What acoustic guitar do you blues players...

[BluesHowler]

... like? I have a Epiphone PR150 which is a great cheap beginner guitar but I've progressed through many hours of practice and sore fingers to the point I have GAS!

My question to the experts is should I go acoustic/electric or just stick with a nice acoustic? Right now I just play for myself although I did jam with a very good banjo picker at a party and he said I was a good player. (my dog may differ in her opinion.)

So what say you blues pickers?

 

[sumitomo]

You know some of the best blues guitar I've heard (delta,Robert Johnson style)the guys where just playin some old beaters,and I got to check them out and I say they were made from some good old hardwood probably from Honduras or somewhere south just had that tone,the newer guitars sound too well clean you know what I mean,and there was no name on any of these old guitars either.So keep hittin those yardsales.Sumi

 

[markb]

The only pictures of Robert Johnson show him playing a Gibson L1. Gibsons tend to have a certain growl to the tone that (say) Martins can't match. The old ladder braced LG0s are particularly good at this if you're looking for a vintage instrument. Here's a sweet small bodied "vintage Gibson" instrument but the Epiphone L-00 is nice too and not expensive. For a bit more presence and bottom end it's hard to beat the J45. My '99 model holds its own against the 40s and 50s samples I've come across. The Modern Classic J45 has an under saddle pickup built in.

 

[mrmudcat]

Well my favorite played a gibby L-00:master:

 

[evenkeel]

The small bodied Gibsons, already mentioned are terrific choices. Definately a more primative, growly tone than the 00, 000 Martins. But the acoustic part of Claptons Robert Johnson tribute album, done with a 000, sounds pretty good.

For at lot less coin, the Blueridge and Morgan Monroe small body guitars sound really good. People with a lot better ear than me may claim they don't quite measure up, but they get damn close. 90% of the sound for 30% of the price. Seems a good deal.

Another nice 000 type is the Guild GAD 30.

 

[Tone2TheBone]

I had an old Stella Harmony that would have been perfect for blues playing. It's gone though.

 

[Rocket]

The Epiphone EL-00 works well for 1/6-cost of Gibson L-00 Blues King:

 

[Kazz]

The only pictures of Robert Johnson show him playing a Gibson L1. Gibsons tend to have a certain growl to the tone that (say) Martins can't match. The old ladder braced LG0s are particularly good at this if you're looking for a vintage instrument. Here's a sweet small bodied "vintage Gibson" instrument but the Epiphone L-00 is nice too and not expensive. For a bit more presence and bottom end it's hard to beat the J45. My '99 model holds its own against the 40s and 50s samples I've come across. The Modern Classic J45 has an under saddle pickup built in.

That picture with Robert and the Gibson guitar is known that the guitar was borrowed just for that picture. Robert mostly played the "Stella" guitar or any beater he could pick up cheap.

 

[markb]

That picture with Robert and the Gibson guitar is known that the guitar was borrowed just for that picture. Robert mostly played the "Stella" guitar or any beater he could pick up cheap.

Fair enough, my RJ history is a bit shaky. Makes the Gibson "Robert Johnson" reissue look a bit foolish then .
OTOH Stellas and Harmonys of the time weren't a million miles from Gibson's cheaper models. A friend has a '41 (ish) Kalamazoo Oriole. Nice guitar. Ladder braced and cheaper timbers and hardware.

 

[ShortBuSX]

For at lot less coin, the Blueridge and Morgan Monroe small body guitars sound really good. People with a lot better ear than me may claim they don't quite measure up, but they get damn close. 90% of the sound for 30% of the price. Seems a good deal.

This post got me lookin, Id kinda like a guitar to practice/play some delta style on...Ive got enough electrics, my cheap Yamaha acoustic just doesnt inspire many blues riffs...but Ive gotta say, those Morgan Monroes have got me dreamin!
I think Ive pretty much gotta have one of these MV-01 3/4 scales

[URL="http://www.guitarsandmore.com/?sec=product_details&product_id=524"]http://www.guitarsandmore.com/?sec=product_details&product_id=524 [/URL]

Thanks for the suggestions!:AOK:
Yeah thanks...I didnt even know I wanted one:thwap:

 

[ShortBuSX]

BTW, to my surprise, I got to try a Blues 32 tonight when I visited a local beachside music store. I liked everything but the $599 price tag and the plastic feeling neck, and it loses points for the M shape at the scarf joint as well.

If I could get the pickguardless model that I want at less than $200 I could live with that guitar for a long time...but $399 retail???
$399 has far less mojo that at $200...I think @ $399 it loses that blues spirit entirely...at $399 I think Id name her "PONTIAC"

Where have I seen this M scarf joint before? Is that also a W for Washburn???

 

[ZMAN]

Hey Blues howler. To answer your question on whether to go accoustic or accoustic electric, I would say it all depends on the style of blues you like to play.
I have been a blues guy for 40 plus years and I do not own an accoustic.
My feelings are that the blues didn't get out of the southern areas until the Electric blues found the airways. And it took the British to actually bring it back to north America. I have studied and played blues and I really think that you can get that crying wailing tone nore readily with an electric over an accoustic. I know a lot of the modern blues guys, do go back and play accoustic on an album or set but they are all amplified.
So I would say get a semi hollowbody electric, you will love it.
Now remember this is my feeling and yours may differ totally.

 

[BluesHowler]

ZMAN, I have an Ibanez AS73B semi hollow body electric that I love. I'm still not sure what acoustic I want but I'm leaning towards a Resonator of some type with a Fishman pickup.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Here's a sweet small bodied "vintage Gibson" instrument but the Epiphone L-00 is nice too and not expensive.

Hey Mark,

I just heard about Loar guitars for the first time other day. Have you played one?

 

[ZMAN]

I see: I thought you were contemplating going straight accoustic OR amplified semi. So I would have been no help anyway since I know nothing from hollow bodies. But ask about Blues through a semi hollow and a good tube amp that would be different.

 

[ShortBuSX]

This post got me lookin, Id kinda like a guitar to practice/play some delta style on...but Ive gotta say, those Morgan Monroes have got me dreamin!
I think Ive pretty much gotta have one of these MV-01 3/4 scales

[URL="http://www.guitarsandmore.com/?sec=product_details&product_id=524"]http://www.guitarsandmore.com/?sec=product_details&product_id=524 [/URL]

This is my next target...its in sight...she will be mine :whatever:

Ive found nothing that can compete...I dare you(all) to throw suggestions at me to talk me out of it!

BTW Ive also found this guitar doesnt have that same neck...with the "M" scarf joint.

 

[markb]

Hey Mark,

I just heard about Loar guitars for the first time other day. Have you played one?

Hey, Tot. I had a few minutes with one at Alistair's Music in Wellytown. A nice guitar, better than the Epi EL-00, I'd say, but then again more expensive. It's very close. The Epi would be greatly improved by a bone saddle and is frankly a real bargain.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Hey, Tot. I had a few minutes with one at Alistair's Music in Wellytown. A nice guitar, better than the Epi EL-00, I'd say, but then again more expensive. It's very close. The Epi would be greatly improved by a bone saddle and is frankly a real bargain.

Thanks again Mark!

I'll have to try to find one to play.

 

[wingsdad]

ZMAN, I have an Ibanez AS73B semi hollow body electric that I love. I'm still not sure what acoustic I want but I'm leaning towards a Resonator of some type with a Fishman pickup.

See if you can check out one of these:
Oscar Schmidt OR6CE
or the exact same guitar (same Chinese OEM factory) with a different brand name, and an MSRP lower by about $150 bucks:
JOhnson JR-520-CEBM Swamp Stomper

My Local GAS Station carried the Schmidt/Washburn for years, until he found the Johnson :thwap:

I love my Johnson ...dobro, that is.:rotflmao: