AudioFu

Best Jazz Guitars for Smooth Jazz 2026

Perfect jazz guitars for smooth-jazz - easy to play and learn on

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Jazz For Blues For Fusion For R&B For Soul For Smooth Jazz
BRANDS: Ibanez Godin Stanford DAngelico Harley Benton
Larry Carlton H7F Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Larry Carlton H7F Black

by Larry Carlton
Fusion Soul R&B
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Great sustain and resonance
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Larry Carlton H7F BlackElectric GuitarStyle: Hollowbody with cutawayBody: MapleTop: MapleSet-in neck:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 589235
$747
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton Custom Line Manhattan-S w/Case - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Harley Benton Custom Line Manhattan-S w/Case

by Harley Benton
Smooth Jazz R&B Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • May lack brightness for rock

Harley Benton Custom Line Manhattan-S w/Case*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line...

⭐ 4.9/5 (35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 543751
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea

by DAngelico
Fusion Smooth Jazz Soul
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes
  • • May lack brightness for rock

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced TeaElectric GuitarStyle: Hollowbody with single cutTop: Spruce laminatedBack and sides:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585299
$1,744
Buy at Thomann View Details
Larry Carlton H7F See Through Red - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Larry Carlton H7F See Through Red

by Larry Carlton
R&B Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Rich harmonic content
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

Larry Carlton H7F See Through RedElectric GuitarStyle: Hollowbody with cutawayBody: MapleTop: MapleSet-in neck:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 589231
$758
Buy at Thomann View Details
Stanford CR Fatboy Pelham Blue 95 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Stanford CR Fatboy Pelham Blue 95

by Stanford
Soul Blues R&B
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Great sustain and resonance
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness for rock
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Stanford CR Fatboy Pelham Blue 95Electric GuitarType: ES 175-styleBody: Maple laminatedSet-in neck: Solid...

⭐ 5.0/5 (43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 614692
$1,418
Buy at Thomann View Details
Stanford CR Fatboy GE 95 Bigsby B60 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Stanford CR Fatboy GE 95 Bigsby B60

by Stanford
R&B Fusion Smooth Jazz
Key Feature:
• Rich harmonic content
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
  • • Rich harmonic content
✗ CONS
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars
  • • Often more expensive

Stanford CR Fatboy GE 95 Bigsby B60Electric GuitarType: ES 175-styleBody: Maple laminatedSet-in neck: Solid...

⭐ 4.7/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 614704
$1,595
Buy at Thomann View Details
Stanford CR Fatboy Golden Eye 95 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Stanford CR Fatboy Golden Eye 95

by Stanford
Blues Jazz Soul
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
✗ CONS
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

Stanford CR Fatboy Golden Eye 95Electric GuitarCrossroads SeriesStyle: Single cutaway ES-175 styleBack and sides: Maple...

⭐ 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 591320
$1,264
Buy at Thomann View Details
DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea Burst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea Burst

by DAngelico
Fusion Blues Soul
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea BurstElectric GuitarType: Hollow body with single cutTop: Laminated spruceBack and...

⭐ 4.6/5 (21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 621797
$1,869
Buy at Thomann View Details
Stanford CR Vanguard AV - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Stanford CR Vanguard AV

by Stanford
Fusion Blues R&B
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
✗ CONS
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars
  • • Often more expensive

Stanford CR Vanguard AVSemi-Acoustic Guitar with PickupCrossroads SeriesBack & Sides: Maple veneerTop: Solid...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 485104
$1,315
Buy at Thomann View Details
Stanford CR Fatboy 75-2 AV - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Stanford CR Fatboy 75-2 AV

by Stanford
Soul Smooth Jazz R&B
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain and resonance
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Often more expensive

Stanford CR Fatboy 75-2 AVSemi-Acoustic Guitar with PickupsCrossroads SeriesBack & sides: Maple veneerTop: Mahogany...

⭐ 4.6/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 485106
$1,209
Buy at Thomann View Details
Epiphone Broadway Vintage Sunburst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Epiphone Broadway Vintage Sunburst

by Epiphone
Smooth Jazz Jazz Soul
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Rich harmonic content
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness for rock
  • • Often more expensive

Epiphone Broadway Vintage SunburstElectric GuitarStyle: HollowbodyBody: MapleTop: selected spruceGlued-in neck:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 567359
$1,044
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez AG95QA-DBS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Ibanez AG95QA-DBS

by Ibanez
R&B Soul Blues
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain and resonance
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness for rock
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Ibanez AG95QA-DBSJazz GuitarArtcore Expressionist seriesBody: Ash3-Piece neck: Maple/mahoganyFretboard: Ebony22 Medium...

⭐ 4.4/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 428935
$813
Buy at Thomann View Details
Godin 5th Ave TL Kingpin P90 OC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Godin 5th Ave TL Kingpin P90 OC

by Godin
Soul Fusion Jazz
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

Godin 5th Ave TL Kingpin P90 OCHollow Body Electric GuitarBody: Canadian wild cherryGlued-in neck: MapleFingerboard:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 588803
$1,649
Buy at Thomann View Details
Godin 5th Ave Jumbo P90 Harvest Gold - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Godin 5th Ave Jumbo P90 Harvest Gold

by Godin
Blues Soul Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
  • • Rich harmonic content
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness for rock
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

Godin 5th Ave Jumbo P90 Harvest GoldElectric GuitarStyle: ArchtopTop: Canadian wild cherryBack and sides: Canadian wild...

⭐ 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 553524
$1,385
Buy at Thomann View Details
DAngelico Excel EXL1 Amber - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Amber

by DAngelico
Fusion Soul Blues
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
✗ CONS
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes
  • • Often more expensive

DAngelico Excel EXL1 AmberElectric GuitarType: Hollow body with single cutTop: Laminated spruceBack and sides: Flamed...

⭐ 5.0/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 621799
$1,869
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Jazz Guitars

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced jazz guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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