I am a beginner guitar player on an acoustic but at some point I would like to get an electric. I've heard people refer to some guitars as being good blues guitars or jazz guitars or even metal guitars how do they differ?  I realize some have different tonal qualities due to construction and materials is this the sole difference or is there more to it? Thanks.

Hello Buzz Fretwire, while I'm  not able to tell you what the differences are beyond tonal qualities and construction as you mention, I can say that some guitars are just better suited in a lot of ways one over the other. That being said and if you play blues on your acoustic and since you're going to get an electric evenutually, I'd say listen closely to the blues music you like and then go to music stores and try guitars until you can compare one to the other.

The written word may lead you in the right direction and it may give you the answer you're looking for but strapping on a couple dozen electrics of many makers and models thereof will definitely help you understand the difference.  Hope this helps some.

GuitarZen

...two things to remember: (a) the ORIGINAL blues players (Robert Johnson, etc.) played acoustic guitars; and (b) most current blues players play either Fender Stratocasters or Gibson Les Pauls...both of which are solid body guitars.

...the most popular "semi-solid" guitar are the Gibson ES-330/335 models. The ES-330 has dog-ear P90 single coil pickups and a 'true' hollow body (which goes into feedback TOO easy), while the ES-335 has humbucking pickups and a "semi-solid" body design (which doesn't go into feedback very often). Clapton during his early years played an ES-335...but also played a Gibson SG, before settling on a Strat.

...interestingly, two of the "best" unknown blues players (deceased) both played Fender Telecasters: Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan.

And Bo Diddly played a squared box looking gretsch.
Here's something worth mentioning with a nod towards OTM's fave axe, while it's true that Jimmy Page played Gibson Les Paul's, that was mainly only live. His guitar of choice whilst in the studio? A Fender Telecaster. And you can just about guarantee that every solo and signature lick was done on the Tele for the recordings.

Thanks guys I appreciate the replies.  I'm having a great time trying to make my guitar sound bluesy(may my english teachers forgive me).  Especially when I practice the blues scales on this site.  It is good to know that I don't need a different guitar for every style I'd like to play although that would also be nice.
Buzz

Thanks guys I appreciate the replies.  I'm having a great time trying to make my guitar sound bluesy(may my english teachers forgive me).  Especially when I practice the blues scales on this site.  It is good to know that I don't need a different guitar for every style I'd like to play although that would also be nice.
Buzz
BTW I'm a lefty so sometimes I can't even find one to try.  I have found that some manufacturers are more inclined to build a lefty without adding to much cost but the models they offer are sometimes limited and thus my question.  I just can't see myself playing a Dimebag or a Warlock at this stage of my life.