25 Best Jazz Guitars In 2024 For Any Budget

If you are a jazz player, and you are looking to get yourself a new guitar, you should know that there are plenty of options on the market today. But what would be the best jazz guitar you can find? While the answer is mostly based on personal taste, there are a couple of pointers you can find. 

In the majority of cases, jazz guitars will be versatile, with a semi-hollow body, and with a beautiful clean sound. Needless to say, getting the best instrument can be quite pricey, and if you don’t mind spending a bit more, you will be able to find incredible guitars in no time. 

Gibson 1961 ES-335 Reissue 60s

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple/poplar/maple
• Neck material: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Custombucker Alnico III
• Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: ABR-1 bridge & lightweight aluminium tailpiece
• Finish: Cherry

Gibson ES-335 is a classic model, and if you are looking for one of the best guitars you can buy today, this might be an excellent choice. It is a stunning guitar used by many iconic players over the years. ES-335 has a semi-hollow body, and two humbuckers, and it can be quite versatile. 

When it comes to design, ES-335 is one of the most copied instruments in the world. It served as an inspiration for countless other models, and it became a go-to guitar for many jazz musicians. 

Sire Larry Carlton

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple
• Neck material: Mahogany with ebony fingerboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: AlNiCo 2 humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: TOM-style bridge with aluminum stop tailpiece
• Finish: White

Sire offers a Larry Carlton signature model, and it is inspired by ES-335 and other similar semi-hollow body guitars. Of course, the main difference is that this model is white. This finish combined with gold hardware looks amazing, and it adds something unique to the instrument. 

The guitar has standard Alnico pickups, four potentiometers, and a standard three-way switch. And while the overall design is fairly standard, it is one of the best options in this price range. This model is quite versatile, and it can be a great option for many jazz players. 

Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Maple
• Neck material: Mahogany with Laurel fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: FT-5E FilterTron humbuckers
• Controls: Three volume, one tone, three-way switch
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: Adjusto-Matic bridge with secured Laurel base
• Finish: Walnut Stain

Gretsch is one of the best brands in the world if you are looking for a hollow or semi-hollow instrument. The G5422TG Electromatic is an excellent option for jazz players, and the guitar is everything you’d expect from a Gretsch model. 

It has a maple body with maple sides, a mahogany neck, and a laurel fretboard. The guitar is also equipped with FilterTron humbuckers, and it has four knobs. Unlike Gibson models, this one here has separate volume controls for each pickup and a master volume with treble bleed. The fourth knob is for the master tone. 

Ibanez AF2000

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Anigre with spruce top
• Neck material: Mahogany with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Super 58 humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Ebony
• Finish: Brown Sunburst

Many people believe that Ibanez offers only Super Strat models with powerful humbuckers and Floyd Rose. But there is so much more this brand has to offer. And the Ibanez AF2000 proves just that. It is a hollow-body guitar with a single cutaway. 

While the guitar still has humbuckers, these are not a good option for metal. But for jazz and blues, Super 58 humbuckers can be a perfect combination. The guitar looks amazing, and it is a professional instrument. This also means that the price is higher, but you will be getting an incredible guitar. 

D’Angelico Excel SS XT

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple with quilted maple top
• Neck material: Maple/walnut/maple with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: TOM-style bridge
• Finish: Iced Tea Quilt

D’Angelico Excel is an interesting model. It is a semi-hollow guitar, but it has a shape similar to Les Paul. The only difference is that the body is bigger. Additionally, the guitar is made of maple, and it has traditional f-shaped sound holes. 

One of the main pros is the combination of two Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers. And the combination will do wonders for your sound. After all, Seymour Duncan is one of the best brands when it comes to pickups, and having them in the guitar will eliminate any need for the upgrade in the future. 

Epiphone ES-335

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple with quilted maple top
• Neck material: Mahogany with Indian laurel fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Finish: Blueberry Burst

Gibson ES-335 is one of the best guitars you can find. But for many players, it is an unattainable dream. The price is just too high for the majority of guitarists, and it’s always good to look for an alternative. And this is where Epiphone shines. 

You can still get a beautiful ES-335 guitar that will look like the real thing, but the price is significantly lower. The Epiphone version is based on the original guitar, with a few differences. Most notably, it has a gorgeous Blueberry Burst finish. 

Gibson ES-339

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Flame maple
• Neck material: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: MHS humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: ABR-1 bridge and stopbar tailpiece
• Finish: Sixties Cherry

While all guitars from the ES series look similar, there are plenty of differences between each model. ES-339 is another popular option, especially for those who prefer smaller guitars. And this makes it simpler for many guitarists.

The body is slightly thinner and more ergonomic, especially if you compare it to 335. It is still a semi-hollow instrument, and the quality of the sound is incredible. If you love how ES-335 looks but hate the size, 339 might be a perfect choice for you.

Duesenberg Starplayer III

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple back with spruce top
• Neck material: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HS
• Pickups: Duesenberg DP90 Domino single coil and Grand Vintage humbucker
• Controls: One volume, one tone
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: Duesenberg Deluxe Vibrato
• Finish: Catalina Blue

Duesenberg is a guitar manufacturer from Germany, and Starplayer is the most popular model designed by this brand. Over the years, Starplayer has evolved a lot, and there have been numerous versions of this guitar. 

The Starplayer III here is made of maple with a spruce top, it has a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fretboard. What is interesting is that it uses an HS combination, where the single-coil pickup is based on the iconic P90. 

Gretsch White Falcon

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Laminated maple
• Neck material: Maple with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: GTV Jones Classic
• Controls: One volume, one tone
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: Bigsby B6 Tremolo
• Finish: Vintage White

Gretsch G6136T-59VS, also known as White Falcon is probably the most popular model by this company. And for a reason. It has a laminated maple body with gold sparkle binding, and the entire combination of a Vintage White finish and gold hardware looks gorgeous. 

The guitar is powered by two GTV Jones Classic humbuckers, and it is a hollow-body instrument with a single cutaway. One thing you should keep in mind is that White Falcon is huge. If you are someone who dislikes large guitars, you might want to go for something else. As for the quality, it is one of the best guitars money can buy.

PRS SE Hollowbody

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Laminated maple with mahogany back and sides
• Neck material: Mahogany with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: PRS 58/15 “S” humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, one tone
• Bridge type: Fixed 
• Bridge: PRS adjustable piezo stoptail
• Finish: Peacock Blue Smokeburst

PRS is a rather young company compared to Gibson and Fender, but the instruments are on par with the greatest brands you can find today. The model here is a hollow-body guitar, it has PRS-designed humbuckers, and a gorgeous maple top. 

It also has two f-shaped holes on the side and traditional bird inlays. What makes this guitar different is that it has two inputs, and you can choose a combination of pickups you want to use. You can pick either magnetic pickups or the combination of magnetic and piezo. There are also two volume knobs to adjust magnetic and piezo pickups individually. 

Gretsch Streamliner

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Laminated maple
• Neck material: Nato with laurel fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Broad’Tron BT-2S humbuckers
• Controls: One volume, one tone, one master volume, and one master tone
• Bridge type: Adjusto-matic bridge 
• Bridge: Bigsby B50 tremolo
• Finish: Fairlane Blue

Gretsch G2655T FBL Streamliner is another interesting guitar you can check out. It is a semi-hollow guitar, and the body is made of laminated maple. It has traditional f-shaped holes and two BT-2S Broad’Tron humbuckers. This adds to the versatility of the instrument, and it can sound quite powerful if you use a lot of drive. 

The Fairlane Blue finish looks beautiful, and the guitar has a Bigsby tremolo system. All things considered, this is an excellent guitar for those looking to find a cheap instrument. While it is not on par with professional guitars, it is one of the best options in this price range. 

Epiphone Emily Wolfe

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Maple
• Neck material: Mahogany with Indian laurel fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Epiphone Alnico Classic Pro Humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, CTS potentiometer tone control
• Bridge type: Fixed  
• Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-o-Matic bridge and StopBar
• Finish: Black Aged Gloss

Epiphone Sheraton Stealth is another variation of the ES series, and it is an Emily Wolfe signature guitar. This is one of the best Epiphone models you can find today, and it is worth checking out. 

The guitar has a fairly standard design with two Epiphone-designed humbuckers, a fixed bridge, and Block MOP fretboard inlays with Lightning Bolt in Abalone, and it has a slimmer neck compared to standard Gibson guitars. 

Gretsch Chet Atkins

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Maple
• Neck material: Maple with walnut strips and ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: TV Jones Classic and TV Jones SuperTron
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Bigsby 
• Bridge: Gretsch Bigsby B6 tremolo
• Finish: Walnut Stain

If you are a fan of Chet Atkins, you probably already know what this guitar is. It is a signature model, and it is incredible. The guitar has two pickups, where the first one is TV Jones Classic, and the second one is TV Jones SuperTron. 

This will add to the versatility, and you can also use Bigsby for additional effects. The Chet Atkins model has a gorgeous Walnut Stain finish, and it is worth checking out. At least if you can afford it. 

Fender AM Pro II Stratocaster

• Body type: Solid body
• Body material: Alder
• Neck material: Maple 
• Pickup configuration: SSS
• Pickups: V-Mod II single coils
• Controls: One volume, two tone control
• Bridge type: Two-point tremolo
• Bridge: 2-Point synchronized tremolo with curved steel saddles
• Finish: Dark Night

Of course, you don’t have to go for a hollow-body instrument. You can always get a Stratocaster. Strats are one of the most versatile guitars you can find, and they will work in any genre. 

The model here is an American Pro II, and it has a beautiful Dark Night finish. The guitar is equipped with V-Mod single-coil pickups, and it has a standard two-point tremolo like the majority of modern Fenders. 

Fender AV II 72 Tele

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Ash
• Neck material: Maple 
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Authentic CuNiFe Wide-Range Humbuckers
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Pure Vintage 6-saddle hardtail bridge with string guide through the body and curved steel tailpieces
• Finish: Aged Natural

Fender offers semi-hollow guitars as well, and you can find a Telecaster that suits your needs. This model is from the American Vintage series, it has the Tele shape, semi-hollow body, fixed bridge, and two humbuckers. 

This will add to the versatility of the instrument, and you will be able to play nearly anything on it. At the same time, the guitar is more comfortable than large hollow-body guitars, and the sound is great. 

Godin 5th Avenue

• Body type: Hollowbody
• Body material: Canadian wild cherry
• Neck material: Silver leaf horn with richlite fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HS
• Pickups: Godin Kingpin P90 single coil (neck) and Seymour Duncan ’59 humbucker SH-1B (bridge)
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: T.O.M. bridge with rolling saddles and Bigsby tremolo tailpiece
• Finish: Havana Brown

Godin is a Canadian manufacturer, and it offers interesting models. The 5th Avenue series is one of the most popular options, and this is a hollow-body instrument. The body is made of Canadian wild cherry, and it has a Silver leaf horn neck with a richlite fretboard. 

This combination is not as common, and it gives you plenty of options to shape the sound. When it comes to pickups, the guitar has an HS combination, where the single-coil is based on P90. The pickup is designed by Godin, while the humbucker is Seymour Duncan. 

Suhr Modern Plus

• Body type: Solid body
• Body material: Basswood
• Neck material: Roasted maple with Pau Ferro fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HSH
• Pickups: Suhr SSH+ (bridge), Suhr SSV (neck) humbucker, and Suhr V60LP (middle) single coil
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Tremolo
• Bridge: Gotoh 510 tremolo
• Finish: Faded Trans Whale Blue Burst

If you are looking for a modern versatile guitar, Suhr is always worth checking out. Suhr Modern Plus is a Super Strat model, with an HSH pickup configuration. All three pickups are designed by Suhr, and the guitar is incredible.

Of course, it is a solid-body instrument, and it is similar to modernized Stratocasters. The guitar has a two-point tremolo, and you can use the push/pull functionality to split humbuckers. 

Music Man Luke 100

• Body type: Solid body
• Body material: Basswood
• Neck material: Roasted maple with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Sterling humbuckers designed by Music Man
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Tremolo
• Bridge: Tremolo
• Finish: Blueberry Burst

Those that are fans of Steve Lukather from Toto can always check out his signature model. This guitar was designed by Music Man, and it’s called Luke Blue. It has two humbuckers designed by Music Man, one volume, and one tone control. 

As with the majority of Music Man guitars, this is also a solid-body instrument, and it’s made of basswood. One of the main advantages of Music Man guitars is their versatility, and this one can be a great option for jazz. 

Ibanez George Benson Signature

• Body type: Hollow-body
• Body material: Maple with spruce top
• Neck material: Maple with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Floating GB Special Alnico humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone control
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Ebony bridge with GB10 tailpiece
• Finish: Brown Sunburst

You can always go for Ibanez GB10SE, which is a George Benson signature model. Benson is one of the greatest jazz musicians today, and you can easily replicate his sound with this guitar. But even if you want to make something on your own, this Ibanez can be a great basis. 

The guitar has two Alnico humbuckers, a standard design with a single cutaway, and a beautiful sound that works well with pedals and effects. 

Schecter Coupe

• Body type: Hollow-body
• Body material: Maple with maple top
• Neck material: Maple with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Tesla FilterTron TV-ML1 humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone control
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: TonePros Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Bigsby B70 Vibrato
• Finish: Black

Another interesting addition to the list is Schecter Coupe. The majority of modern Schecter guitars are solid bodies designed for heavier genres. But this one here is a hollow-body instrument with a single cutaway. 

It has a body made of maple, a maple neck, and an ebony fretboard. It is also equipped with two Tesla FilterTron humbuckers, and a Bigsby tremolo bridge. And with the black gloss finish, it looks amazing. 

Guild Starfire VI

• Body type: Semi-hollow
• Body material: Flame maple
• Neck material: Maple with ebony fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: LB-1 humbuckers
• Controls: Two volume, two tone control, and master volume
• Bridge type: Bigsby
• Bridge: Guild Tune-O-Matic with Rosewood Base and Guild Vibrato Tailpiece
• Finish: Blonde

Guild is a brand that offers a variety of guitars, and they cover a broad price range. You can find almost any guitar for almost any price, and that includes high-end instruments as well. Starfire VI is a semi-hollow guitar, and it is inspired by the ES series. 

It has a system similar to Bigsby, two LB-1 humbuckers, and it has a beautiful blonde finish. The guitar is versatile, looks great, and sounds even better. And it is undoubtedly worth checking out. 

Danelectro ‘59 NOS+

• Body type: Semi-hollow (chambered)
• Body material: Spruce
• Neck material: Maple with Pau Ferro fretboard
• Pickup configuration: SS
• Pickups: NOS+ Lipstick single-coil
• Controls: Two volume, two tone control
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Adjustable Wraparound
• Finish: Black

Now, if you want something unique, Danelectro is a brand you need to check out. The shape of the guitar is unlike any other you can find today. The body is semi-hollow, but it’s chambered which makes it even lighter. 

There are two NOS+ Lipstick single-coil pickups, two stacked volume knobs, and two stacked tone knobs. The guitar has a simplistic design but is still more than versatile. And it’s quite affordable. 

Rickenbacker 330 Thinline

• Body type: Semi-hollow 
• Body material: Maple
• Neck material: Maple with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: SS
• Pickups: Hi-gain single-coils
• Controls: Two volume, two tone control, one mix control
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Rickenbacker 6-Saddle Bridge with “R” Trapeze Tailpiece
• Finish: Jetglo

Rickenbacker 330 is a classic guitar. For a period of time, it was unknown, until famous guitar players started using it. And that’s how the 330 Thinline became an iconic model. The guitar has a semi-hollow body made of maple, and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. 

It is also equipped with two single-coil pickups, and they are similar to the P90. Of course, they are designed by Rickenbacker, which gives the guitar its unique sound. 

Schecter C-1

• Body type: Semi-hollow 
• Body material: Mahogany with zebrawood top
• Neck material: Maple with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: Schecter USA Pasadena Humbucker
• Controls: One volume, one tone control, one piezo volume, and one piezo tone
• Bridge type: Fixed
• Bridge: Fishman Powerbridge Piezo with TonePros T1z Tailpiece
• Finish: Vintage Pelham Blue

Schecter offers many Super Strat models, and this one here is the C-1. It is a semi-hollow guitar shaped like a Stratocaster, and it has a modern design with a traditional look. The guitar has two humbuckers designed by Schecter, a fixed bridge, and a piezo pickup. 

There are two switches on the guitar as well. The first one is used as a standard three-way toggle for humbuckers, while the second one allows you to choose between magnetic, piezo, or both. 

PRS Custom 24

• Body type: Solid 
• Body material: Mahogany with maple top
• Neck material: Maple with rosewood fretboard
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Pickups: PRS TCI “S” humbuckers
• Controls: One volume, one tone control
• Bridge type: Tremolo
• Bridge: PRS patented molded tremolo
• Finish: Vintage Sunburst

When you think about Paul Reed Smith, you probably think about PRS Custom 24. It is the most recognizable guitar designed by PRS, and it is amazing. The model here has a shape that’s standard for PRS, traditional bird inlays, and two humbuckers. 

There are two potentiometers to adjust the volume and tone, as well as two mini switches. All things considered, PRS Custom 24 is amazing, and thanks to its high versatility, it can be an excellent option for jazz. 

Summary 

There are so many different guitars you can find on the market today. But if you are interested in those that will work well for jazz, the options are a bit more limited. Of course, the main question you will need to ask yourself is how much you are willing to spend. 

Fortunately, you will be able to find numerous different guitars from solid-body instruments to full hollow-body guitars. And of course, it is up to you to choose the one that suits your style.

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Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API