Fans of bluegrass music often ask what guitar does billy strings play when they hear his acoustic guitars sing. They scroll forums and watch clips, but they still feel lost. They need clear gear answers fast.
Billy Strings teamed with Martin Guitar to make two signature dreadnoughts that honor his roots. We will break down his Martin gear and his go-to Thompson Guitars, cover tonewood choices, guitar pickups, and play tips.
This guide will clear the fog around his sound. Read on.
Key Takeaways
- He plays two Martin dreadnoughts made for him. One is a D-28 with East Indian rosewood sides. The other is a D-X2E with a satin rosewood look. Both have spruce tops and scalloped X braces. Each has a 25″ scale, a pickup, and a tuner.
- He also plays two Thompson guitars. Frankenstein has a Brazilian rosewood body. It uses a K&K Soundpure pickup and a Shure WB98H/C mic. The Bride shares the specs and has a sound-hole pickup.
- He owns two vintage Martin D-28s: one from 1940 and one from 1945. Both give warm lows, clear mids, and raw grit. Luthiers repair cracks but keep the old look.
- His guitars use Brazilian, East Indian, and Guatemalan rosewood. These woods give deep lows and singing highs. A 25″ scale makes string bends smooth and fast.
- He strings D’Addario EXP 13–56 or XS coated sets and uses BlueChip TP 48 picks. On stage he switches between a K&K pickup and a Shure mic. A Brothers amp with dip-switch gain gives clean or gritty tone.
Billy Strings’ Signature Martin Guitars
Billy Strings plucks a Martin steel-string with a spruce top and rosewood back; it has a pickup that cuts through on stage. He also strums an X-series guitar set up for fast flatpicking and easy capo work in bluegrass jams.
Martin D-28 Signature Model
This model uses gloss East Indian rosewood for back and sides. It sports a solid spruce top with antique toner and Golden Era scalloped spruce X bracing. Antique white binding frames the body and herringbone top inlay graces the soundhole.
A satin mahogany neck meets an ebony fingerboard with abalone diamond and square inlay.
Craftsmen built this martin d-28 signature version for billy strings and bluegrass music fans. It nods to bill monroe, doc watson, bryan sutton. Nickel enclosed gear tuning machines lock down tuning fast.
The nut width stays at 1 23/32-inch for easy fretting. Acoustic guitar lovers add guitar pickups and carry it in a hardshell case.
Martin D-X2E Billy Strings Model
The Martin D-X2E Billy Strings guitar uses satin Brazilian rosewood-patterned HPL for its back and sides. A solid spruce top wears a hand-applied finish, and scalloped spruce X bracing makes it ring like a bell.
The satin select hardwood neck meets an ebony fingerboard with faux abalone diamond and square inlay, and nickel open gear tuning machines hold the tune. A thin herringbone rosette adds flair, and the softshell case keeps the guitar safe.
It has a 25 inch scale length that feels right under the fingers. Billy Strings often switches from his Thompson guitars to this acoustic. The Martin E1 electronics let you plug in fast, and the built-in tuner cuts soundcheck time.
Guitar pickups catch every pick scrape and ring out bright tones for bluegrass music fans.
The Legendary Thompson Guitars
Thompson’s main power chord axe sports a hot pickup that cuts through each note like a razor.
Its shorter scale length and rich tone woods make bending strings feel as smooth as silk.
Thompson DBA “Frankenstein”
Thompson DBA Frankenstein stands out among acoustic guitars with a Brazilian rosewood dreadnought body. Billy Strings asked for this shape in 2017. It carries scars from a collapse at Nashville’s BNA airport.
Local luthiers repaired cracks and brace breaks. The guitar keeps its scars as proof of toughness.
He wires this instrument with a K and K Soundpure Pickup and a Shure WB98H/C clip-on mic. Fans hear him break down system swaps in guitar gear interviews. On stage he flips between both systems for a warm plugged tone and clear mic sound.
Backup Guitar: “The Bride”
Billy Strings uses a backup guitar named The Bride. It shares specs with Frankenstein but wears a smokey sunburst finish that turns heads on stage. The Bride boosts his riff with rich resonance, just like his main guitar.
Fans of thompson guitars rejoice at its classic build and smooth neck carve.
He picks it as his main backup for live shows. A padded strap locks it to his shoulder, and he clamps a capo high on the neck for bright chords. A soundhole pickup lifts each note into his PA mix, feeding crisp tone through a microphone.
The Bride stays on hand if any string loops slip on his acoustic guitars.
Vintage Treasures in Billy’s Collection
Billy’s 1940s D-28s soak in years of play. They bark out warm, woody acoustic guitar tones, and they still hum with raw grit.
1940 Martin D-28
This 1940 Martin D-28 forms a pillar in his vintage acoustic guitars. Martin made it in 1940 at the North Street factory in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Billy Strings fell for its warm tone and crisp attack.
That passion led to the Martin D-X2E Billy Strings signature model.
A video shows him unveiling his signature guitars at that plant. It zooms in on the 1940 D-28, revealing its heritage labels. Streamers grin as he loosens the tuning pegs and fires off a quick lick.
Scratch marks and worn frets tell decades of stage stories.
1945 Martin D-28
An authentic dreadnought guitar from 1945 sits in billy strings’ vintage collection. The 1945 Martin D-28 gives warm lows and clear mids. Players feel a spark of old-school magic on every fret.
Billy plucks it with a celluloid pick, and the spruce top rings loud under a studio mic. Technicians tune it with a brass key at every show. The aged wood carves a bright tone that cuts through the mix.
Unique Features of Billy’s Guitars
His tonewoods, like old-growth hardwood and Central American hardwood, give him rich lows and singing highs. A shorter scale length lets him move up the fretboard fast, shaping his punchy leads and crisp rhythm.
Brazilian Rosewood and Guatemalan Rosewood
Brazilian rosewood fills Frankenstein’s dreadnought axe body. It pumps out deep lows and clear highs. That tonewood gives each chord a rich bloom. The D-28 Signature model swaps that slab for gloss East Indian rosewood on its back and sides.
Guatemalan rosewood steers a different course. It yields warm mids and tight lows. Luthiers prize its balance and snappy response. Players carve bright runs on its smooth surface.
Shorter Scale Length for Playability
Billy Strings adds extra comfort with a shorter scale length. Both signature Martin guitars feature a 25-inch scale, which runs shorter than a standard model. This change boosts playability and makes note bending feel smooth.
Martin built the D-X2E Billy Strings model with the same 25-inch scale length to enhance playability. It lets fingers glide across the fretboard and bend strings with less force. Players enjoy faster fretting and cleaner runs.
How Billy’s Guitars Shape His Sound
Warm mahogany bodies cut through banjo rolls and fiddle highs. On stage he swaps between a K and K Soundpure pickup and a Shure WB98H/C cardioid clip-on mic. That switch offers either crisp clarity or full-bodied warmth under his fingers.
Mahogany outshines Brazilian rosewood once the full string band kicks in.
Flatpicking gear also shapes his voice. BlueChip TP 48 picks feel smooth yet deliver a bite. D’Addario EXP phosphor bronze medium gauge strings 13–56 handle his fierce attack. He moved from Elixir to D’Addario XS after the G line kept snapping.
Coated D’Addario sets go on for plugged-in gigs. Every set gets fresh strings, and he might string up two or three times per show. A Brothers amplifier with dip switches lets him dial gain from glass-clean to snarling grit.
Takeaways
Every riff on a Martin D-28 or a Martin D-X2E tells a tale. A spruce top meets rosewood sides for signature warmth. Billy swaps D’Addario XS strings like a pit crew in a race. That keeps his tone crisp under bright stage lights.
A Thompson backup, Bride, waits in the wings for instant rescue. Fans hear every note shine.
Discover more about the bluegrass sensation’s personal life in our article, “Is Billy Strings Married?“.
FAQs
1. What guitar does Billy Strings play?
He favors an electric guitar with a hollow body and an acoustic guitar with a flat top. He picks the electric when he needs bite. He grabs the acoustic for bright, clear notes. They mix like coffee and cream on stage.
2. How do these instruments shape his unique sound?
The electric hums and sings with a warm edge. The acoustic rings out like church bells. Together they let him jump from bluegrass to rock. His tone pops and holds like a tightrope walker.
3. Does he bring both guitars on tour?
Yes, he rides the road with both. He quips, “They talk back if I play them right.” Each guitar has its own voice and mood. He switches fast to fit the song.
4. Why choose these guitar types?
They ring bold and echo soft. He grew up chasing clear highs and warm lows. He loves notes that soar, dip, then dance away. This pair gives him the voice he seeks.
