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7 Best & Most Popular Guitar Colors

1. Sunburst

A sunburst guitar looks great for both an acoustic and electric guitar. The aesthetic is popular with many guitarists as it has a more natural feel and a glossy finish. The natural look with a polished finish makes for a great-looking guitar.  

It is also popular for any type of music, which is why it is a high-selling color. 

The ESP LTC Deluxe EC-1000 is an excellent example of a sunburst electric guitar at $1099.00 composed of wood for the body and the neck

The Guild D-20 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar also looks excellent in the sunburst color as well. It is designed with mahogany for the body and a rosewood neck that retails at $1699.00

2. Black

Black guitars are also famous for both acoustic and electric guitars. It is popular mainly for hard rock guitar as opposed to jazz. 

Black guitars can come with a matte or glossy finish and are great for playing at home or in a gig setting. One disadvantage of black guitars is that fingerprints and smudges are more visible. 

While this can come in a nitro or poly finish, it is more likely to find it in poly as it needs fewer layers of finish and is more resistant to nicks and other typical damage. 

The Ibanez RGRTB621BKF RG Series is an example of a great-looking black guitar designed for playing rock or metal. It has an ebony fretboard and a maple neck. 

A great example of a black acoustic guitar is the Fender CD-60 Dreadnaught Acoustic guitar. The neck and body are mahogany. It is a great price as well at only $199.00 

3. Blue

Blue guitars are popular for electric guitars as opposed to an acoustic guitars. They can be played as rock or jazz guitars with a matte or gloss finish. Blue is usually more common for electric guitars than acoustic guitars. 

As a general rule, blue guitars may fade a bit quicker than some other colors. They do not show smudges as easily as a black or white guitar will. 

The PRS SE Standard 24 in blue is an excellent value at $649.00, with a rosewood and mahogany body and a maple neck.

4. Santana Yellow

Santana Yellow also looks great on an electric guitar. It is suitable for playing rock or playing jazz. It will not show smudges as easily as a black or white guitar would. This color is an excellent option for playing at home or at a gig. 

Santana yellow guitars usually have more of a glossy finish to them than a matte finish. The finish for these, as most of the guitars commonly sold today, is a poly finish. 

The PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Santana Electric Guitar is a beautiful Santana Yellow guitar with a mahogany body and maple neck that is an excellent value at $829.00

5. Red

Red is a great color for an electric. It is not a popular color for an acoustic guitar. It is a typical color for playing rock music (not so much for jazz). 

While the red color looks great, it can slowly fade and show a yellow tint over time. Therefore, it may be best to use this guitar color for playing at home instead of playing a gig. 

The Kramer Barretta is a red guitar with a maple wood body and neck for $699.00

6. Orange

Orange is typically not seen for an acoustic guitar. However, it is more suitable for an electric guitar. Its unique color makes it a decent option for playing a public gig in rock bands. 

Orange guitars can have a matte effect or a glossy one. Like most guitars made today, it also has a poly finish. 

Many orange guitars can be found for a lower or discounted price, which may be one of the main reasons they made this list. Typically, since they are not as popular as many other colors, they may not be the best option for a gig.  

The color orange on guitars can appear to have a highlighter effect. Therefore, dirt and smudges may show up pretty quickly on them. 

The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32 DKA – Neon Orange is priced at only $369.00 with a poplar body and a maple neck

7. Grey

Grey guitars can be played for rock or jazz and are acceptable for playing at home or in a gig setting. As a black guitar would, smudges and fingerprints may show on it more clearly than some other colors. 

The Latitude SE Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar is an excellent guitar for playing jazz, and it has a rosewood body and neck for only $299.00

Read Also: 7 Tips For A Great Guitar Recording (With Effects & Pedals)

Best Color for an Electric Guitar

The most popular color for an electric guitar is the natural sunburst color. The sunburst color seems to have a vintage look and appeal that appears very popular with many guitar players. 

Best Color for an Acoustic Guitar

The best color for an acoustic guitar appears to be a natural wood grain or sunburst guitar. These colors match the natural wood type of tone most people are familiar with when they think of acoustic guitars. 

Which Guitar Brand Looks the Best?

While there are many varying opinions regarding this question, one of the best guitar brands on the market in a reasonable price range are PRS or Paul Reed Smith guitars. 

Paul Reed Smith began promoting his guitars backstage to hand them to different famous musicians for their review and consideration. He then started working with legendary guitarists such as Carlos Santana to further perfect his guitar designs.  

FAQs

Q: Does the Color of the Guitar Effect Sound?

The color of the guitar has no effect on the sound or tone it produces. The results of the sound of the guitar depend on the type of wood used, pickups, the neck, the bridge, its action, and the number of layers of finish on the guitar.  

 

Q: Is It Ok to Spray Paint a Guitar?

It is absolutely OK to spray paint a guitar. However, if you are going to do so, it is best to allow each coat of paint you apply to the guitar to completely dry before adding another coat of paint. 

Also Read: Guide To Drawing & Painting On Guitar: Will Sharpie Stay On

 

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Guitar?

The cost to paint a guitar starts at approximately $200.00 for a basic color. A custom paint job can run anywhere from $600.00 to over $1300.00. The majority of the cost to do so is the labor. 

The materials for paint, finish, etc., cost roughly $50.00 to $60.00. There are many guides on how to do so yourself. However, your guitar may look much better if painted by a professional. 

Read Also: Expensive Guitar Straps: 4 Reasons Why Its Worth It

Ifandi S.

About Ifandi S.

Ifandi started Strumming Bars to answer all the questions of a guitarist. As a self-learned guitarist, he remembered how frustrating it was to not find answers to his many questions in the journey. With Strumming Bars, that's no longer the case!

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