If you’re searching for the best budget jazz guitars suitable for both beginner and more advanced players, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, we’re going to take a very close look on 10 of the coolest and most affordable guitars available on the market right now.
As a jazz guitar player, you need a guitar that features a really nice, warm and balanced tone – especially on the clean channel! Although finding a guitar like that may seem like a big challenge, it’s actually not that difficult. There are a lot of great models out there!
That’s why I decided to create a list of top 10 best budget jazz guitars. Feel free to check them all out in the table below. If you’d like to hear how they all sound, scroll down to the next section – I included more info and sound demos in there. Hopefully, today’s guide will help you to find your new dream guitar.
10 Best Budget Jazz Guitars – List
| Ibanez AS53 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Guild Starfire I SC | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Gretsch G2420 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Squier Affinity Stratocaster | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Ibanez AS73 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Eart E-335 | See on Amazon | – |
| Ibanez AF75G | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Squier CV Thinline Telecaster | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Glen Burton GE775 Chicago | See on Amazon | – |
1. Ibanez AS53
Ibanez AS53 is one of the cheapest semi-hollow guitars offered by this popular brand. As a proud owner of that model, I can totally recommend it to any guitar player who’s looking for an affordable and reliable guitar.
The guitar features a top, back and sides made of sapele wood. As a result, the tone of the AS53 can be described as rich and balanced. In addition, since it’s a semi-hollow body guitar, it’s pretty loud even without plugging it into an amp.
The manufacturer equipped this model with two powerful humbuckers which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Whether you’re into a punchy rock riffs or more mellow jazz sounds, this guitar won’t disappoint you!
Undoubtedly, it’s a very cool guitar. I’m positive that it’s one of the best budget jazz guitars out there. This model looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive guitar – and that’s why I love it!
Here’s my video review and sound demo of that guitar, so feel free to check it out below. If you find it helpful, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel – there are a lot of other reviews in there!
2. Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster
Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster is an another proof that a great guitar doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. This particular model is perfect for a lot of different genres, so whether you’re into country, blues, indie or jazz – it’s a great option.
All guitars from the Classic Vibe series offer a very unique look and a vintage aesthetic. If you like that kind of vibe, you will definitely be satisfied with that Jazzmaster. The gloss finish on the neck makes it extremely comfortable and playable.
Many people think that this model is equipped with the P90 pickups, but it’s not true. The manufacturer decided to equip this guitar with a set of Fender-Alnico single-coil pickups, which offer a really warm and balanced tone.
Surely, a lot of jazz guitar players are going to appreciate the overall look and quality of that guitar.
Here’s the sound demo
3. Guild Starfire I SC
Guild Starfire I SC is a bit more expensive than previous two guitars, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention. Although it’s not necessarily a budget guitar, it’s actually one of the cheapest models offered by this brand.
If you’re not familiar with Guild, they manufacture a top quality instruments that are often used by the professional musicians. Their attention to detail is absolutely amazing and it is clear that they really know how to create amazing guitars.
The Starfire I SC model proves that their approach to making guitars is really working. This cool model features a semi-hollow body with a cutaway and a 24.75″ scale. Guild decided to use arched maple wood, so as a result this guitar sounds really warm and balanced.
What’s important, this Starfire model is also equipped with a set of two powerful HB-2 Alnico II humbuckers, which sound absolutely awesome. Surely, a lot of jazz guitarists are going to love it.
I have no hesitation in recommending this guitar to anyone who’s looking for a high-quality and reliable guitar.
Here’s the sound demo.
4. Gretsch G2420
Gretsch G2420 is a really cool hollow body guitar loved by a lot of beginner and more intermediate jazz players. Although it’s not the cheapest guitar on today’s list, it’s one of the most affordable models offered by this manufacturer.
Why is it great for jazz? Well, it features the two custom-wound Broad’Tron humbuckers, which offer a very nice, warm and balanced guitar tone. In addition, the hollow body makes it very resonant and it actually sounds great without using an amp too.
Personally, I always loved the look, feel and the overall quality of Gretsch guitars. They really know how to manufacture great instruments. I never experienced any problems with their gear and I’m sure that your experience with their guitars will be the same.
Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best budget jazz guitars suitable for all-level guitarists. I highly recommend checking it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
5. Squier Affinity Stratocaster
Squier Affinity Stratocaster is one of the most affordable guitars on today’s list. It’s cheap and it sounds good – who needs anything else?
The Affinity Series falls somewhere in the mid-level when it comes to Squier guitars. These guitars are cheaper than the Classic Vibe guitars, but they’re more expensive than the guitars from Bullet series. Still, they feature a high quality and a lot of versatility when it comes to tone.
Although it’s not the best guitar in the world, it’s a perfect entry-level guitar for any guitarist who wants to start their musical journey. And to be honest, more advanced players will enjoy its quality as well.
Here’s my video review of that Strat – feel free to check it out.
6. Ibanez AS73
Ibanez AS73 is an another semi-hollow body guitar which is perfect for playing jazz music. This particular model is very similar to the AS53 model mentioned earlier, but it’s a bit more expensive.
In comparison with the AS53, it has a black pickguard, pearloid block inlays and a gloss finish. When it comes to tone, both of these guitars sound pretty much the same and their sound can be described as warm, rich and resonant.
This Ibanez will be ideal for playing a lot of different genres of music, not necessarily jazz. Two Dual Classic Elite humbuckers offer a lot of versatility and punch when it comes to tone, so they should be more than enough even for the most demanding guitarists.
Although it’s not the cheapest guitar on today’s list, it’s definitely one of the best budget semi-hollow jazz guitars out there. I encourage you to check it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
7. Eart E-335
Have you ever heard about the Eart guitars? I’m positive that most guitarists will answer ‘no’ for that question. I recently discovered this brand and I’m still really surprised of how good their gear actually is.
The E-335 model is heavily inspired by the legendary Gibson ES-335 model. The manufacturer did a fantastic job and they managed to create a really good and affordable semi-hollow guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitarists.
The guitar features a mahogany body with a roasted mahogany neck, which feels very comfortable. In general, guitars made of mahogany tend to sound really warm, so that’s a perfect characteristic for jazz musicians. Nevertheless, this particular model will sound great in other genres as well.
Another advantage of that guitar is the fact that it’s equipped with stainless steel frets. This is not common at this price level, so it makes that guitar really interesting!
Here’s a really good video that highlights the quality of Eart E-335.
8. Ibanez AF75G
Ibanez AF75G is a very classy hollow body guitar suitable for the most demanding guitar players. This is the kind of gear that you can easily grab with you to a studio session or a gig. It sounds and looks absolutely fantastic!
The guitar features a linden body and a very comfortable nyatoh neck. In addition, it is equipped with a set of high quality Classic Elite pickups. These humbuckers offer a rich, nuanced tone with a really fat low-end. Surely, this kind of tone will be perfect for playing jazz.
Although it’s not the cheapest guitar on today’s list, it’s definitely one of the best budget jazz guitars available on the market right now. Considering the fact that the best jazz guitars tend to cost thousands of dollars, this hollow body model is a real bargain.
I have no hesitation in recommending this Ibanez to anyone who’s looking for a top quality and reliable piece of gear.
Here’s the sound demo.
9. Squier CV Thinline Telecaster
Squier Classic Vibe Thinline Telecaster is an another really cool and affordable option for a lot of jazz guitarists. Many people associate Telecasters with country and rock music, but the truth is that a lot of legendary jazz guitarists played mainly on a Tele.
This particular model is heavily inspired by the Thinline Teles from the ’60s. If you like that kind of vintage vibe, you’ll most definitely enjoy playing on that guitar. The manufacturer equipped this guitar with two Fender-Alnico single-coil pickups, which both sound really good.
Although it’s not the cheapest guitar on today’s list, it definitely deserves a lot of attention. What’s interesting, there’s a lot of different versions of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecasters. They are all different, so if you don’t like the Thinline version, perhaps you’ll enjoy other ones more.
Here’s the sound demo.
10. Glen Burton GE775 Chicago
Glen Burton GE775 is one of the cheapest hollow body guitars on today’s list. Although it’s not the best guitar in the world, it definitely deserves a lot of attention. Considering its price, it seems to be one of the best budget jazz guitars out there.
The guitar features a maple body and a comfortable maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. In addition, the manufacturer equipped this model with a set of Dual ’57 Chrome Covered Humbuckers. And to be honest, both of them sound fantastic!
Undoubtedly, this is a perfect entry-level jazz guitar. It may not be the best choice for more advanced players, but overall, it does the job very well. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out.
FAQ
Do you need a jazz guitar to play jazz music?
The truth is that you don’t necessarily need an arched top jazz guitar in order to play jazz music. You can play jazz on any guitar that you have – even a solid body Strat.
What guitars are used for jazz?
Most of the time, jazz guitarists are using hollow or semi-hollow body guitars. Nevertheless, a lot of professional jazz musicians also use such guitars as Stratocasters, Telecasters or even Jazzmasters.
Is it okay to buy cheap guitars?
Some cheap guitars are a complete waste of money, but there are also a lot of models that sound absolutely fantastic. Make sure to do some research before you decide to get a new guitar – there’s a high chance that although it’s cheap, it’s actually not that bad!
Summary
As you can see, the market is full of great and affordable guitars suitable for playing jazz music. What’s more, all of the models above are very versatile, so they can be used for playing other genres as well. Whether you’re a beginner or a more intermediate guitarists, I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed with any of these models.
Which budget jazz guitar do you think is best? Is there any other guitar that you’d add to that list? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
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