20 Best Jazz Guitars in 2024 (All Price Ranges)

Buying a jazz guitar is an exciting and important decision! There are many great jazz guitars on the market today for a variety of budgets. This article is intended to compile a list of commonly available jazz guitars, list their specifications, and give some detail about their construction, playability, tone, and make some recommendations for each instrument.

The guitars on this list will range in price from $200 to $2000, so there should be a guitar on this list for you regardless of your budget.

I’ll start this article by jumping reviewing the best jazz guitars at different price points, but if you want to learn more about what to look for before choosing a guitar, check out our in-depth jazz guitar buying guide at the bottom of the page here. It details all the essential points in your decision making process.

Here Are the Best Jazz Guitars

1. Prestige Guitars Musician Pro TR Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (Best Overall)

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Estimated Price	$1080
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, semi-hollow body
Body	Maple
Finish	Vintage Red
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Pau Ferro
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Prestige Musician Pro TR is Prestige’s premier semi-hollow guitar, with the price tag to match. The single cutaway design and high-quality tonewoods combined with the longer 25.5” scale neck make for a resonant and rich sounding instrument. The Musician Pro TR would be a great choice for the musician looking for a great sounding jazz guitar with plenty of warmth and versatility for about half the price of a high-end Gibson jazz guitar.

Build Materials: The Prestige Musician Pro TR features a chambered and arched maple body for maximum resonance and a solid mahogany set neck. Mother-of-Pearl rectangle inlays adorn a pau ferro fretboard.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Prestige Musician Pro TR includes 2 Seymour-Duncan humbuckers controlled by a 3-way toggle switch and a pair of volume and tone knobs. This allows for standard pickup blending options. Gold hardware and a vintage-inspired Bigsby tremolo round out a stylish instrument that is rock solid.

Finish: The Prestige Musician Pro TR comes in a vintage red finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Prestige Musician Pro TR is a well-crafted instrument with a price tag that could easily be twice as high. The guitar is made of quality components and would be a great choice for an intermediate level jazz guitarist looking to step up to a great instrument. To me, considering its value and overall performance, I would say this is the best jazz guitar out there right now.

2. Ibanez AS53 Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (Best Under $500)

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Estimated Price	$300
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Sapele
Finish	Transparent flat black or transparent flat red
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch and 1 set of volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Ibanez AS53 is an affordable take on the ES-335 double-cutaway style. These guitars are great for jazz and are a perfect entry level option for a quality instrument. Ibanez has been making quality semi-hollow guitars for decades and the AS53 is a natural continuation of this legacy.

Build Materials: The Ibanez AS53 features a sapele body, mahogany neck, and rosewood fretboard. Sapele is a less commonly used wood, but is similar in weight and tone to mahogany and is apparently slightly more sustainable. It is darker and more resonant than maple and works well in a semi-hollow body design.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Ibanez AS53 comes with a standard double humbucker set up. Both humbuckers are built into the center block for added sustain and feedback control. The humbuckers are controlled with a three-way toggle switch and only one volume and tone knobs. This setup does not have as much versatility as others because you can not blend the two pickups together.

Finish: The Ibanez AS53 is available in a transparent flat black or transparent flat red finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Ibanez AS53 is a good choice for a quality, entry-level semi-hollow body jazz guitar. If you are looking for an affordable semi-hollow body jazz guitar from a reputable and reliable brand, the AS53 is what you want.

3. D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 Hollow-Body Electric Guitar (Best Fully-Hollowbody)

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Estimated Price	$700
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple back and sides with a spruce top
Finish	Transparent wine, fiesta red, ocean turquoise, and champagne
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	1 mini-humbucker
Controls	1 set of volume and tone knobs

My Review: The D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 is a fully-hollow archtop jazz guitar. Based off of the discontinued original D’Angelico New Yorker, the Premier EXL-1 is D’Angelico’s latest attempt at a fully hollow archtop jazz box. It doesn’t disappoint. If you are looking for a new archtop guitar, the Premier EXL-1 is a great choice for a more traditional style jazz guitar. Archtops are like luxury cars and the Premier EXL-1 certainly fits in this category.

Build Materials: The Premier EXL-1 features an arched spruce top and maple back and sides. This produces a light and ethereal sounding instrument. The maple neck and rosewood fretboard are standard for the price and add a balanced timbre to the instrument.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 comes equipped with one mini floating humbucker that perfectly captures the acoustic sound of the archtop. One volume and one tone knob round out a simple electronic set up for a classic sound. A beautiful bridge and tailpiece add high-end class to this archtop and help it stay solidly in tune.

Finish: The D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 comes in transparent wine, fiesta red, ocean turquoise, and champagne finishes.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 is your best choice for a new, fully-hollow archtop jazz guitar. D’Angelico is legendary for their hollowbody archtops and the Premier EXL-1 is a great addition to this legacy.

Popular Related Article: Our Favorite Guitar Amps (All Price Ranges)

4. D’Angelico Premier DC Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar (Best Semi-Hollowbody)

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Estimated Price	$750
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, Semi-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Black, fiesta red, ocean turquoise, and champagne
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 Humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch, 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: D’Angelico guitars are super cool. They have been undergoing something of a renaissance the last few years and are putting out some great new guitars. The Premier DC is D’Angelico’s high-end take on the ES-335 body style at a similar price point as the Epiphone Riviera. The D’Angelico features a sleek and smooth double-cutaway curve and a beautiful stairstep tailpiece.

Build Materials: The D’Angelico Premier DC features a laminated flame maple top, back, and sides and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. These are all fairly standard woods for guitars in this price range.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Premier DC comes equipped with two D’Angelico humbuckers, a three-way toggle switch, and two volume and tone knobs allowing for standard blending of the pickups.

Finish: The Premier DC is available in four finishes: black, fiesta red, ocean turquoise, and champagne.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is if I was in the market for a new jazz guitar, I would buy this guitar. The D’Angelico take on the classic 335 body style is highly attractive and the hardware and electronics are comparable to all the other guitars in the price range under $1000.

5. Kay Reissue 1957 Barney Kessel “Jazz Special” Electric Guitar (Best Vintage Reissue)

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Estimated Price	$1,215
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple back and sides with a spruce top
Finish	Jazz Special tobacco sunburst or blonde
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 Single Coils
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: This is an awesome jazz guitar for a collector or hobbyist who is enthusiastic about the jazz guitarist Barney Kessel. This single-cutaway, fully-hollow guitar looks and sounds like a classic instrument with a price tag to match. Everything about this guitar screams cool.

Build Materials: The Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special features flamed maple sides and back and a spruce top. Spruce is a nice choice for the top for its light and ethereal sound. A one-piece, straight-grained Canadian maple neck with a bound rosewood 22 fret fingerboard and fancy split-block pearl inlays make for a stunning instrument with a light and bright sound.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special comes equipped with two “Kleenex Box” Gold K Series single-coil pickups with adjustable pole pieces. These single-coil pickups are controlled with a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs. These pickups are not as high-output as humbuckers, and combined with the light spruce body, will produce a lighter and softer sound.

Finish: The Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special comes in tobacco sunburst or blonde finishes.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is if you are a collector or otherwise enthusiastic about the guitarist Barney Kessel, you should buy this guitar. If you are looking for a unique, fully-hollow jazz guitar, then you should buy this guitar. If you appreciate quality reissues of classic, vintage guitars, you should buy this guitar. If you are a beginner, you don’t need this guitar.

Popular Related Article: Our Favorite Guitars Made in the USA

6. Ibanez Artcore Series AF75G Hollowbody Electric Guitar (Best Ibanez)

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Estimated Price	$450
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Flat black
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Ibanez Artcore AF75G is a mid-level, fully-hollow archtop jazz guitar and the best Ibanez guitar on this list. This guitar is a great choice for the intermediate jazz guitarist looking for a solid and reliable fully-hollow body guitar from a reputable company. The AF75G looks and plays like a guitar twice its price and is a great access point to the world of archtop guitars.

Build Materials: The Artcore AF75G features a maple top, back and sides, and a mahogany neck with a bound rosewood fretboard. This is a nice and balanced combination of woods.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Artcore AF75G comes equipped with two humbucker pickups controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs. This allows for a standard amount of mixing between the pickups.

Finish: The Artcore AF75G comes in a flat black finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Artcore AF75G is a great intermediate jazz guitar. If you are looking for a mid-range, fully-hollow body archtop jazz guitar, the AF75G would be a great choice for you for an extremely affordable price tag. Compare this to the D’Angelico Premier or Godin Kingpin. If you looking for the best jazz guitar under 500 dollars, this is another guitar that you should give some serious consideration to.

7. Epiphone Riviera Custom P93 Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (Best Epiphone)

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Estimated Price	$750
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Vintage wine
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	3 P90 single coils
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 3 volume knobs and 1 tone knob

My Review: The Epiphone Riviera Custom P93 is an affordable and quality choice for a jazz guitar and it is the best Epiphone guitar on this list. The Riviera Custom has the same dimensions and feel as a classic Gibson ES-335 for about a third of the price. The Epiphone’s three P90 pickups offer a wide and unique range of tonal options and the Bigsby vibrato looks awesome and is rock solid.

Build Materials: The Epiphone Riviera Custom P93 features a laminated maple body and slim-taper mahogany set neck with a rosewood fingerboard. Pearloid parallelogram inlays round out a well-built instrument. These three woods are a great blend and make for a well balanced timbre.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The defining feature of the Epiphone Riviera Custom P93 is the three P90 pickups. P90 pickups are a style of single coil pickup known for their classic growl and bite. Each of three P90’s has its own dedicated volume control and one master tone knob controls the EQ. The Riviera Custom also features a beautiful gold Bigsby vibrato for a vintage aesthetic and sound.

Finish: The Epiphone Riviera Custom is available in a vintage wine red finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Epiphone Riviera Custom is an excellent choice for a jazz guitar and the best Epiphone guitar on this list. For the quality, it could well be priced two or three times higher. This guitar is comparable to the D’Angelico DC and the Epiphone ES-335 PRO. If you want an Epiphone, get this one.

Popular Related Article: Recommended Electric Guitars Under $1000

8. IYV IJZ-300 TSB Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$190
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, semi-Hollow
Body	Mahogany
Finish	Tobacco sunburst
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 Humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: This guitar is listed as “ivy” on Amazon, but the actual brand is IYV. These guitars are made with CNC machines in China. The IYV IJZ-300 is a single-cutaway, semi-hollow guitar. It is difficult to find reliable information about this brand on the internet and I have never seen one in a store. But, the reviews on Amazon seem solid.

Build Materials: The IYV IJZ-300 features a mahogany body and neck with a rosewood fretboard. This makes for a heavier and darker sounding guitar than some of the others on this list.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The IYV IJZ-300 comes equipped with two humbuckers controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs. The inexpensive price may mean that the soldering of the pickups is subpar.

Finish: The IYV IJZ-300 comes in a warm tobacco sunburst finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is if you are looking for an obscure semi-hollow jazz guitar and don’t mind gambling on quality, the IYV IJZ-300 might be just the thing you need. It looks cool and has a certain vintage obscurity similar to a Greco.

9. Musoo 335-Style Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$195
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Red
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rose wood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 Humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Musoo 335-style electric guitar is a double-cutaway, semi-hollow body guitar. The Musoo company is a little hard to find information about. It is a Chinese company, but I can not find a website or any other sales source besides Amazon. It seems like a cheaply made entry level jazz guitar for a budget under $200.

Build Materials: The Musoo 335 features a flamed maple top, sides and back, and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. This makes for a bright and snappy sounding guitar with plenty of midrange frequencies.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Musoo 335 comes equipped with two humbuckers controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs. Again, the cheap build and components might mean these connections are poorly soldered. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Finish: This Musoo 335 comes in a vintage red finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is this guitar is a bit of a gamble. It is hard to find reliable information about it. I have never seen one in a store and the Amazon reviews are all over the place. If you are on a tight budget and want to buy something online for under $200, this guitar would work. You would be better off spending slightly more for something higher quality.

10. Stagg A300 Semi-Acoustic Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$380
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, semi-hollow
Finish	Violinburst, white, or bllack
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: Stagg makes entry-level guitars that are inexpensive and generally poor quality. The Stagg A300 is a single-cutaway, fully-hollow body guitar that would be suitable for a young beginner. Compare this guitar stylistically to the best overall, the Prestige Musician Pro and you will see that this is a cheap instrument.

Build Materials: The Stagg A300 features a maple body and neck with a rosewood fretboard. This makes for a brighter sounding guitar with a snappier feel.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The A300 comes equipped with two humbucker pickups controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs.

Finish: The Stagg A300 is available in violinburst, white, and black finishes.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is for the price, you would be better off purchasing a different guitar. Stagg guitars are not known for their quality and this guitar is not worth the price.

11. Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin P90 Jazz-Style Acoustic Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$775
Strings	6
Body style	No Cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Cherry
Finish	Cognac burst
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	21
Pickups	Single P-90
Controls	1 set of volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is a higher-end, fully-hollow body jazz guitar. Built from high quality materials, the Godin Kingpin perfectly captures the vibe of a vintage archtop jazz guitar. The Godin Kingpin does not have a cutaway and only has a single P-90 pickup, so if you are interested in a more traditional looking and sounding jazz guitar, the Kingpin is a great choice. The Kingpin looks awesome and plays great.

Build Materials: The Godin Kingpin features a fully-hollow Candian Wild Cherry top, sides, and back with a maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Cherry is a rare and unique wood for a guitar and sounds comparable to maple. The combination of cherry, maple and rosewood in this guitar sounds bright and light.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Godin Kingpin features only a single P-90 pickup, one volume, and one tone knob. This guitar basically has one sound and not much versatility.

Finish: The Godin Kingpin comes in a beautiful cognac burst finish. The finish allows the natural grain of the cherry top to shine through.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is a gorgeous guitar and would make a great choice for an advancing guitarist interested in a more traditional sounding jazz guitar for under $1000. Godin is a quality brand that doesn’t get the recognition of Fender or Gibson, but still makes excellent instruments for good prices. Compare this guitar to the D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 or the Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic.

12. Kay Vintage Reissue K775VB Jazz II Electric Guitar with Bigsby Tremolo

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Estimated Price	$1350
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Ice Tea Sunburst, blonde and black
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	2 Single Coils
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Kay K775VB Jazz II is a reissue of Kay’s 1961 “Keel-Von-A-Tor.” This double-cutaway, fully-hollow guitar is a real stunner. The recessed cutaways allow clear access to the higher register and the headstock looks totally rad. This is definitely a guitar for a more advanced player or collector interested in a beautiful, vintage reissue instrument.

Build Materials: The Kay K775VB features a flamed maple archtop and maple sides and back. A maple neck and bound rosewood fretboard with pearl shark fin inlays make for a beautiful look. This combination makes for a lighter and brighter sounding guitar.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The K775VB comes with two of Kay’s famous “Kleenex Box” single coil pickups controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs. The K775VB also features a vintage Bigsby vibrato for true classic warble that holds tune.

Finish: The K775VB comes in three finishes: Ice Tea Sunburst, Blonde and Black.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is this is a stunning reissue of a classic jazz guitar. The K775VB is perfect for a more advanced player looking for some vintage style or a collector looking for a cool addition to their lineup. While not a jazz guitarist in the traditional sense, rumour has it that Eric Clapton played a K775VB in the beginning of his career.

13. Ibanez Artcore AF55 Hollow-Body Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$330
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Flat tobacco
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 1 set of volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Ibanez Artcore AF55 is an awesome, single-cutaway fully-hollow jazz guitar for a beginner or intermediate level jazz guitarist. The Ibanez Artcore series has allowed entry-level players to access quality built jazz guitars for cheap.

Build Materials: The Artcore AF55 features a bound maple body and mahogany neck with a bound rosewood fretboard. This makes for a medium weight guitar with good resonance and balanced tone.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The AF55 comes equipped with two humbuckers, controlled by a three-way toggle switch and one set of volume and tone controls.

Finish: The Artcore AF55 comes in a warm flat tobacco finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Ibanez Artcore AF55 is a good choice if you are looking for an affordable, quality fully-hollow body jazz guitar. This guitar is slightly more expensive than some other entry-level models on this list, but the Ibanez Artcore is a standard and reliable series of guitars and I don’t think you would be disappointed by your purchase.

14. Glen Burton GE775-CHIC-TS “Chicago” Hollowbody Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$200
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Sunburst
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch and 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Glen Burton “Chicago” hollowbody is a budget model archtop guitar perfect for a beginning jazz guitarist with a small budget. At around $200, the Glen Burton comes with everything a beginning jazz guitarist needs and nothing they don’t. The Glen Burton replicates the classic Gibson single-cutaway hollowbody guitars like the ES-175 made famous by Pat Metheny and Joe Pass at a fraction of the price.

Build Materials: The Glen Burton is simple and features a maple body and neck with a rosewood fretboard. Nothing fancy.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: Standard electronics include two humbucking pickups, controlled by a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs.

Finish: The Glen Burton “Chicago” comes in a vintage sunburst finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is if you are looking for a budget model hollowbody archtop guitar, the Glen Burton “Chicago” is a great choice. It is no D’Angelico Premier, but it will get the job done that you need it to. If you can spend a couple hundred dollars more though, you would be better off with one of the Ibanez Artcore models.

15. Epiphone Limited Edition ES-335 PRO Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$640
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Maple top and sides and oak back
Finish	Vintage sunburst
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch and 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: If you want a Gibson ES-335 but don’t want to shell out $2000+, you would be just as well off with the Epiphone ES-335 PRO. This Epiphone is top shelf and has excellent playability and tone for less than a third of the price of standard Gibson ES-335.

Build Materials: The Epiphone ES-335 PRO features maples top and sides with a solid oak back. This makes for a strong and sturdy feeling guitar. A mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and a vintage sunburst finish round out a stellar instrument for the price.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Epiphone ES-335 PRO features standard 335 style electronics. Two humbuckers paired with a three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs allow for solid tonal customization.

Finish: The Epiphone ES-335 comes in a vintage sunburst finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is if you want a Gibson ES-335, but don’t want to pay $2000+, you would be well off purchasing the Epiphone ES-335 PRO. It is about as close as you will get to a Gibson ES-335. It is comparable to the D’Angelico DC series, but not as cool looking in my opinion and the oak body is not as desirable.

16. Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$900
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Black gloss, Cloudy Seas, or Wild Cherry
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe is a high-end instrument made in Sweden. Hagstrom is known as the world’s fastest playing guitars because of their unique neck design. The Tremar Viking Deluxe is a quality choice instrument for under $1000 that will suit your jazz guitar needs. The Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe features classic appointments and is modeled after the famous Gibson ES-335 double cutaway body with a unique style all its own.

Build Materials: The Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe features a contoured multi-ply flamed maple body, a Mortise and Tenon set neck made of Canadian hard maple, and a rosewood fingerboard. The Tremar Viking Deluxe included Hagstrom’s patented H-Expander truss rod technology which allows for a buzz-free, low action set-up.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe comes equipped with two Hagstrom HJ-50 humbucking pickups. A three-way toggle switch and two volume and tone knobs are all standard for guitars in this category. Chrome hardware rounds out a well appointed instrument.

Finish: The Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe comes in a Black Gloss, a green Cloudy Seas, or a transparent Wild Cherry finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe is a high-quality guitar for jazz. Hagstrom is not a famous brand name like Gibson or Fender, but their instruments are solid and well-built for under $1000. You would likely not regret purchasing this guitar.

17. Washburn HB Series HB35WRK Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$630
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Maple
Finish	Red
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Washburn HB Series HB35WRK is another solid version of the classic 335 body design. The HB35WRK is at the same price point as the Epiphone PRO and is of similar quality. Washburn is generally known as an entry-level brand, but they make some quality instruments as well. This guitar looks beautiful and well-built.

Build Materials: The HB35WRK features a flamed maple top and maple back and sides. A maple neck with a bound rosewood fretboard makes for a brighter and lighter sounding 335 than the Epiphone.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The HB35WRK comes equipped with two humbucker pickups controlled by a standard three-way toggle switch and two sets of volume and tone knobs. By now you have learned that this is a standard setup for a double humbucker style guitar.

Finish: The HB335WRK comes in a classic red finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is this guitar is comparable in looks to the Epiphone ES-335 PRO or D’Angelico Premier DC, but is the cheapest of the three. If you are on a tight budget and saving $50-100 is crucial, the Washburn HB335WRK would be a good choice. I don’t think you will notice that much difference sonically between these three guitars.

18. Guild Guitars Starfire II ST Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$550
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Mahogany
Finish	Natural or black
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Ebony
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 “little buckers”
Controls	3-way toggle switch with 2 volume and tone knobs

My Review: The Guild Guitars Starfire II ST semi-hollow body guitar is a unique and fresh thinline, single-cutaway semi-hollow design. Guild is a classic and well established guitar company probably best known for their acoustic guitars. This is a newer design that debuted in 2016. The Starfire II differs from the traditional ES-335 semi-hollow body design in that it does not have a solid block of wood in the middle. Instead, the Starfire II just has a block supporting the bridge and tailpiece. This makes for a lighter sounding guitar but means the Starfire II is also more prone to feedback at higher volumes.

Build Materials: The Guild Starfire II features an arched mahogany top and back and mahogany sides. A mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard round out the mahogany party on this guitar.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Guild Starfire II features two of Guild’s “Little Bucker” pickups. The “Little Bucker” pickups are a replica of Guild’s classic pickups that were slightly smaller than traditional humbuckers. The pickups have comparable output to traditional humbuckers with a slightly smaller footprint.

Finish: The Starfire II ST is available in a natural or black finish.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Guild Guitars Starfire II ST is a perfect fit if you are an intermediate to advanced guitarist looking for a thinline, single-cutaway semi-hollow body guitar with a unique style and sound. Guild’s are sought-after instruments and I am sure the Starfire II will become a contemporary classic as more guitarists discover it. If you would otherwise purchase one of the Ibanez Artcore models, consider this instead.

19. Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic Archtop Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar

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Estimated Price	$850
Strings	6
Body style	Single-cutaway, fully-hollow
Body	Spruce top with maple sides and back
Finish	Natural matte or black matte
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fret Count	20
Pickups	1 single coil
Controls	1 volume and 1 tone knob

My Review: The Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic Archtop is a single-cutaway, fully-hollow archtop guitar with one, floating neck position single coil pickup. This is a classic design for a traditional jazz guitar and Gretsch does a solid job with this build. This model is a reissue inspired by the original Gretsch Synchromatic archtops popular in the 1940’s. This would be another great choice for the advancing jazz guitarist looking for a high-quality archtop guitar for under $1000.

Build Materials: The Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic features a spruce top with maple sides and back. This is a classic combination for a fully-hollow archtop guitar and sounds great. The maple neck and rosewood fretboard balance out a light and ethereal guitar. Unique among all the guitars on this list, the G100CE features an adjustable rosewood bridge. This adds a degree of resonance and depth to the G100CE and makes it an attractive archtop guitar.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The G100CE Synchromatic comes equipped with just one, floating single coil pickup in the neck position. This solitary single coil is controlled with one volume and one tone knob and captures that classic, fully-hollow archtop vibe.

Finish: The G100CE comes in a natural matte or black matte finish. Both accentuate the spruce top nicely.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic is in the same category as the D’Angelico EXL-1 Premier. Both guitars are single-cutaway, fully-hollow body archtops that are either reissues or reimaginings of vintage archtop guitars. The Gretsch G100CE is slightly more expensive than the D’Angelico EXL-1, so for this list, go for the D’Angelico.

20. Gretsch G2622 Streamliner

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Estimated Price	$450
Strings	6
Body style	Double-cutaway, semi-hollow
Body	Laminated Maple with spruce centerblock
Finish	Single Barrel Stain, Phantom Metallic, Ocean Turquoise, Walnut Stain
Neck	Nato
Fingerboard	Laurel
Fret Count	22
Pickups	2 humbuckers
Controls	3-way toggle switch, 1 master volume knob, 1 master tone knob, individual pickup volume knobs

My Review: The Gretsch G2622 is a double-cutaway, semi-hollow body guitar made from 5-ply laminated maple with a spruce center block. This guitar is a more affordable take on the vintage Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special and K775VB Jazz II. The Gretsch G2622 is a versatile and loud tone machine that will satisfy the beginner and advanced jazz guitarist alike.

Build Materials: The Gretsch G2622 features a 5-ply laminated maple body and a solid spruce center block that runs the entire length of the body. This center block helps reduce resonant feedback and the spruce makes for a lighter overall weight than other similar builds. The nato neck and laurel fretboard are unique choices among this list.

Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: The Gretsch G2622 comes equipped with a pair of specially designed humbucker pickups. The electronics include master volume and master tone knobs, a classic Gretsch feature, as well as individual volume knobs for the two pickups.

Finish: The Gretsch G2622 is available in four finishes: Single Barrel Stain, Phantom Metallic, Ocean Turquoise, and Walnut Stain.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is the Gretsch G2622 is a great choice if you love the body style of the vintage Kay guitars, but don’t want to shell out $1000+ for one. The Gretsch G2622 is an updated and contemporary build that would equally suit the beginner and advanced jazz guitarist.

Important Thing to Consider When Purchasing a Jazz Guitar

Do You Want a Fully-Hollow Body or a Semi-Hollow Body?

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a jazz guitar is the body style. The majority of jazz guitarists prefer one of two body styles: a semi-hollow body or a fully-hollow body. Some guitarists choose a solid body and they generally incorporate more rock and fusion styles into their playing. There are no solid body guitars on this list.

The Gibson ES-335 is the standard double-cutaway semi-hollow jazz guitar and is prized for its versatility. The standard design features a solid wood block in the middle with two hollow wings on either side. The body profile is generally thinner than fully-hollow body designs and the solid wood block in the middle helps reduce feedback and increases resonance and sustain. The Gibson ES-335 feels like a wide guitar and there is a great deal of variation in this dimension among competitors’ designs. There are many iterations of this body style represented on this list across a range of price points from Ibanez, Epiphone, D’Angelico, and others.

The more traditional choice for a jazz guitar is a fully-hollow body archtop. Examples of fully-hollow body archtops include the famous Gibson L5 and ES-175 played by such guitarists as Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Pat Metheny. The D’Angelico New Yorker is another famous example of this body style. I often think of guitar like this as the Cadillacs of the jazz guitar world. They have a plush and luxurious feeling that is addicting to play and listen to. If you get the opportunity to play a guitar like this, don’t miss it. Fully-hollow body guitars are prized for their warmth, but do occasionally have issues with feedback at higher volumes or if used with heavy distortion. There are a number of fully-hollow guitars on this list from Ibanez, Kay, and D’Angelico.

If you have not played a semi-hollow or fully-hollow guitar, I highly suggest you find a way to experience one before purchasing online. If you have only played a solid body guitar, you will want to understand the physical and sonic differences between semi and fully-hollow guitars. It is worth researching the style of guitar that some of your favorite jazz guitarists play. For example, Wes Montgomery basically always played a fully-hollow guitar while guitarists like John Scofield or Kurt Rosenwinkel mostly play semi-hollow body guitars.

What Type of Wood?

The type of wood is a crucial factor in choosing a jazz guitar. The type and construction of wood has a defining impact on the tone and feel of a guitar. There are many different wood choices represented on this list. Common woods used in jazz guitars include mahogany, maple, and spruce for bodys, maple and mahogany for necks, and rosewood, maple, and pau ferro for fretboards.

Mahogany is a common choice for body and neck construction on fully and semi-hollow body guitars. There are over 40 varieties of mahogany, but the most common species in guitars is Honduran Mahogany. Mahogany is economical and durable, easy to work with, and resonant. Mahogany is a warmer and darker-sounding wood and is heavier than others. Many guitars will have sides and back made from mahogany with another wood on top. This creates a balanced tonal blend with a rich and sturdy foundation. Mahogany guitars age well and the wood’s stable nature means your guitar is less likely to warp over time.

Maple is another common choice for body and neck construction on jazz guitars. Maple is a brighter sounding wood than mahogany and the two are often combined for a balanced sound. There are two main types of maple used in guitars: hard maple and soft maple. Hard maple is most frequently used in necks because of its weight. It accentuates the higher frequencies and is prized for its clarity and articulation. Hard maple is also frequently used as a top wood on fully-hollow guitars. Soft maple actually refers to a number of different species of maple and is not as bright and brittle as hard maple. Soft maple is used more frequently as a laminated top wood and less commonly as a neck wood because it is not as strong and dense as hard maple.

Spruce is a more rarely used wood on electric guitars but is commonly used for acoustic guitar tops. It is used most commonly as a top wood on fully-hollow arch tops electrics. It is a light and ethereal sounding wood with a distinct clarity and broad dynamic range. Plus it smells fantastic.

Rosewood, along with maple, is probably the most common wood used in guitar fretboards. Both semi-hollow and fully-hollow body guitars will have a rosewood fretboard. There are two main species of rosewood used in fretboard, Indian Rosewood, and Brazillian Rosewood. Due to regulations, Brazil Rosewood has become rarer. Rosewood is prized for its durability. It won’t stain or wear down under pressure or finger oil like some softer woods will. Rosewood’s darker timbre also helps to balance out the snappy and sometimes brittle feel of maple necks.

Pau Ferro has emerged in recent years as a more sustainable alternative to rosewood. Pau Ferro has similar durability to rosewood, but it is slightly brighter and snappier sounding. It is currently most commonly used in fretboards.

All of these woods are used in the guitars on this list in various combinations. Some guitars have an all mahogany body with a maple neck. Some have an all maple body with a mahogany neck. A few have spruce tops and at least one has a pau ferro fretboard, but most have rosewood or maple fretboards. Once again, it is to your advantage to play each of these woods or listen to recordings or demos of these guitars to hear what the particular wood combinations sound like.

What Style of Pickups?

The style and arrangement of pickups is another important factor to consider when purchasing a jazz guitar. There are many different pickup combinations on jazz guitars. Most frequently, semi-hollow body guitars come with a two humbucker setup. Both humbuckers are built into the wood block in the middle for resonance and feedback protection. These humbuckers are then controlled with a three-way toggle switch and two sets of volume and tone knobs. The three-way toggle switch allows for a variety of tones. When the toggle switch is in the forward position, the neck pickup is engaged. The mellow, duller sound of a neck pickup is a common and comfortable jazz guitar sound. This neck pickup is controlled by one set of the volume and tone knobs. When the toggle switch is in the middle position, both the neck and bridge pickups are engaged. You can then use both sets of volume and tone knobs to blend the two pickups together. This is an effective method to cut out some of the muddy lower-mid frequencies that can sound on semi-hollow guitars. When the toggle switch is in the back position, the bridge pickup is engaged. The bridge pickup generally sounds brighter and edgier than the neck pickup and is more commonly used in heavier music. Some guitarists, especially with a rock influence, will incorporate bridge pickup sounds into their playing.

Some semi-hollow guitars, like the Epiphone Riviera, are built with single coil P90 pickups instead of humbuckers. In the case of the Riviera, three P90 pickups are controlled by a three-way toggle switch and a combination of three volume knobs and one tone knob.

Fully-hollow body guitars either have a combination of two humbuckers, a single floating mini-humbucker at the neck, or a combination of P90 pickups. The most traditional sound comes from a single, floating mini-humbucker at the neck position. This pickup arrangement captures a more mellow and round sound and allows more of the acoustic resonance of the instrument to shine through without overpowering. The D’Angelico Premier EXL-1 is an example of this arrangement. The Godin Kingpin is a variation on this arrangement and features a single P90 pickup near the neck. The Ibanez Artcore Series AF75G is an example of a fully-hollow body guitar with a pair of humbuckers. This arrangement allows for more tonal flexibility and can handle louder volumes and guitar effects if desired.

Again, it is best to take inspiration from your favorite players. What style of pickups does Grant Green generally play? What about Jeff Parker or Mike Moreno? Have you heard Adam Rogers or Julian Lage play with single coils?

How Important are Aesthetics and Hardware?

How important to your decision and ultimate happiness and artistic growth and development are aesthetics and hardware? It is worth considering because you will generally get what you pay for.

Expensive guitars are generally expensive because the materials and hardware used are usually superior to less expensive guitars. The best overall guitar on this list, the Prestige Musician Pro TR is made from three different quality woods for a balanced timbre. The tuning machines, bridge, and pickups are all top quality and the red finish is pretty standard. As far as nice jazz guitars go, this is at the higher end of the price range, but doesn’t come close to the price of a Gibson ES-335 for comparably quality.

On the other hand, guitars like the Stagg A300 or Musoo 335 style guitar are extremely affordable, but are made of lesser quality materials and hardware. These guitars are fine for an entry level player on a tight budget, but are sort of a gamble in terms of quality.

Do you have a larger budget and want to get something with a nice flamed maple top or are you more interested in a quality set of pickups? Do you want to sacrifice a little quality on hardware and get a guitar that looks nice and then upgrade the tuning machines and bridge down the road?

Which Type of Guitar Fits Your Style?

Finally, it is important to consider which type of guitar fits your style best. If you have more rock and fusion influences, you would probably be best off with a semi-hollow body guitar so you can handle louder volumes and effect pedals. If you are more of a traditionalist, you would probably be best off with a fully-hollow archtop style guitar for a more conventional, straight-ahead jazz sound.