What is the best acoustic guitar for blues? We know the right answer.
It is beyond doubt that blues is a beautiful and unique musical genre. The raw emotions and feelings that ooze from blues sounds are incomparable.
However, playing blues as a guitarist is not so straightforward. To express your thoughts correctly in blues, you need unique instruments.
Getting the right guitar for playing blues is a decision that will give you a lifetime of joyfulness. Nevertheless, the reality is that selecting the best acoustic guitar for blues can be an arduous task.
Best Acoustic Guitars for Blues – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Martin DRS2 (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Fender CD-60 | Check Price |
 | Gretsch G9200 | Check Price |
Fender CD-60 Acoustic Guitar
The Fender CD – 60 offers the features of a high-end guitar at a lower price. Although the name Fender is well associated with the electric guitar models, the brand has earned an excellent reputation in acoustic guitars for the blues genre.
The features include a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, die-cast tuners, and added good quality case with an ample compartment space which is ideal for storing all extra stuff like fretboard oil, string cleaners, fingernail clippers, etc.
Pros
- This is one of the best acoustic guitars for blues considering the low price and the superior quality of sound.
- The laminated mahogany body can produce a vibrant organic sound, perfect for the original blues.
- The Scalloped bracing boosts the natural resonance of the CD-60 even further, making it a powerful guitar for lead and rhythm playing the blues.
- It offers a bright ringing tone and a deep bass providing a reasonable range for a blues performance.
- The Fender CD-60 is the ideal blues acoustic guitar for beginner to intermediate level players wanting to learn the blues genre.
- Fender CD-60 is very comfortable on the fingers. This makes performing leads, pull-offs, and other little finger tricks much cleaner and with less effort, an essential aspect of playing the blues genre.
Cons
- It does not produce a concert-quality tone. That’s not what the manufacturer ever meant this guitar to be)
- The hard case is only included for USA and Canada purchases only.
- Requires some attention to keep it in tune during long periods of play.
Gretsch G9200 Acoustic Guitar
For a guitarist and a fan of blues music, the G9200 Boxcar from Gretsch is an excellent instrument.
Some say that this tool epitomizes the very essence of blues, and we understand why. It is entirely made for playing the blues.
The essential features of GRETSCH are the Ampli-Sonic cone diaphragm (resonator cone) and a spider bridge. Hand-spun in Eastern Europe from nearly 99 percent pure aluminum, the “Ampli-Sonic” diaphragm yields an impressive quality and volume of tone.
The sound it produces is pure blues class with a distinctive twang. If you’re a blues guitarist, getting a Gretsch G9200 Roundneck Boxcar is a must if you want to explore all the intricacies of this genre.
Pros
- This is a very compact instrument for playing blues.
- It resonates blues in all of its sounds yet at a relatively low price.
- Combines wood and metal to reel in an acoustic sound with extra grind and bite to it.
- The laminated body is highly resistant to environmental factors like humidity or heat.
Cons
- Because resonators have a very distinct sound, this guitar is better as part of a collection than your single instrument.
- Although the sound is nothing but pure blues, it can be somewhat limiting too.
- It runs 12 frets to the body, which can limit you from playing slide
Martin DRS2 Acoustic Guitar (Editor’s Choice)
The most affordable solid wood Sapele/Spruce model available from Martin Guitars, the Martin DRS2 boasts a 14-fret dreadnought body made from solid Sapele backsides with a solid Sitka spruce top for incredible balance, tone, and projection.
Ready to take on any blues performance, the DRS2 comes equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics to offer outstanding plugged-in performance and sound.
Rounding out this attractive package is a rich black lite. Modern Belly Bridge with a 16 -Radius Compensated White Tusq saddle, a White Corian nut, a set of chrome enclosed tuning machines.
Pros
- The rock-solid strata band neck makes the guitar highly durable, and playing becomes a relaxed affair.
- It has a 14-fret dreadnought body that offers fantastic tone, projection, and balance.
- This compact, easy-to-use blues guitar lets you plug in and play. There’s no need for you to spend hours getting a great blues sound from your guitar. Just plug in and you’re ready to go.
- The volume and tone controls are positioned directly in the soundhole of the guitar. That gives you the ability to make changes to your sound in real-time while playing the blues.
- It delivers a blend of durability and concert-quality sound and projection.
- The DRS2 comes with a hard-shell case to protect the guitar, making it safe to carry while traveling.
- This acoustic guitar for blues responds more like a classical guitar, where all the tones are even and balanced. It was designed to complement the balanced tone of a smaller instrument.
- It has the right amount of bass, midrange, and treble.
Cons
- This is a little bit out of budget for a beginner.
- It requires the right set of strings to get the exact and right tone.
How to Choose the Best Acoustic Guitar for Blues
Shopping for an acoustic guitar that’s best for a specific music genre like the blues can be an overwhelming experience especially considering the extensive range of guitar makers, hardware, features, and design elements around.
Nonetheless, to buy an acoustic guitar for blues, here are the most critical factors you should consider.
Sound
An excellent musical sound is very much like food and wine. The magic happens in your mouth, tongue, palate, nose, eyes, as well as in your ears and brain.
As far as guitars and blues go, a real genre of music blues is, by definition, a sound that pleases listeners.
How do you know a guitar’s sound is suitable for performing blues? Use your ears.
Playing a chord will give you all the sonic information a full song can provide—without your auditory senses being clouded by a flashy technique.
Here’s a checklist of what you should usefully listen to in a six-note chord:
- Duration of systemic sustain.
- Separation of each note.
- The velocity of how the chords emerge
- Timbre balance
- String-to-string response
- Projection
- Intonation.
Remember: “The voice of the guitar is the sound of the guitar.”
Physical Features
If you had to pick the most critical part of an acoustic guitar, what would it be? Generally, a quality acoustic guitar will possess the following physical features:
- A good-looking steel-string
- A simple and elegant classic natural finish
- A traditional body shape that provides exceptional rigidity and resonance to the woods and craftsmanship.
Above all, don’t forget your preference matters too.
Best Acoustic Guitar for Blues: Our Verdict
Technically, the Martin Road Series DRS2 earns the accolade among guitarists as the best acoustic guitar for blues due to its super technicality when compared with the others.
However, considering that the blues genre is more of emotion and personal expression, prioritizing how you feel about your instrument should come first before considering the technicality.
Martin Road Series DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic is a beautiful-sounding guitar. The only real concern being the hefty amount you’ll need to get your hands on one.
If a high price puts this one out of your league, then you can go for the Gretsch, which is more a mid-range option, or the Fender if you need to save every penny.
Thankfully, the Martin and the Fender have incredibly high quality and design choices so that no matter what the range of your budget, you’ll find the best acoustic guitar for blues that can produce beautiful blues melodies.