The Blues Guitar

[William2]

Do you ever feel there is just a certain sound to guitars that play blues style music? I don't play much blues but if I did, I wouldn't be looking at a Larrivee. I'm thinking guitar brands like Waterloo, Huss & Dalton, the Martin 000-17, etc. These instruments are smaller, short scale, 12-frets, lightly braced and lightly built. And I don't associate them with producing a beautiful sound but kind of thin and nasally. You can play anything on any guitar, but do you think an all-mahogany instrument would work well with blues style of music? That is why I ordered a Larrivee L-03mh. I think this kind of music would sound good on an all-hog guitar and also be suited to other styles as well like solo jazz standard tunes.

[B0WIE]

 I personally think there are Larrivees that can do a great blues tone. By that I mean, more dry and snappy in response. Particularly smaller models with mahogany backs. Especially those with mahogany tops. I also think the big SDs (both 50 and 60) could also sound stellar for blues, based on my experience with them. They sound amazing with a slide.

 "Blues" can mean a lot of things though. What many people consider the blues now is a caricature of something that came from the south, bounced to the UK, and came back to the states. When I think blues, I think of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howlin Wolf. Those guys didn't really need a particular guitar to make the sound they were expressing. I do think a raw, dry tone helps though as that's kinda what they were working with.

[BlueBowman]

I'm a heavy blues player, and I love my Larrivee guitars. They work well for blues -- heck, they work well for pretty much all styles, IMO.

I don't really buy into the idea of a "blues guitar," but I think I know what you're getting at by asking the question. Many blues players favor a guitar with a "drier" tone that dominants in the midrange. Some 12-fret 00's fall into this category. It is a great sound for acoustic blues, for sure, but it is far from the only sound that works. I play blues on all my guitars, from the most overtone-heavy to the "driest" sounding.

I look forward to your thoughts on the all-mahogany L-03 you ordered. I recently had a chance to play a 2026 L-40 (sitka/mahogany). It was quite light and sounded fantastic. Very lively. A killer "blues guitar." 

[BlueBowman]

do you think an all-mahogany instrument would work well with blues style of music?

Yes, it can work well.

[John in Charm City]

I would agree that they work well. I do a fair amount of early blues - John Hurt, etc. and find both my OM5 and 9 fit right in. Which is better changes on a daily basis and largely based on how much bass I want (and my mood on that particular day). All mahogany can certainly get the job done. Personally I like Larrivee's clean sound for blues and wouldn't rule any of them out.  As others have mentioned blues has become a pretty broad genre.  Also what you're looking for will change from playing rhythm to leads.  My Mahogany/Cedar OM5 is quickly becoming  my go to for leads - it just sings.  The EIR 9 can't be touched when bare fingers are needed.  I don't think there is one answer here.

John

[fantex]

I have a Larrivée 00-40 Sitka/Mahogany and a Waterloo WL-12 Mh (all hog). I've been working on my fingerstyle blues with David Hamburger's Steady Bass course from True Fire and through his own Fretboard Confidential website. Both guitars can do it. The Larrivée is heavier and over built but has a great bass tone when palm muting. The Waterloo is very light, almost fragile but seems more responsive. I'm probably not the greatest describer of tone but that's my impression. I like both guitars for different reasons.

I was thinking Larrivée should make a more bluesy model/shape... but now since I'm looking for a nylon crossover I'd like to see Larrivée do that.