FunkR&B1980s
Prince
Cloud guitar and Hohner Telecaster through a variety of amps — Prince's tone ranged from squeaky-clean funk rhythm to scorching rock leads with effortless dexterity and showmanship.
£500 rig from ~£497
R&B Guitar Tone
R&B guitar is among the most warm and smoothly expressive approaches to the instrument. 4 r&b guitarists in the ToneStakr library — explore their gear, rigs, and tone at every budget from £200 to £2,500.
4 guitarists · Rig guides from £200 to £2,500
The best R&B guitarists include Prince, Steve Cropper, Curtis Mayfield, George Benson.
Tone Library
R&B Guitarists
SoulR&B1960s
Steve Cropper
Fender Telecaster through a clean Fender amp — Cropper's minimalist Tele playing for Booker T & the MGs and Stax Records defined Memphis soul with perfectly placed single-note stabs.
£500 rig from ~£497
SoulFunk1960s
Curtis Mayfield
Guitar restrung for left-hand playing in open F# tuning through a clean amp — Mayfield's unique tuning and fingerpicking style created lush, hymn-like chord voicings unlike anything else.
£500 rig from ~£448
JazzR&B1970s
George Benson
Gibson L-5 or Ibanez GB signature through a clean jazz amplifier — Benson's lightning-fast bebop lines and warm chord melody style built the bridge between jazz and mainstream pop.
£500 rig from ~£528
Budget Tiers
R&B Rigs by Budget
FAQ
R&B Guitar — Common Questions
Among the most celebrated R&B guitarists are Prince, Steve Cropper, Curtis Mayfield, George Benson. Each brings a distinct approach — explore their full tone and gear guides below.
A functional R&B rig starts from around £200 for the essentials. The £500 tier covers a real tube amp and the right guitar — enough for authentic r&b tone. Explore the rigs below to see exactly what each budget gets you.
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