Kirk Fletcher teaches the blues
| January 29, 2025 |

Video: What’s the best guitar gear for playing the blues?

Self-described reverb junkie Kirk Fletcher talks about his penchant for a clean tone with a little hair on it

In this Gibson App video, Kirk Fletcher discusses his ideal rig for playing the blues and it’s no surprise that he leans on the classics, with a 6L6-flavored tube amp with plenty of headroom being the foundation of his tone. He then pairs that with overdrive pedals designed to respond well to the guitar’s volume control.

Regarding the specific type of boost/overdrive pedal, he says, “I guess what it would really be is the transparent overdrive like we’ve heard many times before.” Perhaps an analog Ranger Overdrive from Maestro™ might do the trick?

Fletcher also mentions the importance of reverb when emulating the tones of legends such as B.B. King and Albert Collins. Everybody’s tone sounds cooler when it sits within a bit of space. Whether you’re chasing classic or modern blues tones, Fletcher’s advice is solid if you are after both articulation and clarity in your sound.

Explore the world of the Gibson App today and start your free trial on iOS and Android devices.