In addition to being a private violin teacher and having a degree in music from USC, Alecia started writing music-related articles and product reviews six years ago and has enjoyed this experience greatly. She likes to learn new instruments and write new compositions in her free time.
Marcus has a vast experience in digital audio and sound design. Thanks to his knowledge, he actively helps musicians with technical problems, improving their audio quality and promoting their tracks so that thousands of listeners can enjoy really good music.
Last updated: April 28, 2025
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The market is awash with acoustic guitars. When it comes to picking that ideal guitar that will help you to perform at your next gig, getting the best acoustic guitar for country blues is critical. There’s a great variety of acoustic guitars, and we are here to help you choose your ideal equipment. Reading this review enables you to pick an acoustic guitar easily.
In coming up with this review, we painstakingly perused 44 acoustic guitars. In the end, we found the Fender Paramount PM-2 acoustic guitar to be that ideal guitar that can transition your guitaring from mediocre to masterful. Fender has invested in solid mahogany, Quartersawn scalloped ‘X’ bracing, among other amazing features that make this guitar stand out from the crowd. It is a guitar that will make you love your new chosen hobby or career. To learn more about this guitar and others, continue reading.
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Every great acoustic guitar must meet a number of basic features. Though a brand name might influence you, your guitar must be of reasonable weight. You don’t want a guitar that is too heavy to the point of making you stoop. You want a guitar whose back wood, as well as the side wood, is of the best quality. It goes without saying that the manufacturer of your preferred guitar must indicate the guitar’s nut width, scale length, and even add all warranty information. We have covered all these aspects in the respective individual reviews below and even included a buying guide to help you know more about what to look out for.
"Made of solid mahogany this acoustic guitar for blues leaves no one indifferent to its warm sound, it features Ovangkol bridge and dual action truss rod."
"Lightweight option for musicians always on the road – this acoustic guitar with maple bridge and solid sitka spruce top is a great companion for any travel."
"Choosing an infamous brand like Yamaha is always the right decision – you get a high-quality acoustic guitar with outstanding sound and great accessories bundle."
"Classic dreadnought body and outstanding mahogany tonewood combined with an attractive pricing make this Ibanez acoustic guitar blues musicians’ savior."
If you are looking for an iconic yet simple guitar that gives amazing depth in tune, the Fender Paramount PM-2 is your pick. This USA designed and China made acoustic guitar is finely crafted and cleverly voiced to help you deliver your best personal artistic dream. The back and the sides of the guitar are mahogany hence guaranteeing a rich and well-balanced tone. Fender has used peroba for the fretboard material, and this ensures that your guitar delivers impeccable tunes. Your artistic self is further emphasized by the mahogany neck and the Fishman design preamp.
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The guitar’s playability and appeal are based on the 60’s style bridge and headstock. You will undoubtedly love this right-hand instrument that delivers a nice middle-range end balance with perfect projection. In your backyard, the guitar will also amaze you with terrific upper-mid sound delivery, and this allows you to enjoy more depth than most guitars in this price range. The preamp system of this guitar provides a wide range of tone options. The bass and tremble EQ guarantee that your amplified sound is well-tuned for that all cozy acoustic tune.
With a weight of just 11 lbs, a C-shape mahogany neck, and a total length of 24.75”, the Paramount PM-2 is an excellent instrument for both beginner and experienced artists. A total of 19 frets and a dual-action truss rod serves to ensure that you play all your favorite tunes with utmost effectiveness and ease. Overall, the guitar is sturdy, and the hard-shell case makes it possible for you to enjoy playing it for years. The limited lifetime warranty shows how confident Fender is about the guitar.
What do we love it for?
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Not very expensive
Its light and very sturdy because of the mahogany wood
The Martin StreetMaster 000-15M is a very simple guitar. No flashy inlays or fancy bindings, just a beautiful piece of mahogany with an antic satin finish. This wood not only makes for durability and stability but also delivers abundant amounts of deep, full, and reverberating sounds. The neck is incredibly sturdy yet still easy on the hands and highly playable. The fingerboard is a katalox piece with 20 frets plus a set of white dot markers. This acoustic guitar features 6 steel strings that deliver a louder and brighter bluesy sound. In fact, this guitar is capable of expressing a variety of musical vibes such as crispy clean clears, gritty punches, and warm basses, thus suitable for a wide range of styles and genres. The Streetmaster is remarkably lightweight at 11.8 lbs and the size is perfect for sitting down on a stool just noodling around. The scale length is 25.4 inches, which is considered long for an acoustic guitar and widely regarded as the scale of choice for modern fingerstyle players and flatpickers. This particular scale length offers more headroom in its tone, but the problem is that as the scale goes up, the string tension responds the same way. This is why longer-scale guitars are a bit difficult to play compared with their shorter counterparts. This Martin is, therefore, ideal for experienced guitarists, who at least can splash out more than $1,300 for a good acoustic guitar. This fella also comes with a case and is backed by a 2-year warranty.
The Gretsch G9200 Boxcar guitar boasts of very tasteful vintage characteristics that make it quite a catch for any guitar enthusiast. When you invest in this guitar, you get the best mahogany top that’s graced with a semi-gloss natural finish. This vintage finish stresses not only the instrument’s looks but also the tone. The suave mahogany sides further enhance the guitar’s quality.
The guitar is based on the 1920’s pre-amplified era and has, for the past decades, stayed true to the original design and character. The manufacturer has worked hard to retain the early aluminum Gretsch Ampli-Sonic diaphragm resonator cone and the instrument’s functionality. The resonator cone, which borrows from Eastern Europe music prowess, helps deliver an exceptional level of resonant range and volume. The overall weight of the guitar is 9.9 lbs, and the total length is 25″. This makes it easy for any guitar player to strum their favorite tunes. The padauk fingerboard with its 19 frets, comes with abalone dot inlays and responds most magnificently whether you opt to play using a slide or chords.
It is not hard to see why this guitar will help you master the art of guitar playing within no time. Explore different styles of country blues, reggae, early folk, or rock tunes that you can think of. In fact, this guitar is popular with several professional guitarists. There is no doubt that the Gretsch G9200 standard resonator guitar will transport you back to 1883 when the company started as a banjo firm. Indeed, this guitar represents America’s rich history in music and innovation.
If you are after a super-lightweight guitar, the Blueridge BR-40T is your perfect match. This is only 3 pounds and we bet you can’t find anything lower than that. The BR-40T is a classic offering that is made of solid mahogany back and sides and a solid Sitka Spruce top with scalloped braces. These combine for a robust sound and resonance plus it renders you clean articulation as well as a crisp tone. The neck is slim and this provides swift, easy action and long-lasting stability. This is the kind of thing for the modern player. The fingerboard is made of East Indian Rosewood for silky smooth playability, while Nickel plated 14:1 open back tuners offer smooth and precise action for keeping you in tune always. This guitar benefits from an adjustable truss rod that ensures perfect neck alignment at all times. Playability is magnificent. The nut width is 33mm and the frets are quite large, even and delightfully polished. Combined with a very comfortable neck profile, they make for outstanding playability. Even the tone is remarkably strong and uniform. This guitar produces a clear and classic voice all up and down the fretboard. On the low end, this instrument can really thunder, particularly if you dig into the 42 gauge G string, great for Blues, Folk, and Rock. With a short scale length of 22.9”, the BR-40T requires very little tension to bring the strings up to pitch and can perform bends and vibrato more easily than a longer scale acoustic guitar. Furthermore, the combination of a mahogany top with laminated back and sides offers a fantastic sounding guitar that’s actually priced within the means of any guitarist, including aspiring students. An added benefit is that the laminated wood is crack-resistant, which adds resonance to the tone. All things considered, this BlueBridge guitar offers the right mix of playability and tone at a very good price point.
What stands out?
Mahogany top construction for durability and robust sound production
The Yamaha FS850 is another great piece available in the lower price range. It’s a full-size concert acoustic guitar featuring a solid mahogany top with mahogany back and sides – all with a natural finish. The top board has a scalloped bracing pattern that helps maintain durability while bringing out the natural sound of this guitar. The fingerboard and bridge are both constructed of rosewood, and the saddle and nut are made of urea. This instrument has a compact body with a cutaway, which is a magnificent feel for Blues acoustic lead. Sound-wise, the combination of its low profile and its solid wood top give a slightly narrower sound with almost compressed highs and a little less bass oomph. The small FS850 body also offers enhanced comfort with no loss of volume. An adjustable truss rod allows for stabilizing of the neck, while ABS bridge pins secure the strings in place. Additional features include mahogany and cream body binding, a tortoise-patterned pickguard, die-cast tuners, and abalone with black and white soundhole inlay. Ideal for solo performers or band players, the FS850 can be purchased as “guitar only” or as a “bundle pack”. The bundle comes with an accessory kit including a stand, picks, strap, and polishing cloth, and Yamaha’s hardshell guitar case that virtually fits any standard-sized concert guitars. You also choose from a myriad of color options and tonewood options. Picking the bundle pack seems a value bet given the decent price of everything. A good choice for practicing, recording and performing at small venues.
What do we love it for?
Pretty much affordable
Solid mahogany body
Available with a range of accessories
Feels comfortable in hand
Delivers warm, unique sound with a deep, rich tone
Little doubt will be left on your mind as to why the Epiphone Hummingbird Pro Acoustic guitar is loved by many. It is an easily recognizable guitar mainly because of its design and classic brand logo. This guitar delivers warm sounds, thanks to the solid spruce top, mahogany body, and an elegant rosewood fingerboard. The electric acoustic guitar will never disappoint both in delivering warm tunes and its durability.
The Hummingbird Pro guitar oozes of elegance and sturdiness when you look at its spruce top. SlimTaper “D” neck shape of the guitar makes it comfortable for you to strum away your favorite tunes. The Grover 14:1 ratio tuners help keep the guitar in tune. Epiphone has further used the Shadow ePerformer electronics to provide a better plugged-in tone. With an overall weight of just 5lbs and a length of 24.75”, this guitar has been designed to give you the ultimate artistic experience. The nut width of this right-handed guitar is 1.68” and is armed with 6 strong steel strings. With a faded cherry sunburst color and a polyurethane gloss finish, it becomes very easy for you to recognize the guitar.
Epiphone has used the dreadnought design for the guitar’s shape and employed mahogany on most parts of the instrument. With a radius of 12” and medium frets totaling to 20, this is a perfect guitarist companion. The manufacturer has further backed the guitar with a limited lifetime warranty. This shows just how much confidence Epiphone has on the quality and stylishness of the guitar.
The Ibanez AW54OPN is perfect for those looking for their first dreadnought acoustic guitar that doesn’t break the bank. Outfitted all over with solid mahogany, this guitar will offer the depth and articulation that you’d expect from a dreadnought, along with strong fundamentals plus rich overtones. Whether you like fingerpicking or strumming, you will appreciate the fast response of this instrument. The neck and top features solid, while the fingerboard and bridge are made of traditional rosewood. Ibanez employed an X bracing on this guitar to reinforce the natural warm tone of mahogany and offer a wide-ranging tone that doesn’t become indistinct as playing goes on. The dreadnought body shape itself offers plenty of acoustic projection. You can expect full, rich, and warm tones owing to the mahogany. It’s also possible to achieve a boomy bass with powerful notes anywhere in the mid to higher ranges, making it an excellent choice if you’re seeking the best acoustic guitar for delta blues. This guitar is truly a game changer when compared to the sounds of other guitars in its price range. Although the appearance is that of a traditional acoustic guitar, Ibanez added modern touches as seen with the chrome die-cast tuners, D’Addario EXP strings, Ivorex II nut and saddle, Open pore natural finish, and Advantage bridge pins. The Advantage bridge pins, in particular, have a significant effect on tuning and tensioning the strings. All in all, this acoustic guitar is suitable for any Blues guitarist, whether beginner or experienced player. Beginners will appreciate the slim neck and high-quality build that will encourage a longer learning time, while advanced players will love showing off every inch of this guitar.
When it comes to acoustic guitars, you will need to look at the features that each presents before making your choice. In this review, we have dug into the specific features that make each of the guitars churn cool tunes. The best acoustic guitar for blues in the market will have to not only offer the owner incredible warm tunes but a true value for their money. We have also explored the different FAQs to help you make the right purchase.
Why you need to choose your acoustic blues guitar carefully
If you are new to the world of guitars and musical instruments, you may want to be extra careful when buying. With wrong or inadequate information, it becomes very easy to make a costly mistake. Many are the times that you might decide to buy your strumming instrument and end up with what other people suggest rather than what you really want.
Acoustic guitars don’t rely on amplifiers or pickups to make them sound better. Strings have a relatively essential impact on the overall performance of this guitar. For this reason, the composition and the gauge of the stings of this guitar should be carefully evaluated. Don’t forget that the body of an acoustic guitar also plays a vital role in the quality of tunes you get from your guitar. A slight change in the body, fret positioning, or string gauge can ultimately lead to a totally different keynote from what you intended.
Blues styles you want to know before purchase
Before you decide to purchase your acoustic guitar for blues, it is crucial that you first understand what the term ‘Blues’ stands for. Blues is a musical form that has its roots in the deep south of the U.S. It owes its origins to the work songs from the slave era, and the African musical traditions and spirituals.
There are over 24 different types of blues. You can listen to Chicago blues, African blues, electric blues, gospel blues, country blues, or the soul-blues. For each type of blues, you will need a specifically tuned acoustic guitar. For the Delta blues, for example, you must look for the best acoustic guitar for delta blues. It is, therefore, imperative that you know the blues styles you will play with your acoustic guitar before you hand over your money.
Simple blues riffs to learn
Many guitarists start by learning how to strum blues licks. Learning to play with your guitar’s strings when you want to produce a blues tune is easy. One of the simplest ways to master playing the guitar for any song and especially the blues, is to follow the following easy steps. With this lick, you will easily move your fingers all over the fingerboard. Once you master the lick, you can play blues in any key anywhere on the fretboard.
The first thing to do is to place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string. Do a downstroke.
Put your ring finger on the 5th fret on the D string and play a downstroke.
Drop your index finger to the third fret of the D string and continue with the strumming.
Raise your ring finger to the 5th fret of the A string.
This is a simple closed position lick, which means there are zero open stings. This, in turn, means you can move the lick all over the fretboard and still get the same result. You can move the lick one string down the floor to get a different note but the same tune. Instead of starting on the E string, you can start on the A string but on the 5th fret. Your friends will be in awe once you play them a blues classic using this lick.
The best acoustic blues guitar can be found by the following features
Buying an acoustic guitar can be a daunting task, especially if it is your first time. Different guitar makers often use a wide range of wood and hardware to make their guitars. Don’t forget guitars built with the same materials but different designs can be used for totally different purposes.
Picking your best acoustic guitar for blues fingerpicking depends on you considering numerous features, factors and specifications. Here are the main features that you should consider before picking your acoustic guitar.
Body type
Different acoustic guitars have different body types. The body of the guitar is the top end of the soundboard that is supported by internal bracing. The back and the sides all form part of the top. The upper bout of the guitar is made up of the upper body curves while the larger and lower body curves make up the lower bout.
Note that the shape and size of the body highly influence the sound and the playability of a guitar. Find a guitar whose body matches your physical and musical needs. There is also the sound hole through which the tunes are projected. The strings of a guitar are mounted to the body at the bridge. There is the saddle, a plastic or piece of bone, that spaces the stings at the bridge.
Scale length and nut width
A nut in a guitar is located at the very top of the fretboard. A nut separates the strings evenly as they approach the tuners. They then transfer the vibrations to the neck of the guitar. The Martin StreetMaster 000-15M, whose nut width is 42mm might suit you while Blueridge BR-40T with a 33mm nut width might not be ideal and vice versa. As for the scale length, it is the distance between the bridge and the nut. It is the vibrating portion of the string.
Back and sides wood
When it comes to picking your ideal guitar, several factors, such as your taste and habits, influence your choice. As for acoustic guitars, the type of back and side wood used directly affects the very tone and sound of the guitar. You’ll find cedar, maple, and rosewood among some of the most popular types of woods out there.
When it comes to delivering that boomy bass and high-quality acoustic blues tune, the mahogany wood is your best option. Mahogany wood is dense and displays a close grain and a dark finish. The tone of this wood is warm and sets a darker tone than cedar or spruce. A mahogany topped guitar plays with a strong, punchy tone that sits perfectly well with country blues tunes.
The mahogany wood gives a guitar high velocities of sound, hence contributing a lot to overtone coloration. Because mahogany lacks low-frequency sustained reverberation, its tone can be described as woody rather than metallic, which is what makes it ideal for country blues.
Bracing
It is easy to overlook the importance of bracing when it comes to picking an acoustic guitar. The bracing, which is found on the side of the soundboard, serves to control the way it vibrates. A guitar top that doesn’t have bracing will not produce a rich and warm tone, but rather it will vibrate erratically. The bracing essentially helps shape the way the top of a guitar vibrates and helps the guitar deliver a rich voice. What makes the Yamaha FS850 have a distinctive, unique tone different from that of the Blueridge BR-40T is something as subtle as their bracing. Little wonder then you’ll find luthiers spend many hours fine-tuning their bracing.
Top wood
The top wood of a guitar together with the back and the sides are almost always grouped together because the same material is often used to make them. The grains found in the top wood determines the type of voice that emerges from the guitar. Among the popular materials used as top wood include mahogany, cedar, laminated wood, spruce, maple, and rosewood.
Strings
Guitar strings are cheap to buy, but there is fundamental in tone delivery, more so in acoustic guitars than electric guitars. Acoustic guitar strings are specifically designed to be fitted on acoustic guitars. The apparent difference between guitar strings is that copper-based alloys go-to acoustic guitars while nickel and steel go to electric guitars. Copper is used because it preserves the tone of an acoustic instrument.
Basically, there are two types of acoustic guitar strings. There are the 80/20 Bronze strings that are made of 80% copper and 20% zinc. The industry calls this alloy Bronze, but this is Brass. The second type is the Phosphor Bronze wires. The wires are made up of 92% copper and 8% Bronze and a small amount of phosphorous. These strings deliver a warmer and richer tone, and they are more resistant to corrosion.
Fretboard and frets
A fretboard is the long thin strip of wood that is between the neck and the body of a guitar. The guitar strings run from the bridge to the neck over the fretboard. A fret, on the other hand, is a strip of metal that is embedded on the fretboard. The fretboard and frets make up most of a guitar’s neck. The guitarist depresses a string against the fretboard, and this makes the string produce a specific pitch because of the resulting vibrating length. Old standard acoustic guitars have 19 frets like the Gretsch G9200. However, it is now common to find acoustic guitars with 20 frets.
Guarantee
A majority of guitar makers will back their products with a warranty, at least for a reasonable amount of time. In our review, you will find that the Ibanez AWA54OPN offers a one-year warranty while Blueridge and Epiphone back their models with a limited lifetime warranty.
Tuning
Even for the most basic guitar playing session for a beginner, you must have an idea of whether the guitar is tuned or not. Tuning is a skill that you must learn if at all you want to master the art of guitar playing. Most of the instances that you end up with a bad session is because your guitar is not tuned correctly.
You must first understand the opening strings, which are E-A-D-G-B-E. This way, it will be easy to learn about the flats and the sharps. You can then use electronic tuners, your ear, or the 5th fret tuning method.
Accessories
To become an accomplished guitar player, you will need to invest in not only a quality guitar but the necessary accessories. There are those that a beginner must have, such as extra strings and a tuner. Some of the accessories that are a must-have for a guitarist include
Guitar humidifier, capo, a good guitar case, and guitar picks. You will also need tools such as Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, guitar straps, and cleaning materials. Many of the manufacturers of the featured guitars sell the necessary accessories, and you could even opt to have everything be in a single package.
Acoustic blues guitar maintenance
Taking care of your guitar is a good practice to take up. While cleaning and polishing the guitar doesn’t necessarily improve the quality of tunes that it produces, it gives you a grand feeling about your instrument and singing. Here are a few tips on how to clean your guitar;
Using a soft cloth, remove the dirt that has accumulated on the guitar. Start from the top, down to the fretboard, to the bridge, and finally to the body and sides.
Dirt and grime tend to accumulate on the frets, around the nut and bridge. Along the frets, you can use a sharp object to remove the stubborn grime.
Using another piece of cloth pour a little that has been dampened with a bit of lemon oil, repeat the process of removing dirt. The wood will absorb the oil, so you should not hasten but rather make swirling motions to make sure the grains absorb the oil.
The absorption of the oil will make the guitar look new and beautiful. If the body has a glossy finish, you can use a polishing cloth and then buff it up to give the guitar a sparkling look.
A good thing to remember is that you don’t want to over-do the polish on your guitar. Stay away from anything not explicitly recommended or made for acoustic guitars and try going by what major brands offer. Stay away from supermarket cleaning aisles.
An acoustic guitar is designed to project the sound of its vibrating strings acoustically to the air. An electronic guitar uses an electronic amplifier to project its sound. For rich authentic blues, many guitarists prefer acoustic guitars.
Learning how to play an acoustic guitar can be a pretty exciting thing. After learning the basics, you can run into the risk of ending up in a plateau. This can leave you uninspired and without direction. To master your guitar, you will need to step out there and ty a swing based on your licks. Charter unexplored waters using your licks. The next best trick to do is go for the songs and not the scales. Learn the vocals of your song, and with time, you will be able to create solos based on the song’s elements. Try vocalizing as you play along. Also, use your ears rather than your eyes when playing the guitar. Finally, it can’t hurt to ‘steal’ other people’s songs and use them to improve yourself.
It is not uncommon for your guitar strings to break. It is good to know when to change a string of your guitar before it actually does. The obvious way to know when to replace a string is when one breaks. At such a time, change all the strings because you don’t know whether it broke due to age. Moreover, replacing a single string will give your guitar an uneven flow of tune because you have mixed old and new strings. However, if a particular string keeps on breaking at a specific point, you can replace it alone.
The other way to know when to replace a string of your acoustic guitar is by sliding your little finger under the G string. If your finger gets grime, then it is time to consider changing the strings. Strings getting dark is also an indicator for you to change the strings.
Our Verdict
The Fender Paramount PM-2 acoustic guitar is our editor’s choice because it offers guitarists countless benefits. The guitar, which is just 11lbs and provides a scale length of 24.75” is built using solid mahogany, the best body material. With the traditional19 frets, Ovangkol bridge, and a dual-action truss rod, this guitar, which is backed by a two-year warranty, will produce the best rich and boomy tunes.
Though a little bit pricey, the Martin StreetMaster 000-15M is our second-best guitar. The guitar, which made from solid mahogany, is simple and is an optimal instrument to have when you want to master playing the blues or performing. It is one of the best acoustic guitars for blues because its light to the hand, its shape is swanky and the StreetMaster has backed it with a 2-year warranty.
When it comes to picking the best acoustic guitar from the shop, take a look at our best value guitar, Gretsch G9200. The guitar boasts of a laminated mahogany body, and it only weighs 9.9lbs. The V-shaped mahogany neck and the 19 medium jumbo frets make it a worthy investment for anyone who loves acoustic blues tunes.
