What's the Best Guitar for Playing the Blues?

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

What guitar was your favorite blues machine? Is there a different guitar you like for blues? if so, let me know! Enjoy!

[@chill5978]

now.

[@pekee9304]

Semi-Hollow body :P i just love the model and the warm clean tones, it screams BLUES! great video :D cheers from argentina :D

[@oldnorthstatefishing3912]

Unfortunately for my wallet, all of them... However I have to say, the Tele is my favorite all around. Can't argue with Albert Collins or Muddy Waters.

[@adinosauratemysock121]

Love your guitar playing in my opinion the strat does the blues the best.

[@ShaneOpeno]

You own nearly a dozen telecasters and you DON'T include them in a "what's the best guitar for the blues" video? Whassup with that?

[@chopsddy3]

The best guitar for “The Blues” , is the one ya’ got.

[@frantisca]

I would say the best guitar for the blues is the one you ain’t got and THAT gives you the blues… 🎸😢

[@MrNeosantana]

Amen. My Schecter Omen FR has the sexiest single tone I've ever heard when you split the coils. Phenomenal guitar.

[@Sig721Tau]

@@MrNeosantana I second that. But with my Schecter PT Special with it's P90 and Single Coil pickups.

[@dietmarsimon]

chopsddy3 No further comments necessary 🙏🏻

[@nickdevriese]

Agreed 100% Whatever guitar that makes you tell your story is a blues guitar.

[@rjb7569]

It's not the guitar... It's the player. Always enjoy your playing, Darrell, particularly when it's the blues.

[@jono4708]

yeah, leave that smooth jazz stuff alone!!........kidding

[@gunkanjima3408]

🤦

[@LAGreg123]

8:32 "I grew up with one really crappy guitar..." Well, you sure got over THAT!

[@InGratitudeIam]

The classic blues tone is in the heart, spirit and fingers of the player. That, and what they could afford at the time.

[@drew7155]

Yeah, but I want a better guitar

[@immanuelkantholz9033]

Any guitar is best for blues if you believe Rory Gallagher: "Blues players don't mess around with the guitar - they hit the bloody thing."

[@Bob.W.]

Well, Rory knew how to hit it, for sure.

[@toneydavis9802]

Some of the best blues ever played was on an acoustic guitar. Still is.

[@Zach-lv5qs]

Toney Davis Any specific body style?

[@najmihakimkhairi1210]

Goog luck bending

[@eddyb2302]

@@Zach-lv5qs the one you have

[@jonathankeith524]

@@najmihakimkhairi1210 I can bend pretty well on my Ovation. In fact, probably just as well as my Tele. The action and feel of the strings is almost just like an electric. Super easy to play.

[@thomashealey6941]

najmi hakim khairi bending isn’t that hard on an acoustic guitar.

[@52Tele]

Just get a Tele and never worry about genres.

[@marcgonzalez9823]

Anmol Karki, Different metal genres. It’s not impossible but just plain stupid😂😂😂

[@jescorodriguez2539]

U are right, teles are perfect

[@curtpozzi5527]

Genres, blues, metal? John 5 tele.

[@toastedphantom3007]

@@ImTyeDye Jim's Tele is modded to hell and back. Just because that one dude put a W12 engine in his Gen 1 VW Golf doesn't make the entire model a race car.

[@twinborn6028]

Buy a strat

[@frankhall7005]

I have a Tele, a Strat, and a Les Paul. I play blues on all three of them. The Les Paul with a SD 59 neck and just a smidge of dirt sounds best to me.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Les Paul is best.

[@PetraKann]

frank hall that is simply not possible

[@joesycamore2899]

@@PetraKann why not?

[@schmoemi3386]

So you just need an SG and a semi-acoustic and you're done! 👍

[@istvandejesus]

Hey!!! You didn’t mention Teles. How dare you!!!😂

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Ikr !!

[@EddieJarnowski]

Not having tele's in here questions credibility.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Muddy Waters would not have approved! :(

[@44scoots]

I did.

[@Delzona]

How could you possibly not have a Tele?!! Blasphemous!!

[@socialdef3]

Pros and Cons of each guitar: Strat: pros: very comfortable to play, irreplaceable neck pickup tone cons: despite the 5 position switch, not the most versatile tones, tremolo bridge makes tuning unstable, especially if you play around with other tunings. Tele: pros: awesome tones in all positions, top loader bridge plays like butter, indestructible cons: fussy intonation on traditional 3 saddle bridges, string through bodies can feel rather stiff Les Paul: pros: amazing depth of tone due to combination of maple cap and mahogany woods cons: heavy, uncomfortable to play when sitting SG: pros: great upper fret access, comfortable to play, versatile tones cons: prone to neck dive

[@larylhuntington5398]

One of my favorite vids on all of KZbin. I love the blues and have Les Pauls and Strats but also love BB King's tone too. This has helped me a lot. Thank you.

[@Chimp_6]

Tele - PERIOD!!!! Oh, Ok .... my Hamer 335 copy with a little "dirt" ain't too shabby for Chicago stuff.

[@dappawap]

On a more technical note the Fender strat is easy to record because of its frequency bandwidth. It just sits away from other instruments reducing the frequency buildup that may have occurred. This also applies for live performance. You can hear it in the mix even at lower volumes.

[@keithbrown8368]

How about a how to video on how to set your guitar and amp for a good blues tone, rock tone jazz tone CW tone. Without pedals or a modeling amp?

[@jono4708]

especially jazz from a solid-body

[@keithbrown8368]

John OBeirne for us people on a budget. I have one amp one guitar and one cable. Lol.

[@jthompson2379]

@@keithbrown8368 that's enough to make magic ⚡

[@keithbrown8368]

Apologies, I guess at the end Darrell does give some tips for a blues tone. My vocabulary of guitar terms is lacking though. I’d love a video explaining what different effects or attributes of tone mean. Delay, chorus, reverb are easy enough but what I’d break-up, overdrive etc. I’m sure there are explanations on YT but I enjoy Darrell’s style and Canadian references. Feels like we speak the same language.

[@theccarbiter]

Keith Brown break up is pretty much the point where you just are barely driving the amp to distort, overdrive is just really light distortion

[@marcellofreitas7356]

I have a strat, a Les Paul and an archtop and I use all of them for everything, including blues. The pickups have a bit more of gain, but I use an FBM1 Boss Fender Bassman pedal, which gives a warm tone. I love the way they all sound. : )

[@462rob]

Few channels-not just guitar centered, but ALL of KZbin- offer more value than this one. If you want to know ANYTHING about what guitars to consider, not to mention some cool chords and tricks, this is an AMAZING channel.

[@AmericanVetMusic]

I decided that the best guitar I had for blues is the ones I have! Thank you for that advice! I was thinking about getting a new gold top or Casino but decided against it. I’m currently attending classes at Berklee College of Music for Blues. I decided that I’m going to use my 1978 Applause, 2013 Dean ML79, (very bluesy,) my 2008 Jackson Kelly JS32-T, and my new Ibanez Artcore AS53. Between these models, if I can’t find the tone I’m looking for…something is off. 😊

[@scottclydesdale1674]

Hi, Is your teacher Tomo Fujita?

[@DaveKraft1]

Loved the blues-tones that Mick Abrahms (first Tull guitarist, later Blodwyn Pig) got out of his SG and its successors. His "Cat's Squirrel" says it all.

[@fertirado3236]

This is more of a personal preference, the best guitar for blues is the one that makes you feel more the music since blues is pretty much a ton of feeling *Personally a Les Paul, nothing beats it for me*

[@fishhelper4326]

You play really good guitar on your videos!

[@deanuniverse4214]

I played Blues with guys with LP’s, Fenders, and I used a Schecter with active 81 and 89R pups. These guys loved Gary Moore, and vintage sound. When I would fire up the Schecter it was so versatile and so over powering they loved the tones that guitar has! But the guitar is really just a part of getting a really good Blues tone!

[@hotrodjones74]

I recently played overdriven blues stuff on my Epiphone SG before I sold it. It's actually a very versatile guitar. I like the shorter scale length and humbuckers.

[@cmusicjourney]

Up until recently, I was watching your videos purely for their content; and that held true also for the first time I watched this video. The second time I watched it however, it was purely to look at the cinematography - I'm looking for inspiration for some videos I want to make. It's absolutely amazing, the lighting, the color grading, the shot choices themselves, all of it very well thought out and deliberate in their execution. I just thought I'd share that. Congratulations, Darrel, this is really, really high quality work in my book. Thank you.

[@snowdevil7727]

In the movie, “Crossroads,” the kid plays a Tele and Jack Butler, the Devil’s guitarist, plays a red superstrat with a Floyd.

[@homeboyjon4885]

That’s Hollywood for you. Everyone knows the devil’s guitar is bright white with gold hardware.

[@PiNkPrObLeM13]

Well yeah but I think that's only because they picked Steve Vai to play Jack Butler lol

[@FoScoJo]

Also, what Steve Vai played in the Crossroads duel was not blues.

[@greekfreak1980]

Steve Vai played a Charvel/Jackson San Dimas model and you can totally play Blues with something like this,because they´re essentially just "Hotrodded" Strats. Adjust your amp settings and you´re good to go. Oh and Vai played actually both his and Ralph Macchio´s guitar parts,minus the slide-guitar part which was played by Ry Cooder. Technically speaking,Vai defeated himself in that guitar duel.

[@Davivd2]

SG over a telecaster? You lost me there.

[@funnymanjustin5836]

Davivd2 slide blues

[@funnymanjustin5836]

It’s considered the best guitar for slide

[@Sig721Tau]

@@funnymanjustin5836 Cigar box guitar joins the chat. Lol

[@gabrielalejandroavilaquint8191]

derek trucks ?

[@leanandlovingit]

@@gabrielalejandroavilaquint8191 Allman Brothers/Tedeschi Trucks Band.

[@michaelolz]

This is BY FAR my favorite intro, Darrell!

[@MillerCustomGuitars]

So glad that you gave some love to the blues. My Best blues guitar is my Strat but my favorite blues guitarists play Teles. As far as noiseless pickups go, Darrell I put Fishman Fluence Single Width pickups in my Strat and for the first time in 25 years of guitar playing I get the exact Stratocaster tone that I imagine in my head every time that I flick the selector. I haven’t tried their telecaster set, but those look cool as well.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Nice video Darrell! You should have left honorable mentions to the Telecaster (Albert Collins, Muddy Waters) and Flying V (Albert King), although I feel they are both guitars for more advanced players...

[@michaelmorgan9289]

Darrell, Thanks for the very informative advice. As it happen I've a Les Paul copy & a Strat copy which play quite well & am now looking forward to attempting the Blues.

[@jackillin]

I usually play blues on my Strat....a few weeks ago I tried out some blues songs on my Ibanez AZ...well - it's my fav guitar to play the blues on right now! Sounds amazing & I prefer the flatter fingerboard for bending.

[@RDYC]

I'd say it's the one that's been pawned the most times.

[@darkiee69]

The top on that LP......... But where's the Telecaster?

[@lueysixty-six7300]

And it's an Epiphone, too

[@rookmaster7502]

Muddy Waters got some great blues sounds out his Tele!

[@Zach-lv5qs]

Josh Smith

[@najmihakimkhairi1210]

He is cheating on telecaster

[@billsedge7360]

The hollow body sounded wonderful 😉

[@Dashcam_Drivers_Switzerland]

For the Blues I prefer my Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic and my Gretsch 50’s Edition. The Duesenberg has some amazing Pickups and the whole settings are very special

[@adinosauratemysock121]

I would say the strat does the blues the best in my opinion.

[@blainechung0417]

It does everything the best 😂

[@jcwab]

I like the es-335 for blues, a tele for funk, jazz masters for clean atmospheric/jazz (of course) and a strat for rock.

[@pathall9304]

Thank you for this video! The blues is what I play most, but this offered so many great and useful tips, and of course your class A playing is making an appearance!

[@ronsheehan]

The “best” guitar for the blues is the one that gives you the inspiration to play and fits your budget.

[@redsox4life]

I'm a Gibson Les Paul guy. That's my main weapon of choice. I have a few Fender Strats too. They're good. I noticed that the semi-hollow is a Firefly. I heard a lot of talk about those guitars. I have a couple of Epiphone SGs. I find SGs very SLIDE FRIENDLY. I have one of my SGs tuned in open D tuning for slide. Playing slide in open D is fun. I also have a couple Fender Deluxe Teles. Those are awesome. You should have mentioned those.

[@TheGtrjim]

😉how could you not mention the Telecaster? Sooo many iconic blues players played the Telecaster. IMHO, blues tone and technique is more about the player though versus the name or model of the guitar. I agree a floating tremolo and hot pickups can create an untypical blues tone though

[@geoffpoole483]

Roy Buchanan and Muddy Waters.

[@mullahosk585]

Albert Collins!

[@victorribeiro2431]

I really enjoy strat and teles for blues, but my favorite blues artists always uses a semihollow

[@wmg1958]

Good post and nice playing too. Another thing to note, the technology you put in "Don't" column tend to be more useful in large venues. Blues can be played anywhere but really hits it's pace in small venues.

[@JC-11111]

Alvin Lee did fine with a 335. 🤷‍♂️😎 Duane Allman did fine playing blues rock on a couple of LP's and an SG. And SRV had his Strats. Albert King even had a Flying V lol.

[@schmoemi3386]

JST uses a Telecaster, but also uses LPs nowadays...

[@mikewhitfield2994]

Darrell seriously needs to release an album of instrumental blues and an album of instrumental up-tempo rock or rockabilly.

[@blacksinaga]

I learned from your video any guitar can do any genres, so I always play blues with JEM Jr, JCM800 combo and of course never forget the MT-2.

[@valueofnothing2487]

I agree: low power pickups. I like regular single coils, but gold foils are my favorite. They are like P90's, but more balanced with less power. The best tone I have ever heard, though, is Chris Cain's my mood (it's on KZbin), who uses PAF humbuckers.

[@nubeguitar2937]

After watching this video, I like my fender more

[@joeb3590]

Me too

[@cgr88m]

I have a tele and strat but the one that surprised me is the Gretsch les Paul style with the filtertron pickups is amazingly versatile

[@MijailRC]

I love your Epiphone LP! It's a beautiful beast!

[@boreed5734]

I have an american strat, gary moore les paul and a jms ibanez semi-hollow so I got the blues covered but I'm not a big blues player but those guitars are killer guitars for other styles too.

[@rayschoch5882]

I've liked my Squier Strat since I bought it in 1986. I put a DiMarzio in the bridge, and still like the tone, many years later. I also have a Squier Tele with a set of Seymour Duncans that sounds pretty good, too. My lone guitar regret is the Epi Blueshawk Deluxe. I never used the notch filter, liked the shape, weight and tone, but it would not stay in tune, even with a bone nut, so I traded it. I wish I'd kept it and just bought a set of locking tuners. I also have an Eastwood Twin Tone with P-90s that sounds good. All I need to play like Joe or Derek is another 50 years of practice…

[@StringsOfCrossroads]

Locking tuners don’t really help a bad guitar stay in tune. They really just make strings changes faster. Most tuning issues stem from a badly cut nut. Some guitars just cannot be made to stay in tune, so you probably did the best thing by trading it and getting something that wouldn’t frustrate you to the nth degree whilst you poured money into it. What that guitar needed was a good luthier who could cut a proper nut!

[@cvs1539]

I should have added - I also like Tele's for blues as well - mostly neck pickup

[@melvynobrien6193]

Somebody uses the neck pickup on a Tele? Bizarre. Roy Buchanan cut the ears off me live with the bridge pu.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

@@melvynobrien6193 neck pickup on a tele is glassy heaven.

[@schmoemi3386]

It's because of the two pickups combined, I swear! 🤨

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

@@earhornjones full on bridge pup is awesome with fuzz. But otherwise you really need that tone control.

[@parsamahdavi48]

The best guitar channel ever. Keep up the awesome work, your information is really valuable

[@bradpoole400]

You are a great player, plus, I learned several things just in this video and I know quite a bit about guitars.

[@rnarizona9686]

Darrell, I always enjoy your playing. I also find it helpful when you give tone tips regarding pickup and amp settings.

[@sid35gb]

Darrell talks about the best guitars 🎸 for Blues doesn’t mention TELECASTERS!!! Time to grab some popcorn 🍿 S***s about to get real in the comments section 😎

[@binilgn5941]

Robben Ford got one of the greatest blues tones ever using humbuckers, lots of gain and plenty of mids. Good blues tone is not just one thing

[@scottgallagher6095]

I absolutely love this channel, anything I ever need to know, anything I want to learn, I get in a cool proffesional manner c

[@oldguy5381]

Thanks for the blues tone tip. Always a pleasure

[@DrFelch]

Eastwood Tuxedo works pretty good, I'd say. Mine is electric metallic orange, if you can dig it.

[@londonuk70]

All those guitars are great to play great blues. Nice video. Congrats.

[@douglaspate9314]

Mate! Your channel is TOP!!

[@jonathankeith524]

I primarily play blues. I just bought a Fender Player Series Stratocaster from Guitar Center about a month ago, and then returned it last week. I preferred the feeling of my Les Paul's neck. The Fender was a great guitar, don't get me wrong. But it honestly didn't stay in tune that well. I had to re-tune it after just about every song, even with the strings broken in. I believe it may have something to do with the bridge. The tone was great though. I bought my Dad a 2001 MIM Fender Strat a couple years ago, and it stays in tune very well.

[@sl5932]

My favorite guitar is whichever one you happen to be playing!!

[@AmericanVetMusic]

Thank you, Darrell! I think I’m picking up my first Gold Top! I’ve waited about 30 years for this moment. I’m picking up the JJN model. 😊

[@peterchung623]

thank you Darrel, really enjoyed the video, well explained too

[@brandonlbartlett]

The correct answer is the one that feels best in your hands

[@jmangi6221]

What? No Tele? Im nauseous dude! Thats alright D,we know you cant test them all or it would be a two hour video. Love the slide playing,i need a lesson on that skill. Thanks Darrell bro, you Rooock!😉

[@judythepunk461]

my Squier CV 60's works for practically everything, fantastic guitar for the money

[@hoangnguyennguyen1032]

True story: my teacher played blues on a Jackson V with EMGs. Worked out surprisingly well.

[@adrianshingler6182]

Can't play the guitar but looking to buy my first ...... love the blues so this video is brilliant for me

[@1969MARKETING]

normally i would have said the strat but once i heard Tom Bucovak playing a vintage Gibson 335 that sold it for me :)

[@countblue]

I believe a good guitar for blues is my HB Tele "Cabronita" with "Filtertron"-Clone pickups from Roswell. ;-)

[@cvs1539]

I have PRS Silver Sky (strat) - Sounds great for the blues also have an older PRS Hollowbody (Spruce Top), which is also great for blues. Thanks for letting me cop a few of your licks

[@44scoots]

PRS doesn’t make a strat!😬 Only Fender!😬

[@frankhall7005]

John Mayer approves lol

[@joemisek]

Noiseless pickups... give Mojotone Quiet Coils a try in a Strat... they sound incredible and are in my main Strat. Even the most discerning listener can barely tell the difference. Love them.

[@shawnadams1693]

Joe Misek Do you have the 58s or 67s? I’m leaning towards the 58s and will definitely be getting some.

[@melvynobrien6193]

Single coils are SUPPOSED to be noisy. Why ruin them?

[@joemisek]

@@shawnadams1693 58s, very happy with them.

[@schmoemi3386]

What I don't like about them is that bulky bridge pickup that doesn't fit in a standard strat pickguard without having to grind the pickup cav first... 😒

[@DJ_V_squared]

I think it depends on what your blues style is. I play blues with a bit more gain similar to Gary Clark Jr or Kingfish.

[@setheinsteiner2980]

Same here. Humbuckers or p90s work better for that kind of tone

[@i.p.knightly149]

Ask Gary Moore about playing blues with higher gain. Actually, don't ask him now.

[@eltimbalerdelbruc1414]

You know, I'm no expert on this, but there are many different types of blues: Delta, New Orleans, Chicago, Texas, Country. I reckon some guitars might be more appropriate to certain styles than others?

[@mordokch]

The best guitar to play the blues is the one you've got. The blues is not about the guitar at all, it's about your soul.

[@brenthorrocks]

Great video!! I'd love to see a video for how to get a "bluesy" tone using amp + pedals...

[@williammolina9792]

Wondering what Gary Moore thought about playing blues with a les Paul and some hard gain

[@SuicideVan]

Stratocaster for sure. No matter if I'm playing or listening I prefer the nuances and dynamics of single coils for the blues.

[@lesterpaul9657]

Ah okay, so every blues player before 1954 couldn' t play real blues because he had no stratocaster. What a rubbish.

[@guitarwolf1000]

another good one Darrell....thank you.....you da boss!

[@vickysquires972]

Great video, I've just started to play some blues so this was super useful 👌

[@TrickOrTreatAZ]

Everyone critiquing DB's selection just give it a rest. All of you should recognize how subjective all of this stuff is. To each their own (and I own a G&L ASAT Classic so no shade here) and keep up the quality content DB. I typically don't subscribe but you deserve them!

[@speckofdust21]

very good advice - been doing the low output and low gain - bump in volume for years. It captures the 'mood' of the blues as well in a sense: Things may be hard (struggling against the volume and gain deficiency) but im still living and tryin and there's beauty in that. summed up in a word --> Blues

[@abhinavguitar]

a coil-choice coil-split HH mustang does it for me :D cause that's what i have XD Great video as always!

[@fordism.01]

Depends on what sound you prefer. Single coils or humbuckers. The SG. Les Paul. Peter green Garry Moore. . The 335 BB King. Can't underestimate the Humbucker. So many great guitarists played blues with Gibson.

[@richardstanton1954]

If you can play the blues, you can play it on anything,even a Sears. It’s all about your feel.

[@jakeritchie3805]

While ac/DC played hard rock, Angus is a very blues based player. He rocks that sg

[@TheDanification]

Telecaster bridge position with a little bit of dirt.

[@johndoyle458]

I've got an American Standard Strat and a Gibson Les Paul Traditional. I think I want a tele next. Was thinking of going a custom Warmoth build for that one.

[@kerrymcauliffe9906]

that 335, and everything you played on it...super sweet

[@electroKrunch]

Great vid, Darrell! Ya shot me in the heart what talking about guitar blues! Love this ;)

[@homeboyjon4885]

I love this video...the playing is awesome and the run down of pros and cons is fun. The debates in the comments are fun, too. Proof this is a thought provoking video.

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

Hey Darrell, you totally missed minis, as well! The first time I played a Gibson Firebird I thought it was going to be a rock machine but the mini humbuckers are absolute perfection for blues. Hot enough to get great harmonics and grit but low output enough to pick up every nuance of your pick attack and still allow you to hear the wood of the guitar. I was never a huge fan of that shape but, as soon as I played one, it became hands-down my favorite Gibson. Paul Gilbert's latest Fireman with DiMarzio mini humbuckers he designed himself is a great guitar for blues and classic rock. Stay safe everyone. Cheers from Florida.

[@vidokdjjfj]

tele with humbuker is also warming sound

[@ryanholmes7297]

Playing is definitely rooted in blues, my strat is the last guitar id ever get rid of.

[@redseadiver43]

So happy with my 2nd hand hammer slammer series!

[@davidkastin4240]

A Stratocaster is my weapon of choice 🎸

[@fredvanderlinden8908]

I play an epiphone Genesis made in the 70's. Great Pick ups fat neck and great pick ups. Yes lowered to the max. for some songs I activate the coil split. Fantastic guitar and you find them on reverb for a few hundred Euro. Important is the type of amp use (I use a vax AC 50 and a hughes and Kettner) Maybe important to mention, Les paul with P90 pck ups realy does the trick for the Blues. Thx for a great show Darrel. keep it safe and healthy.

[@paulgalinski2280]

What about the Telecaster? Some great blues have been played on Teles.

[@grantkgoacher]

Albert Collins is a fantastic example!

[@martinready5455]

Muddy Waters played a tele too