Electric Guitar Shop

Just like you and I, the early blues guitarist were just normal working folks and for the most part created their own instruments due to the cost. They used normal household items such as washboards, pails, and spoons. For some who were a little more knowledgeable could actually build a guitar, these early guitars were built from cigar boxes and broom handles. For others who can afford to buy a guitar, they were usually cheap and or secondhand models. As music progressed and the blues became more popular, the guitar was a must have, many early guitarist found themselves traveling with an acoustic because electricity was not readily available, playing in places like roadsides, bars, work camps and gambling halls.

There are three main types of guitars being used to play the blues. Let’s look at these different types of blues guitars being used today.

- The Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW Electric Guitar (Medium Palomino Metallic) Acoustic Guitar – An all wood hollow bodied guitar that requires no amplification used with steel or nylon strings developed in Italy and Spain then introduced to the United States and still being used today mainly in country and folk style music.

- The hollow bodied and semi hollow body electric – Mainly used in Jazz music. The deeper full sound was popular with Jazz and Blues playing. One of the best examples is the Gibson ES-335 and was considered best for playing the blues. It had a thin body and did not produce much feedback as most full body guitars did and as a result can be played much louder. The blues players typically played louder than the jazz players did so it was a very popular model.

- The Solid body electric guitar – The most popular are the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Stratocaster, both released in the mid 50′s and both still being used today. Typically if you were one or the other it is very rare that you switched. Players like Stevie Ray, Jimmy Hendrix, and Eric Johnson, all produced their signature sounds using a Fender Stratocaster while artist like Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, and Slash, all produced their signature sounds with a Les Paul. Both very distinctive unique sounds and be easily distinguished by a guitarist when played through a clean (no effects) channel.

The one thing to remember when buying a guitar is you obviously want the best on the market, but every artist started out on a cheap or secondhand guitar initially, than progressed to where they are today. Today we are fortunate enough to have many options with many different price tags for really great guitars and equipment. So don’t drive yourself insane, get what you can afford and have fun!!!!