6 Acoustic Guitars for Soul-Touching Blues Music

Blues music dates back to the early 19^th century when slaves in Southern America used it as the voice to express their hardships, frustration, and hard luck. They were basically songs sung by the slaves who toiled in cotton fields back then and that’s why you see many African-American singers dominating this music genre today. While the original Blues were never played on any guitar, the earliest proponents of acoustic guitar blues that we know of include Charley Patton, Son House, Willie Brown, and Robert Johnson.

Blues music is meant to be felt deep down the soul and only the best acoustic guitar for blues is capable of conveying the raw and rugged feeling of this genre. The problem, however, is that there are so many sub-genres of Blues such as jump blues, cool blues, Memphis blues…the list goes on, and that makes it difficult to define the best guitar for blues.

Nonetheless, as we have shown in the table below, there are surely some models that stand out of the crowd, particularly when it comes to reaching those deep tones and leaving them resonating in the air the Blues way. You have to know the strengths of these Blues acoustic guitars in the in-depth reviews section. Then there’s a buying guide with all the details regarding choosing your perfect Blues acoustic guitar. We look at a guitar’s scale length, nut width, back wood, weight, and warranty, and why these factors influence your buying decision.

Top 6 Acoustic Guitars For Blues Review 2024

Know your blues style

There are several styles of Blues, which means your go-to instrument should meet the sound requirements of each type.

Traditional country blues

These are all about the American South and country life. Many songs are about the struggles of African American men including railroad work.

Jump blues

Characterized by high tempo and plenty of jazz elements, these blues are usually played with a full band accompanied with instruments such as the saxophone.

Chicago blues

They were found around the ‘40s and ‘50s. These are usually played with brass instruments or sometimes accompanied by a full blow horn.

Cool blues

True to their name, these are very calm and relaxing.

West Coast blues

Exponents of this style were Texas musicians who moved west to California. This music is heavily influenced by the swing beat.

Memphis blues

Heavily influenced by Slide music which was originally played in Hawaii. In fact, Memphis blues became popular owing to one “Memphis Blues” song written by WC Handy.

St. Louis blues

This type is a combination of jump blues, piano blues, and ragtime.

Distinguish blues guitar from the rest

There are quite a few differences between a blues guitar and the rest of the herd. For the purpose of shopping and without having to delve into everything, we have listed the parameters that are unique to blues guitars. These include:

These basics can help you pick an acoustic guitar that is more at home with blues than any other genre.

How to take care of an acoustic guitar

Your acoustic guitar will need frequent maintenance to stay in top-notch condition and continue delivering those southern vibes. Guitar maintenance involves general care, removing strings, cleaning, and putting on strings. If your fingers tend to sweat, for instance, you’ll need to wipe the strings with a cloth after every play. This will prevent corrosion. To clean the entire guitar, apply some drops of lemon oil to your cloth and wipe all around. Well, some things are better elaborated than told, so this video can help:

Price tag

You can find an acoustic guitar for blues at virtually any price point, from under $300 to over $2000. It really depends on how much you are willing to spend, your level of expertise, the features of the guitar, and brand. If you are fairly new to guitars, you can get a beginner’s acoustic guitar for anywhere from $200 to $500. Mid-level range models cost about $500 to $1,500, while high-end ones are in the region of $2,000 or more.

The following features will help you choose the perfect acoustic guitar for blues

Size and weight

Acoustic guitars come in various sizes and finding the right size is only the first step towards enjoying playing the instrument and getting the best sound. A guitar’s size has an impact on playability in terms of you being able to hold it comfortably and the quality of the sound.

Generally, larger guitars are serious sound boomers and vice versa. So whether you’ll be playing in a large room where you want everyone to hear the sound or maybe you will be traveling with your instrument more often, you need to get a size that matches your goals. For instance, the Taylor GS Mini with its compact design makes an excellent choice for travel.

Weight is another thing to consider, especially in relation to your frame. It doesn’t make sense giving a child a huge guitar and they are only learning to play. Likewise, a big guy would look funny with a mini instrument. So get one that’s congruent with your body size as well.

Body style

We’ve just mentioned that a guitar’s size impacts sound and playability and here are the most common body styles:

Concert and Grand concert

These are ideal for guys with petite frames and those with small hands. They are comfortable, the sound is bright and the mid-range is remarkably good. The grand concert is a bit larger, though.

Auditorium and Grand Auditorium

These are known to have incredible amounts of volume and better balance than smaller models. They also have a small waist, making them comfortable to hold.

Dreadnought

This is characterized by a very large soundboard, a 14-fret neck, and square bouts. It’s the best thing for delivering powerful driving sounds.

Jumbo

Deep resonance, big booming sound, and loud projection – what else do you expect of a jumbo?

Travel/Mini-acoustics

A good option for guitarists who are always on the move and for children learning to play the guitar. They are usually portable and comfortable. Some manufacturers have found a means to make mini-guitars without compromising on the sound quality. The Taylor GS Mini is a good example.

Tops

The top largely affects the tone quality of the guitar. It amplifies the sound transmitted from the strings and the quality of the wood used will determine how loud the sound can get. So in general, you can expect a very loud sound from a larger soundboard.

Acoustic guitar tops are commonly made of wood or laminate. Solid wood usually vibrates, but that’s an advantage as it makes it produce a rich sound at great a volume. Laminate is cheaper and it’s the way to go for beginners.

That said, acoustic blues guitars are often made of solid mahogany on the top, back and even sides. This material is preferred for its punchy qualities and gives a dark, rugged sound. It’s perfect for bringing out mid-range tones, which gives more clarity to the sound and gets even better as it matures.

Bracing

Bracing comes in two versions; ladder and X bracing. Bracing is actually how the wood supporting the top is arranged inside the body of the guitar. In the case of ladder bracing, the wood is arranged like a ladder, creating a roomy, airy top support that gives a higher, top-end tone. This is the traditional bracing technique, therefore, if you are looking for an authentic 20s and 30s blues sound, an acoustic guitar with ladder bracing is the real deal.

X bracing, on the other hand, is a modern style usually seen in flat top guitars like the Ibanez AW54OPN. The wood supporting the top is literally arranged in an X shape, providing a tighter, mid-range sound that’s also louder than ladder bracing.

Neck shape and nut size

Acoustic blues guitars feature either a C-shaped neck or a V-shaped neck. The C shape is the most common design. It is shallow, thus easy for small hands to get around.

The V shape design is mostly seen on vintage guitars. It can be a soft V, which is a bit rounded, or a hard V that’s very pointy. If you like to have your thumb over the edge of the fretboard, say you want to play D/F# chords, a pointy neck shape will get the job done.

Nut size ranges from 43mm to 51mm, but acoustic blues guitars vary from 44mm to 47mm. The wider the neck, the easier the access to each string. Wider necks are also suitable for fingerstyle playing and techniques such as hybrid picking.

Fretboard and frets

The fretboard is the piece of wood that extends all the way along the neck of a guitar. Frets are the tiny metal strips placed along the fretboard.

Acoustic blues guitars often feature 12 frets but some have 14 frets. A 12-fret guitar is best suited to people with smaller frames because there is less distance to reach when playing in open positions. It also has a lower bridge than usual, which allows it to sound full and warm. 12-fret guitars were used in the early blues, so they are a great option for those looking to recreate the traditional blues sound.

14-fret guitars are famous for their bright sound and high frequencies. Having 14 frets allows you easy access to higher frets, especially when there’s a need to slide from fret 12 to 14. 14-fret models suit larger individuals or anyone who just loves the brightness that they give.

Those looking to play past the blues will be at home with a ‘normal’ guitar, such as a solid dreadnought made of mahogany and with a wide neck.

Strings

The choice here is between nylon and steel strings, but it comes down to your music preference. Nylon strings create a softer, mellow tone and are preferred for playing classical, flamenco, and some folk music. Steel strings, on the other hand, produce a louder, brighter tone and a deep, bluesy sound just like the classic acoustic guitar. So if you need something specifically for blues, you’ll want to stick with steel strings.
There’re different strings variations that might influence your final buying decision. In case you’re a professional who’s looking for breathtaking sound, you might want to opt for a twelve-string guitar for maximum customization. Also, if you-re left-handed, pay attention to the left-hand acoustic guitars pre-strung specially for you.

Accessories

The only accessory that most guitars come with is a case. This is essential for when transporting the instrument or storing it away. Some such as the Ibanez AW54OPN will require you to buy the carry case separately. A few others like the Yamaha FS850 are sold together with accessories such as stand, polishing cloth, strap, and case, while still maintain a decent price point. Obviously, you’ll have to buy some of these accessories given care and maintenance is a must for your guitar’s durability.

Warranty

Warranty is a good thing, but you got to know what it covers and what it doesn’t. We’ve heard of a US manufacturer who won’t cover any damage caused to your guitar outside the United States! What if the product is affected during shipping? What if you need to put some speakers in and something goes wrong? These are the issues you need to ascertain.

FAQ

Our Verdict

While there are a plethora of options on the market, every model and brand we have featured here is worth your time. Whether you’re just starting out, you’re passionate about playing guitar or looking for something to add to your collection, the guitars in this list will sound amazing in your hands. To summarize our findings regarding the best acoustic guitar for blues, below are the top choices:

The Cordoba C9 Crossover is the best overall acoustic guitar for blues. Available in premium Canadian Cedar or European Spruce top, this guitar breathes out the genuine traditional acoustic sound that empowered our forefathers to express their emotions. The ‘Spanish heel construction’, high gloss finish and some vintage touches make this guitar stand out of the rest.

Those looking for an upgrade instrument can go with the Martin StreetMaster 000-15M. Its solid mahogany with antic satin finish is sure to deliver resonating sound and last long as well. This has 20 frets, meaning you have to know what you’re doing to get the best frequencies out of it.

Lastly, for those of you, blues players, who need to tighten the budget on buying an acoustic guitar, Ibanez AW54OPN is the perfect choice. This high-quality guitar from one of the most beloved brands will impress you with every featured spec from the strings to tonewood.