Right Blues Guitar

[David Walker]

I know there’s not a right answer to this. I’m just considering a hollow or semi hollow and would like everyone’s opinion if this is a good choice? I need to work within a reasonable budget, I am an advancing beginner. I would love to get some feedback.
Also, I’m looking at purchasing a Boss Kantana solid state amp I would love a tube amp but also want to stay married. I’ve heard that this is a very good beginner amp. LOL

Thanks. David
Stay safe.

DBW

Topic

[James B]

Hi David, welcome to the forum. I recall a couple of members playing the Ibanez Artcore semi hollow body guitars. They’re reasonably priced and we heard nothing but sparkling reviews from the players.

James

[JohnStrat]

Dave if you want a hollow body and I would say that’s a good choice for blues fro sure. I own both a strat and a gibson ES347 so I have the choice of either but I tend to use the Gibson more currently. If you check out lesson EP352 you will see Brain playing his Epiphone Sheraton and I think that is certainly one you can’t got wrong with and Brian talks about it at the intro and recommends them. The Ibanez are certainly nice too.
JohnStrat

[sunjamr]

Here’s what I would do: Go to a guitar shop and ask to try out some guitars. Find a chair similar to what you have at home, and sit in it while you play the various guitars. 99% of the time you will be sitting down practicing and playing. You need a guitar that fits and feels good in that position. In general, smaller guitar bodies are more comfortable to play while sitting down. Next, see how your hand fits the neck. Some guitars have a very fat neck, and my short fingers don’t deal with those very well. On the other hand, my friend just bought a high-tech Ibanez like Steve Vai plays, and it’s neck is the thinnest I’ve ever seen. It felt weird to play it, and hard to do vibrato. In the end, an electric guitar is 6 strings stretched across two points, with some magnets underneath to translate string movement to sound. If it fits well, looks pretty, and feels nice to play, then buy it. For me, that is a Fender Strat, but I’d be equally happy with an Epiphone SG, or a PRS, or ?????.

As for the amp, tube amps are no louder than modeling amps, they just sound nicer. I have a 15W Blackstar tube amp, and a 30W Blackstar modeling amp. My wife much prefers the sound of the tube amp, and so do I. For some reason, the tube amp hides the sound of that unwanted string noise and makes me sound like a better player.

Sunjamr Steve

[Billy]

Quite a lot of us are on a budget when it comes to guitars and amps, Harley Benton made tube amps are getting very good reviews for not much money.
They also do a fine range of guitars which also get great reviews as do Epiphone, Vintage, Squier and many more, If you can get to a dealership or guitar store then I would follow Steves advice and go sit down and play whatever they have in your price range, Oh and don’t discount buying used, lots of bargains to be had out there.Btw, whichever guitar you endup with the guitar will pick you and not the other way around…happy shopping.

..Billy..

[San Luis Rey]

Hey David, You are getting a lot of good advice. I agree with Steve as to playing different guitars to find out what you like. Important physical things to consider are comfort and neck shape/radius. When you know what’s right for you then shop for real. I own the Katana MK2 50 watt and it may be the best little amp for the money out there, about $229 new! I would consider the 100 W for $100 more just because you get more presets and things. They both throttle down to .5 watts but I leave mine on 50 watts with the master cranked all the way and the volume down to about 2. Good hunting!
Mike

Mike

[Tim M]

I bought an Epiphone Joe Pass hollow body about two years ago, and I love it. My impression is that a semi-hollow body like an Epi Sheraton II would have better sustain, though, because of that block of wood in the middle… which would be better for a lot of blues solos. Pickups are another consideration – humbuckers are warmer, which is why I like the Joe Pass better than my Strat. (although I will grudgingly admit that Clapton and SRV have done OK playing blues on Strats…:) I have a Fender Blues Junior tube amp, which I’m still learning to use properly. It’s affordable and light enough for a 71-year-old to tote around (although it seems heavy for its size…)
As others have said, try a bunch of stuff in a guitar store, and pick whatever feels good to you – and then have fun.

[Author]

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