Best Jazz Guitars Under $2,000 2026

Affordable jazz guitars under $2,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

DAngelico Excel 16 Amaretto Burst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

DAngelico Excel 16 Amaretto Burst

Smooth Jazz Jazz R&B
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain and resonance
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes

DAngelico Excel 16 Amaretto BurstElectric GuitarType: Hollow body with single cutawayTop: Laminated spruceBack and...

4.5/5 (50 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea Burst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Dark Iced Tea Burst

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
Stanford CR Fatboy PB 95 Bigsby B60 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Stanford CR Fatboy PB 95 Bigsby B60

Blues Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • Often more expensive

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

4.7/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea

Soul Blues R&B
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes

DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced TeaElectric GuitarStyle: Hollowbody with non-cutawayTop: Spruce laminatedBack and...

4.6/5 (20 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Ibanez LGB30-NT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Ibanez LGB30-NT

Blues Smooth Jazz R&B
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Rich harmonic content
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

Ibanez LGB30-NTElectric GuitarTop: SpruceBack and sides: flamed mapleGlued-in 3-piece neck: Nyatoh / mapleFingerboard:...

4.9/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Stanford CR Fatboy Golden Eye 95 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Stanford CR Fatboy Golden Eye 95

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
Godin 5th Ave CW Kingpin II HB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Godin 5th Ave CW Kingpin II HB

Jazz Blues Soul
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain and resonance
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars
  • • May lack brightness for rock

Godin 5th Ave CW Kingpin II HBElectric guitarType: Archtop with cutawayTop and back: Canadian wild cherryNeck: Silver...

4.6/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Epiphone Broadway Vintage Sunburst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Epiphone Broadway Vintage Sunburst

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
Stanford CR Fatboy GE 95 Bigsby B60 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Stanford CR Fatboy GE 95 Bigsby B60

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
DAngelico Excel 16 Amber - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

DAngelico Excel 16 Amber

R&B Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Professional jazz sound
  • • Rich harmonic content
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities

DAngelico Excel 16 AmberElectric GuitarType: Hollow body with single cutawayTop: Laminated spruceBack and sides: Flamed...

4.5/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Godin 5th Avenue Jumbo P-Rail HG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Godin 5th Avenue Jumbo P-Rail HG

Fusion Blues R&B
Key Feature:
• Warm, smooth humbucker tone
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Feedback prone at high volumes

Godin 5th Avenue Jumbo P-Rail HGElectric Jazz GuitarBody: Canadian wild cherryArched top: Canadian wild cherryGlued-in...

4.5/5 (24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Stanford CR Fatboy 75 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Stanford CR Fatboy 75

Fusion R&B Blues
Key Feature:
• Professional jazz sound
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Limited high-gain capabilities
  • • May lack brightness for rock

Stanford Fatboy 75Electric GuitarCrossroad seriesBuild: 80 mm full bodyBody: Maple laminatedNeck: MahoganyFretboard:...

5.0/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez LGB30-VYS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Ibanez LGB30-VYS

Soul Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Warm, smooth humbucker tone
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness for rock
  • • Often more expensive

Ibanez LGB30-VYSElectric GuitarSpruce topBack and sides: flamed mapleSet-in 3-piece Nyatoh/maple neckFingerboard:...

4.9/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Stanford CR Fatboy CAR 95 Bigsby B60 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Stanford CR Fatboy CAR 95 Bigsby B60

Jazz Soul R&B
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and resonance
✓ PROS
  • • Rich harmonic content
  • • Professional jazz sound
✗ CONS
  • • Often more expensive
  • • Less versatile than solid-body guitars

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

5.0/5 (52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
DAngelico Excel EXL1 Amber - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

DAngelico Excel EXL1 Amber

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

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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