The blues is a very sophisticated genre with a very long history and a wide variety of subgenres. it’s a whole different world with its own accompaniment techniques and playing styles.
Although you can technically practice these styles with any guitar you have, there’s nothing like a true blues guitar.
As you already know, a blues guitar would have that specific sound – a sort of twang and tone that could make you sound more authentic.
To do this, you might want to consider getting a guitar that can accommodate your tastes in music.
But it’s not all about sound either; you’d want a guitar with a form and shape that can help you produce those sounds.
Below is a list of the best electric guitar for blues – a must-read for any blues fan who wants to play an electric tune.
Contents
10 Best Electric Guitars For Blues in 2024
- Fender American Special Stratocaster
- Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster
- Epiphone DOT ES Style Electric Guitar
- Squier by Fender Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom
- Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster
- Epiphone “B. B. King” LUCILLE Signature Semi-Hollow-Body Electric Guitar
- Fender John Mayer Stratocaster Electric Guitar
- PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Santana Electric Guitar
- Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar
- Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012
Also Great | Editor's Choice | Budget Pick |
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Fender American Special Stratocaster
The Fender American Special Stratocaster is all about finding your signature sound. Not only is it built with premium-grade materials, but this guitar also has all the components that give players the freedom to explore different tones.
Thanks to the Fender Grease Bucket tone circuit, players are free to play around darker, thicker tones without having to compromise clarity. I personally love the fact that this guitar includes Fender’s popular Synchronized tremolo. This iconic Stratocaster feature makes it possible for players to explore pitch variations.
- Promises fantastic playing experience plus freedom to discover personal music tastes
- Versatile
- Not just great for playing Blues
- But other music styles as well
- Comes with a stunning Fender Deluxe guitar case
- Definitely one of the pricier guitar options on this list
Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster
Don’t let the price put you off! It’s not a knock-off or a joke. That is a Fender electric guitar with a super pocket-friendly price. But that does not mean that this guitar is lacking in quality.
The Affinity Telecaster makes the best choice for beginners who are still on the fence about learning the electric guitar. We all know that these guitars don’t come in cheap so this definitely eases the mind of the undecided beginner.
It covers all the basics – comfortable design, easy playability, and an entry-level sound quality that does not fall behind other guitars by Fender
- Fender quality with an ultra-affordable price tag
- Has a comfortable C-shape design and an easy-to-play neck
- Great for beginners who are just starting out with electric guitars
- The price compromises the quality of craftsmanship
- The sound may have a twang to it with a bit of buzz from the pickups
Epiphone DOT ES Style Electric Guitar
If you’re looking for a guitar that has all the great features without being too pricey, then the Epiphone DOT ES may be the choice for you. Not only does it look expensive, but it also sounds expensive as well.
Its gorgeous fit and finish show great craftsmanship. This guitar can also hold a tune very well and its rich sound is comparable to higher-end guitars as well. But for me, I think the easy playability of this guitar makes it a winner.
- Premium-quality features at a much affordable price
- Beautiful shape and finish
- It looks more expensive than it actually is
- Produces rich and clear sound quality
- Sound quality is compromised when plugged into multi-effects
- The placement of the jack plug may be bother for some players
Squier by Fender Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom
The blues, for me, is all about that vintage or classic look. There’s just something nostalgic about it and so this Fender guitar makes a lot of sense for me. This guitar is all about that vintage style, from its appearances down to the sound.
The Telecaster pickups are bright and lively, the frets are easy and smooth to play with, and overall, the guitar produces a nice tone. I personally recommend this to anyone who loves playing vintage blues songs.
- Great tone that perfect for the blues
- Looks beautiful and plays beautifully as well
- Good quality Fender guitar at a more affordable price
- Pickups may sound a bit nosy for some people
- Heavier than most electric guitars
- Has a little bit of buzz on the neck pickup
Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster
This guitar was named after a legend, and so it’s not a surprise that its quality is no less than legendary. Paired with top-notch materials and a system built to create a beautiful sound, the Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster is a guitar that delivers expectations.
What I love most about this guitar are its pickups. Too often, we hear guitar players complaining about the buzz on their guitars. So here’s a guitar with 3 noiseless pickups offering a full range of vintage Strat tones and all that jazz, without the 60-cycle hum.
- Comes with vintage noiseless pickups producing no-hum vintage Strat tones
- Sounds awesome on the amp with great sustain thanks to the onboard 25-dB mid-boost
- Vintage tweed case
- Strap and cable included
- One of the priciest options on this list
Epiphone “B. B. King” LUCILLE Signature Semi-Hollow-Body Electric Guitar
Here’s an Epiphone guitar that was designed by BB King himself! What’s interesting about this Lucille guitar is that it is a semi-hollow body guitar with no F-holes. That said, it is definitely a unique guitar in a league of its own.
It has everything you could ask for in a good quality guitar – beautiful body and neck, plus a smooth rosewood fingerboard. But for me, what sets this beauty apart from the rest is its two humbuckers with Vari-Tone, delivering that classic tone. This is one guitar for anyone who is looking for something unique with a classic sound.
- Designed by a blues legend
- Produces precise tone and offers a lot of control for the player
- Great tonal variety thanks to the Vari-Tone
- Less versatility
- This is a guitar built for blues
- Heavyweight
- Not ideal for traveling or long hours of playing
Fender John Mayer Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Here’s another guitar that was named after another world-renowned artist. This Stratocaster was the product of John Mayer’s collaboration with Fender. It has a unique alder body with a urethane-finished maple neck.
This C-shape guitar has a beautiful African rosewood fingerboard with Dunlop 6105 frets. I personally love the look of the Fender/Gotoh vintage-style tuners. But if you ask me, this guitar has one of the best necks in the Fender catalog.
- Rich, beautiful tone with sustainable strat
- Perfect for blues
- Rock and indie music styles
- One of the more expensive options on this list
PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Santana Electric Guitar
The PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Santana is a love letter to Carlos Santana. His partnership with the Paul Reed Smith brand inspired the makers to create this gorgeous guitar to his name. This guitar pays homage to the guitars made for Carlos Santana in the 1980s. The result is this attractive and unique design.
But this guitar isn’t all about the looks. If it’s meant for a legend like Carlos Santana, you can expect this guitar to be top-notch.
The guitar itself resonates well and its pickups provide the type of tone you would associate with the name “Santana”. Overall, I think that this guitar is best for anyone looking for something that’s well-made yet unique.
Also Read: 10 Best PRS Guitars in 2024 (Reviews): Which PRS is Best for You?
- Beautiful finish on the guitar
- Comfortable design that’s also built for easy playability
- Comes with an equally beautiful gig bag
- Tremolo and tuners are custom-designed by Paul Reed Smith
- A bit on the heavier side in weight
Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar
Are you a seasoned guitar player who is looking for a professional-level upgrade? Advanced guitars tend to have high-end price tags so if you’re looking for a guitar that gives you the best value for your money, consider the Fender Standard Telecaster.
It’s a simple C shaped guitar that’s built with comfortability in mind. It has all the iconic tones that are unique to Fender Telecasters and it also has a great bridge that’s made to provide excellent sustain and tuning stability.
Personally, I like that this guitar has shielded body cavities that are said to reduce hum. Who knew that such a simple and subtle change could solve a common sound quality problem?
- All the basics in top-grade quality with an affordable price
- Great tone stability
- Produces a rich and beautiful sound
- Knobs may be a bit loose for some players
- A little bit on the heavy side
Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012
The Yamaha brand is renowned to produce the best beginner guitars in the world. Although their guitars are known to be entry-level types, it doesn’t mean that their guitars have cheap quality.
If you are a beginner who has never handled an electric guitar before, or if you are looking for a practice guitar, the Yamaha PAC012 from the Pacifica series has everything you would need.
It is constructed with a sleek and durable body, an easily playable fretboard and best of all, it is significantly lighter than most electric guitars – perfect for those long hours of practice.
- A great entry-level quality guitar
- Covers all the basics a beginner might need
- Comfortable to play with
- A perfect companion for practicing
- Super affordable price that puts beginners at ease in investing on an electric guitar
- Lacks features that may help the learner advance
- May need some work out of the box
- Assistance might be needed for complete beginners
How To Choose The Best Electric Guitar For Blues
The Blues is an underrated music genre that needs more of our attention. It’s a delicate and complex music style that needs the right tone to produce that iconic blues sound. And so, choosing the best electric guitar for blues is essential for anyone who is looking to play this type of music style.
One of the most important things to remember when looking for a blues guitar is sound control. You need a guitar that gives you flexibility, versatility, and a full range of tones to play around with. To produce a good quality blues sound, you need to be in control of your instrument.
Also Read: 10 best electric guitars review
Our Pick
The Blues is an underrated music genre that needs more of our attention. It’s a delicate and complex music style that needs the right tone to produce that iconic blues sound. And so, choosing the best electric guitar for blues is essential for anyone who is looking to play this type of music style.
One of the most important things to remember when looking for a blues guitar is sound control. You need a guitar that gives you flexibility, versatility and a full range of tones to play around with. To produce a good quality blues sound, you need to be in control of your instrument.