Lightning or Blues

[Wailing]

Hi Folks

Im guessing this is a FAQ but here goes. I love the MM Blues apart from the painted finish, and the lightning looks great, but would prefer an all steel guitar. The obvious route would be to look for a Delta, however cannot locate one... Between the Lightning and the Blues.... Which would you advise

[Matt]

Go for the sound, not the look. I think the recordings out there, both the ones done by MM and the youtube vids are fairly representative. You can get over the look of a guitar that maybe you would prefer to be a bit different, but you can never change the sound between brass and steel. You may find a delta around, or even a stripped MM Blues (I may even sell mine at some point to get an MM Blues 28), but my personal opinion is definitely that you should use your ears not your eyes.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Walling,

Your question is a difficult one to answer, as both guitars have classic single cone National-style characteristics in their tone. This is of no help at all, but..... the first 50 or so original National Lightning Bolt guitars made in 1930, were steel bodied with nickel plating.

I have access to both models and I do not have a preference, they both work for me. Matt is right, while it is important to like the look of a guitar, it is its sound and feel that should be the real deciding factor.

If you do look for a Delta, you need to find a late one, because the early ones do not have proper 1930s National-type specs. It was due to my connection with Busker Guitars that the Delta was improved to the point where it became almost the same as the MM Blues. That is why it was discontinued.

Shine On
Michael

[Wailing]

Thanks for the help, I have decided to follow the steel body route ! If steel was good enough for Rory Gallagher its good enough for me !! :-)