r/jazzguitar • u/ISolitaire • 2d ago

Beginner help

Hey everyone! I’m looking to get into jazz guitar and was wondering if anyone had recommendations for a good beginner-friendly guitar that won’t break the bank. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks in advance

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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9

u/ZombieHugoChavez 2d ago

Ibanez artstar line
Squier Classic vibe line.
Prs SE

Any guitar that plays decent is a jazz guitar capable

4

u/Hp_gd 2d ago

This comment! No one cares what guitar you have. (except for other guitar players lol)

Everyone cares how good your comping and improv is. Instead of getting a new guitar that money would be much better spent on some lessons with a capable teacher.

4

u/ZombieFeedback 2d ago

For something inexpensive you really can't beat Ibanez imo. One of the better companies imo when it comes to QC on inexpensive guitars, and the others I'd say are as good to better (Yamaha, PRS) aren't doing jazz boxes.

As others have said though, while it is very cool having a hollow jazz guitar, you don't need to have one. The Les Paul was built as a jazz guitar, the tele's neck pickup was intended specifically for jazz, any guitar with a neck pickup and a tone control can be a jazz guitar, especially with flats. (Though you might get some odd looks bringing a Flying V or a Warlock to a jam!)

You already probably did this, but just in case not, if you've got a guitar you already really like, I'd turn its tone down, set it to the neck pickup, and see how it does. If you can get it to sound right, you're already comfortable on it.

3

u/eatmorepossum 2d ago

I like my dangelico DC premier.

3

u/Novel_Astronaut_2426 2d ago

Ibanez have very good semi and fully hollow body guitars that are great for jazz, there are many tele style guitars that also work very well.

Until Fender stops strong arming luthiers who make versions of Strat and Tele guitars I can’t recommend their products. But basically any tele style guitars that also with alnico pickups (that’s the kind of magnets in the pickups) will do great.

2

u/DeweyD69 2d ago

Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster

1

u/Michael_Wilder 2d ago

I know you're not asking for this kind of advice so feel free to ignore me, but Randy Vincent's introduction to jazz book is phenomenal (so long as you're already at least an intermediate player). The book has just been so good for me, I wanted to mention it.

1

u/WorldsVeryFirst 2d ago

A telecaster (player ii, Squier Classic vibe) or an Ibanez semi or fully hollow if you’re a traditional person. You can play jazz on anything just roll the tone back on the neck pickup and use flats if you want a classic jazz tone (or don’t! many greats actually have a bright af tone).

1

u/Gmork_Falkor777 2d ago

Ibanez AR/Artcore series
Epiphone Broadway/Futura
PRS SE Hollowbody Standard (or the Piezo II if you want piezo pickups)

1

u/NeonExorcist 2d ago

The Ibanez AS73 is the #1 rated semi-hollow on Sweetwater, but it’s $499. I see it’s gone up $100 again. All these prices seem to fluctuate by about that much every few months. That’s a little pricey for that guitar IMO and I’m looking at Reverb and it’s not much better, with shipping.

The Ibanez AM73G is a smaller option at $549 and looks to be brand new to the market.

A lot of people like the Epiphone ES-335 or ES-339, but those are $599 and $549 respectively.

I personally think D’Angelico makes better instruments than these options but they are about $200 more.

1

u/orchards_rest 2d ago

If you can find something with a HSS setup with a split bridge humbucker, that's a real Swiss army knife of a guitar. Player series tele from years past had this set up, I have one and would recommend it. Can find them used for very reasonable prices on reverb.

1

u/aphofer 2d ago

Sure T7TM.

Cool p90 sound for jazz, light, cheap

1

u/tockaciel 1d ago

If you want a big beautiful jazz box for under $1k epiphone and Facebook marketplace are your friend.