Want to sound like Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, or John Scofield? The instrument you pick gets you partway there.
Jazz tone leans on a hollow or semi-hollow body for warmth, pickups voiced for a round low end, and a neck that handles dense chords with ease. Those traits matter more than the name on the headstock.
There’s no single “best” jazz guitar, since the music runs from bebop to fusion. A full-depth archtop like the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II nails the classic woody voice, while a semi-hollow tames louder stages without feeding back.
This guide reviews six guitars across a range of prices and body styles. Each was judged on tone, build, playability, and value, and the chart below compares them all at a glance.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Product | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Yamaha SA2200 Semi-Hollow | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
Epiphone Casino Hollowbody | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
Godin LGXT 3-Voice | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
Gretsch G2420T Streamliner | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 6 |  |
Ibanez Artcore AS73 | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
Archtops, Thinlines, and One Hybrid
Joe Pass’s Emperor II tops the list with ProBuckers in a flame maple archtop, while the Epiphone Casino swaps humbuckers for P-90s and a full-hollow bite.
The Godin LGXT is the technologist’s pick, stacking Seymour Duncans with a piezo preamp for acoustic-style voices, and the Artcore AS73 keeps the semi-hollow sound under budget.
1. Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II
Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II
Full-depth archtop jazz signature with flame maple body, ProBucker pickups, and a floating rosewood bridge.
Pros
- True full-depth archtop built for jazz tone
- Flame maple back and sides look stunning
- ProBucker humbuckers with coil-tapping versatility
- 3-piece hard maple neck stays stable
Cons
- Neck can feel narrow for larger hands
- Large body is less comfortable seated
This is a true archtop jazz guitar, complete with a classic arch and a select spruce top reinforced by bracing for ideal jazz tone. The sides and back are made of laminated flame maple, and the gold hardware with a vintage-style scroll tailpiece gives it that unmistakable jazz box presence.
The neck-position ProBucker-2 and slightly hotter ProBucker-3 in the lead position both offer coil-tapping through their individual volume controls, so you can dial in everything from warm comping tones to brighter single-coil voices. A 3-piece hand-set hard maple neck and pau ferro fingerboard keep things stable and smooth under the fingers.
Setting intonation is simple thanks to the floating rosewood bridge with thumbwheels for fast height adjustment. The neck can feel narrow for some players, and the full-depth body is less comfortable seated, but for authentic jazz tone and looks this is our top pick.
2. Yamaha SA2200 Semi-Hollow
Yamaha SA2200 Semi-Hollow
Double-cut semi-hollow with a flamed maple top and brown sunburst finish for vintage jazz vibes.
Pros
- Premium build quality throughout
- Warm, woody tone ideal for jazz
- Center block tames unwanted feedback
- Versatile from clean jazz to rock
Cons
- Heavier than most on this list
- Sits at a higher price point
Yamaha’s SA2200 is a premium double-cut semi-hollow that masterfully combines tone, appearance, and playability. The arched top is made of flamed maple, and the brown sunburst finish evokes a vintage vibe straight out of the 1950s and 60s.
A soft maple center block adds support and helps eliminate unwanted feedback when you push the amp.
Its mahogany neck and rosewood 22-fret fingerboard provide a comfortable, fast-playing base, while two Alnico V humbuckers deliver a versatile and dynamic tonal range. It can run from clean jazz vibes to raunchier rock tones without missing a beat.
The build quality here’s a clear step above most semi-hollows in its class, which is reflected in the price. It’s also on the heavier side, so it’s worth trying with a strap before committing, but the tone and craftsmanship make it our top premium choice.
3. Epiphone Casino Hollowbody
Epiphone Casino Hollowbody
Thin-line full-hollow archtop with twin P-90 pickups and a streamlined neck for warm, jangly tone.
Pros
- Iconic thin-line hollow tone heard on classic records
- Twin P-90s deliver warm, full sound
- Streamlined neck is easy to play
- Select maple body with f-holes
Cons
- Fully hollow body can feed back at volume
- Single-coils hum more than humbuckers
The Casino is a timeless thin-line, full-hollow archtop famous for the sparkling sound heard on classic tunes by bands like the Beatles. Its twin P-90 dog-ear pickups are the key to that warm, jangly jazz character, gelling seamlessly with the hollow body to give players access to both acoustic-leaning and electric tones.
Built with a select maple body and top, f-holes, a trapeze tailpiece, and a mahogany neck, the Casino is genuinely stunning to behold in vintage sunburst. The streamlined neck makes the frets easy to reach, and the fully hollow construction gives chords a lively, airy resonance that solid bodies simply can’t match.
Because it’s fully hollow, it can feed back at higher volumes, and the single-coil P-90s hum a little more than humbuckers. For warm, vintage jazz and blues tones at a fair price, though, it’s hard to beat.
4. Godin LGXT 3-Voice
Godin LGXT 3-Voice
Versatile solid-body with Seymour Duncan humbuckers, an RMC piezo preamp, and 13-pin synth access.
Pros
- Three voices: electric, acoustic, and synth
- Seymour Duncan Jazz humbuckers up front
- Flamed maple top with mahogany neck
- Locking tuners hold tune reliably
Cons
- Solid body lacks true hollow resonance
- Synth features add a learning curve
The Godin LGXT is practically a mixed breed of the Les Paul and Telecaster, with its own unique blend of features. It’s a chimera with several voices: two Seymour Duncan humbuckers (a Jazz in the neck and a Custom in the bridge) handle the electric side, an onboard RMC piezo preamp delivers convincing acoustic sounds, and 13-pin output opens up guitar synth tracking.
John McLaughlin is among the famous jazz players who have used it.
A silver leaf maple body with a flamed figured maple top, a Honduras mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard give it real high-end feel. Godin’s front-loaded locking tuners and tremolo bridge keep it stable and in tune, even with heavy use.
This is incredible versatility in a solid-body package, which makes it ideal for fusion players who want one guitar to cover a lot of ground. The trade-off is that a solid body lacks the true hollow resonance of an archtop, and the synth features add a learning curve, but few guitars are this flexible.
5. Gretsch G2420T Streamliner
Gretsch G2420T Streamliner
Single-cutaway hollowbody with a maple top, twin humbuckers, and a nato neck for classic Gretsch jangle.
Pros
- Big hollowbody tone with vintage looks
- Twin humbuckers cover jazz to rockabilly
- Comfortable nato neck plays fast
- Lightweight for a hollow electric
Cons
- Broad'Tron pickups are brighter than classic jazz
- Tortoiseshell pickguard clashes with some finishes
The G2420T Streamliner gives a stylistic nod to the iconic 1950s Gretsch hollowbodies, with a completely hollow single-cutaway maple body. Twin humbucking pickups cover a lot of ground, from warm jazz comping to twangy rockabilly, and the big hollow body gives chords plenty of air and bloom.
Its nato neck is scaled to 24.75 inches and shaped to comfortably fill the hand, playing well up and down the fretboard. The laurel fingerboard with hump-block inlays adds to the vintage charm, and the whole guitar is surprisingly lightweight for a hollow electric.
The Broad’Tron pickups run a touch brighter than what jazz traditionalists might prefer, and the tortoiseshell pickguard doesn’t suit every finish, but rolling back the tone gives you plenty of warmth. As a stylish, affordable hollowbody, it’s a fun and capable option.
6. Ibanez Artcore AS73
Ibanez Artcore AS73
Affordable semi-hollow with twin humbuckers, a bound rosewood fingerboard, and a warm, balanced tone.
Pros
- Excellent value for a semi-hollow
- Twin humbuckers give a warm, balanced tone
- Holds tuning well for gigs and practice
- Nyatoh neck is comfortable to play
Cons
- No coil-split for tonal variety
- Glossy finish needs extra care
The Artcore AS73 is designed to deliver affordability, an attractive look, and a full, warm tone, and it punches well above its price. Its semi-hollow linden body, nyatoh neck, and bound rosewood fingerboard combine for a warm, robust jazz voice, while the twin humbuckers provide a broad and balanced output.
The AS73 holds its tuning impressively well, which makes it a great option for jazz guitar beginners who don’t want to fuss with their instrument during practice or a gig. The double-cutaway body keeps the upper frets accessible, and the neck is genuinely easy to play.
There’s no coil-split for extra tonal variety, and the glossy finish needs a little care to keep it looking sharp, but neither is a dealbreaker. For the money, this is the best budget jazz guitar on our list and a fantastic entry point into the semi-hollow world.
Video Reviews
More demos worth a watch:
Final Thoughts
For our money, the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II is the best jazz guitar here. It’s a genuine full-depth archtop built for the genre, with a select spruce top, flame maple back and sides, and warm ProBucker humbuckers that nail that classic jazz box tone.
The coil-tapping and gold hardware add versatility and class, making it the most authentic and complete jazz instrument on this list.
If you want a versatile semi-hollow that handles louder stages, the Yamaha SA2200 is a premium step up, while the Epiphone Casino delivers iconic thin-line hollow tone for less. Fusion players should look hard at the Godin LGXT, which packs electric, acoustic, and synth voices into one instrument.
The Gretsch G2420T is a stylish, affordable hollowbody, and the Ibanez Artcore AS73 is the smart budget pick for anyone just getting into jazz guitar.
Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your budget, your body-style preference, and the kind of jazz you play. Looking for something in a specific budget?
Check out our guide to jazz guitars under $1000. And if you need an amp to go with your new instrument, take a look at our jazz guitar amp recommendations.
