If you’re searching for some of the best guitars for country, blues or folk music – don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, I’m going to highlight 15 of the best and most affordable acoustic models to play these genres.
Whether you’re an absolute amateur or a more advanced guitar player, you’re going to love today’s gear recommendations. Moreover, you’ll see that great guitars don’t necessarily have to cost thousands of dollars. In fact, some of these models are actually pretty cheap!
The music industry wouldn’t be the same without country, folk and blues. These genres are loved by millions of people all around the world and is it not surprising that a lot of listeners decide to get a guitar to actually play this kind of music.
Based on my own experience and research, I decided to create a list of fifteen greatest guitars that will be perfect for country, blues and folk. Feel free to check it out below. If you’re interested to hear the sound demos of these models, you’ll find it all in the next section of the article.
Best Guitars For Country, Blues & Folk – List
1. | Yamaha FS850 | See on Amazon |
2. | Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 | See on Amazon |
3. | Martin DX D-14 Johnny Cash Signature | See on Amazon |
4. | Squier SA-150 | See on Amazon |
5. | Martin D-15M | See on Amazon |
6. | Takamine GD11MCE-NS | See on Amazon |
7. | Fender CD-60S | See on Amazon |
8. | Guild DS-240 | See on Amazon |
9. | PRS Limited Edition SE P20E | See on Amazon |
10. | Gretsch Rancher G5024E | See on Amazon |
11. | Dean AXS | See on Amazon |
12. | Washburn Heritage HG12S | See on Amazon |
13. | Yamaha FD01S | See on Amazon |
14. | Fender Hellcat-12 | See on Amazon |
15. | Martin D-12E | See on Amazon |
1. Yamaha FS850
A really cool and affordable all-mahogany guitar. The FS850 model features a solid top, which significantly improves the tone of this guitar. In terms of sound, the guitar offers a classic mahogany tone, which is warm, resonant and full.
In my opinion, this guitar will be perfect for playing blues, folk and country music. Whether you’re into fingerpicking or strumming, this Yamaha offers a lot of versatility. I think that both amateurs and more advanced players will be in love with this model.
Here’s a quick demo.
2. Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500
In comparison with the previous model, this Gretsch is far more affordable. Yet, it still offers an amazing quality! I recently reviewed this model in a separate article, so feel free to read my thoughts about it here.
The G9500 will be particularly great for lovers of folk music. The parlor size and vintage look makes it one of the coolest cheap guitars available on the market right now. If you’re into this kind of vibe, you should definitely check that out.
Here’s a quick demo.
3. Martin DX D-14 Johnny Cash Signature
An absolutely iconic guitar. I think that any lover of country and folk music will appreciate this great signature model of Johnny Cash produced by Martin Guitars. For those who don’t know, this brand is best acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world. And the D-14 proves it!
The guitar features the HPL (high-pressure laminate) construction and a solid spruce top. As a result, it sounds absolutely fantastic – the tone is vibrant and versatile. I’m positive that this model will be ideal for all lovers of country, blues and folk music. In the end, it’s a signature guitar of an absolutely legendary musician.
Feel free to see how it sounds – here’s the demo.
4. Squier SA-150
Squier SA-150 is one of the cheapest guitars on today’s list. Of course, it’s a budget guitar, so it’s not a piece of art, but it should be more than enough for beginners. It definitely proves that great instruments don’t have to cost hundreds of dollars!
The guitar is really easy to play and it features a nice, resonant tone. Squier didn’t use any solid wood in here – it’s made of laminate. Nevertheless, at this price it will be tough to find something better. If you’re a beginner, you’ll definitely enjoy playing country, blues and folk on the SA-150 model!
Here’s a quick demo.
5. Martin D-15M
A high-quality guitar made for advanced musicians. This model looks and sounds absolutely beautiful – the vintage finish makes it one of the coolest guitars on today’s list! It’s not a cheap guitar, but it’s definitely perfect for playing blues, folk and country music.
The guitar features a mahogany construction with a really comfortable neck. The sound of Martin D-15M can be described as really warm, vibrant and rich. In addition, there are vintage-style tuners and a satin finish. Undoubtedly, even the most demanding players will enjoy using that model!
Here’s a great sound demo.
6. Takamine GD11MCE-NS
Another really cool mid-level guitar that features the all-mahogany construction. The GD11MCE-NS model is not overly expensive and it features Takamine TP-4T electronics, so this guitar is perfect for live performances.
Who is this model for? Well, I think that it will be perfect for musicians who enjoy playing live. In my opinion, it’s perfect for playing folk, blues and country music. So if you’re gigging with your band (or if you’re a solo artist), you’ll definitely be happy with this guitar on the stage.
Here’s a quick demo.
7. Fender CD-60S
Fender CD-60S is a relatively cheap acoustic guitar which features a solid mahogany top with laminated mahogany back and sides. Similarly as other mahogany guitars on today’s list, this model sounds just fantastic! The tone of this guitar can be described as warm and rich.
Undoubtedly, this Fender will be great for both beginners and even more intermediate players. If you’re looking for your first guitar to play blues, country or folk music – the CD-60S is the way to go!
Check out the demo below.
8. Guild DS-240
Another really cool guitar suitable for a wide variety of genres, including folk, blues and country rock. The DS-240 model features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The guitar is available in a really cool vintage sunburst finish and it offers an exceptional sounds quality.
Although I prefer the look of guitars with the satin finish, I have to admit that this gloss finish also looks really good. Guild did a fantastic job with this model, so I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the demo.
9. PRS Limited Edition SE P20E
A really cool parlor acoustic guitar suitable for the most demanding players. I think that the PRS P20E is one of the best acoustic guitars perfect for country, folk and blues music. This guitar looks and sounds magnificent! For those who don’t know, PRS is a manufacturer of high-end guitars – they’re not cheap, but they’re worth every cent.
It is worth mentioning that this is an acoustic-electric model, which means that it’s mainly designed for live performances. I think that any working musicians will appreciate the unique look and stunning sound quality of this guitar.
Here’s a quick demo.
10. Gretsch Rancher G5024E
Another amazing Gretsch guitar which offers an extraordinary look and exceptional sound quality. I have to admit that I really like that vintage aesthetic – undoubtedly, it will be perfect for such genres as country, folk and blues.
Similarly as a few other models on today’s list, the Rancher features a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides. Again, this is an acoustic-electric guitar, so it’s perfect for live performances.
Here’s the demo – I highly recommend checking it out.
11. Dean AXS
A really cool and cheap all-mahogany parlor guitar. Although it’s one of the cheaper models on today’s list, it still offers a great quality. If you’re not familiar with this brand, make sure to check out my other article about it. They’re known for making great electric guitars, but to be honest, their acoustic models are also really good!
I think that it’s one of the best budget guitars suitable for playing country, folk and blues music. I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you’re just starting out.
Here’s a quick demo.
12. Washburn Heritage HG12S
Washburn HG12S is a really unique Grand Auditorium guitar which features an all-mahogany construction. The solid top significantly improves the tone quality of this model. Undoubtedly, Washburn did a fantastic job with this model.
Who is it for? Well, I think that it will be ideal for both amateur and more intermediate players. The HG12S is really versatile when it comes to tone, so it can be used in a wide variety of genres – including folk, blues and country.
Here’s a quick demo. Sounds beautiful, right?
13. Yamaha FD01S
One of the most popular and affordable acoustic guitars in the world right now. This model has everything you need to successfully start your musical journey – it sounds good, it looks good and it doesn’t cost too much! I think that it will be perfect for beginners who want to play blues, country or folk music.
The guitar features a solid spruce top with nato (eastern mahogany) back and sides. It’s not a piece of art and it may require an initial set up to make it more comfortable to play. Nevertheless, it’s still a really good choice. I don’t think you’re going to find something better at this price level.
Here’s a quick demo.
14. Fender Hellcat-12
This guitar is a bit different than the rest – it’s a 12-string guitar! In my opinion, it’s one of the best models of this type that are suitable for playing country, blues and folk music. The Hellcat-12 features a very resonant and bright tone, which is ideal in these genres.
Who is it for? Well, I think that it will be ideal for more intermediate musicians who enjoy live performances. If you’re an absolute beginner, it’s not a guitar for you – using twelve strings instead of six may be really confusing for amateurs. Nevertheless, I highly recommend checking it out – you won’t be disappointed.
Here’s the official demo by Fender.
15. Martin D-12E
An absolutely unique acoustic guitar. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best models for playing country, folk and blues music. I think that most of the high-end Martin models (including D-28, D-35 and D-45) will be perfect for playing these genres. Many people believe that this is the best guitar brand that you can possibly choose – and I agree with that statement!
Why is it so special? Well, Martin’s quality is on another level. The guitar features a Sitka spruce top with sapele back and sides. As a result, the tone of this model is truly amazing and it’s filled with warmth, brightness and resonance. Undoubtedly, any guitarist will be satisfied with this model. It’s a true piece of art!
Here’s a quick demo. Sounds amazing, right?
FAQ
What types of guitars are best for folk, country and blues music?
In general, dreadnought acoustic guitars are the best guitars for playing folk, country and blues music. Of course, it all depends on your own preference – while some people enjoy playing on smaller sized guitars (such as parlor guitars), other guitarists prefer a little bit larger models.
What guitars do famous country singers use?
Most famous country musicians use guitars made by such companies as Martin, Fender, Takamine or Washburn. As an example, Johnny Cash used the Martin D-35. Willie Nelson, who’s an another legendary musician, always uses his beloved Martin N-20. The story of his guitar is actually really interesting, so I highly recommend checking it out here.
Who makes the best guitars in the world?
That’s really debatable and I’m afraid that there is no good answer for that question. There are just so many great guitar manufacturers out there! Nevertheless, Martin tends to be a leader when it comes to the best guitars for country, folk and blues music. The only disadvantage of their guitars is the price – they’re usually really expensive. Still, the high quality of their guitars is totally worth it.
Is it hard to play blues guitar?
It’s not difficult to play it efficiently, but it’s extremely difficult to become a master of blues playing. It requires a lot of patience and persistence. Blues music is also connected to emotions, so if you want to become a great blues guitarist, you need to learn how to transfer your feelings into your guitar tone. Undoubtedly, it’s not easy, but it’s totally rewarding!
Summary
I hope that you enjoyed today’s list! I’m sure that all of these models will be great for playing these types of music. As you can see, there are a lot of options out there!
Which guitar would I choose? Well, I really like the vintage vibe of the Gretsch Jim Dandy 9500, so I’d probably stick with that one. I’m also a massive fan of Martin Guitars, so the D-28 model would also be a perfect fit for me.
Thanks for checking out today’s blog post! Additionally, I’d like to invite you to subscribing to my YouTube channel – you’ll find a lot of guitar reviews in there. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like: