all depends on the individual player and what type of sound they are looking for. You need single coils if you want to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan. But it takes a lot of talent and a loud tube amp to get that sound. Also, add a Tube Screamer pedal to your setup.

If you want a warmer, rounder sound with more sustain, you should look at humbuckers. It is up to you which guitars those pickups are attached to. You should experiment!

1. Fender Vintera ’70s Stratocaster

Fender’s New Mexican-built Vintera Series offers a lineup of vintage guitars at affordable prices. The 70s Stratocaster is a favorite thanks to its oversized headstock – as loved by blues nuts like Jimi Hendrix and Walter Trout.

The 1970s could have been an excellent period for Fender quality control. Some original examples from that time are becoming more expensive, but the build quality and tone could be more consistent. The Vintera brings that era to life with a more consistent build quality and finish. You can get all the classic Strat tones, including those Jimi-flavored “in-between” sounds.

This is the best blues guitar you can buy for your money.

2. Gibson Les Paul Standard’ the 50s

There is a lot of debate over what the best blues guitar is. Some people prefer Fenders, while others think the Les Paul Standard is the best option. The latest Standard ’50s has all of the features that make Les Paul iconic. Mahogany and maple are used. Glued mahogany neck. Rosewood has 22 chubby frets. Perfection!

Gibson’s new LP is similar to older models. This is good because the old model was great. The guitar has the same sustain and it is easier to play because of the new neck. The humbuckers give it the classic British tone that people love.

3. Fender Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster

Jimmy Page played a ’59 Fender Telecaster on the first Led Zeppelin album. The new Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster is designed to look like that same guitar. It even has shiny discs, just like the ones Jimmy had when he played the Tele with The Yardbirds.

This guitar is excellent for playing blues music. It has a medium C profile neck which makes it comfortable to play. It is also lightweight, which makes it easy to move around. The noises it makes are the same as those made by guitars from the ’59 era. This guitar is perfect for anyone who wants to play blues music.

4. Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr

Gretsch guitars can be used to play blues music and any other type of guitar with six strings. The G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr has pickups that create a higher output, which makes it more suitable for contemporary blues rock music than older Gretsch models.

The G5655TG has a semi-hollow body with a center block. This makes the guitar less likely to receive feedback. The all-laminate maple construction also makes the guitar sound bright. The Black Top Broad’Tron humbuckers make the guitar sound beefy and provide a good base for rhythms. Plus, this Gretsch can handle different styles of blues.

5. Danelectro ’59XT

Even though Danelectros are made from materials that are not very expensive, Jimmy Page made them very famous. The 59XT is a pimped-out version of the guitar Page played onstage with Led Zeppelin.

The lightweight body is made from sheets of composite material glued to a plywood frame. What makes these guitars so good is the pickups. You get a fat-sounding twin lipstick tube bridge humbucker paired with a big retro-style neck single coil.

The tonality of this guitar is great for blues, rock, and surf tones. It sounds similar to a Telecaster but even better. You get great tones and amazing playability, all while looking as cool as Mr. Page himself.

6. Guild Newark St Collection S-200 T-Bird

The S-200 T-Bird might look like it came from the 1960s, but it is a great guitar for playing blues music. It has many of the same features as the Gibson SG, a popular guitar for blues music.

The mahogany body and neck construction on this guitar promote considerable sustain. This is why blues musicians like Muddy Waters and Black Key Dan Auerbach played original versions of this six-string beauty. But don’t worry – the reboot has all the tone and sustain of its ancestor.

The LB-1 mini humbuckers in this guitar provide a lot of tones. You can play a lot of different styles with this guitar, from 50s Chicago R& B to AC/DC blues rock.

7. Epiphone USA Casino

The Casino has finally returned to the USA after being made in various factories for 50 years. Musicians such as Keith Richards, John Lennon, and Gary Clark Jr have all opted for the deep, hearty tone of the Casino.

This guitar is similar to the ones above but has a different sound. The Casino’s fully hollow construction makes the guitar sound warmer and woodier. It also has a P-90 pickup, making it perfect for blues, jazz, and even rock music. Just be careful with your volume because these guitars can get pretty loud.

This might not be an original vintage Casino guitar, but it is very close. The price for vintage guitars is constantly going up, so this is a more affordable option if you want an American-made Epiphone.

8. D’Angelico Excel SS

The D’Angelico Excel SS is a beautiful guitar. It’s a single-cutaway hollow body that is 15 inches wide. This guitar has quickly become the flagship model of the D’Angelico range, and for a good reason.

Although this guitar looks like it belongs in a smokey blues club in a New York City back alley, it has some modern features. Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers give a fat, full sound. Coil-tapping push/pull tone knobs offer a clean tone. The modern slim C-neck is easy to play with and fits most players’ hands.

This guitar is perfect if you want a vintage look and feel with modern features.

What Sort Of Blues Sound Are You Looking For?

This fundamental question will help you decide which guitar to choose. If you are going to play at smaller venues or just at home, you should consider an acoustic and resonator guitar. They will give your music a more authentic sound. The resonator is a must-have if you plan to use slide or bottleneck styles in these smaller venues. If the venues are more extensive and you need more volume, you should look at electric guitars that pack a punch.

If you choose to go with an electric guitar, there are two main pickups: single-coil and humbuckers. People often have different opinions on which one sounds better. Some people say that humbuckers sound commercial and fake, while others say they offer more power and a better bluesy sound. It all comes down to personal preference, so think about what kind of sound you want before making your final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blues Guitars