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What guitars are best suited playing jazz music?
Can SG type guitars be used for jazz music playing?
I have seen LP, Tele, Strats being used for jazz music, but never saw SG type guitars in jazz music playing.
What guitars are your favorite guitars for playing jazz music?
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02-09-2026 07:26 AM
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Any hollow body archtop or semi hollow guitar. That said, if the guitarist is good then an SG (or Strat) will sound good, too.
Here's an example, enjoy...
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Yes, SGs sound excellent in jazz.
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The neck pickup on SGs is a little further back toward the bridge compared to most other guitars (necessitated by the way the neck is joined to the body). This gives it a slightly thinner sound. Whether that’s good or bad is a matter of taste. I’m not sure if that’s the main reason they’re uncommon among jazz players, but it’s why I don’t have one.
My first good electric guitar was an SG, which was fine for the blues and rock I mostly played for my first few years. But as jazz became a bigger part of what I played the thinness became more noticeable to me, and I switched to other guitars. At first a strat, and even that had a fuller neck pickup sound. 24-fret guitars have the same neck pickup issue. I had one of those for a while, and the frustrations of that are what led me to figure this out.
I now have a few guitars, and I like them all for jazz and enjoy the variety. But when it comes to the classic jazz tone, nothing beats my archtop.Last edited by John A.; 02-09-2026 at 12:22 PM.
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I would love to have archtop guitars for their looks and sound. But they tend to be too expensive for a beginner like me. Maybe later when I play better, will look for them to buy.
Originally Posted by John A.
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There a many inexpensive archtops, for example several different Ibanez models, that are cheaper than an SG. My first archtop was a Samick -- which (to keep things on topic) I traded for an SG (back when SG's were still cheap). These days, there are so many good and inexpensive guitars of all types that a small budget is usually fine. But the truth is that equipment is much less important than forums make it seem. Get a guitar that you enjoy playing, regardless of what type it is, and focus on learning. Originally Posted by GBRow
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I get u like the aesthetics, but don't get too hung up on the whole archtop thingie.. learn on whatever u have available and try to figure out how to get the tone you have in your head.
However, if you have the means, buy the best guit you can afford (don't think you don't deserve a pro level instrument), since a good guitar will make you want to play it.
Finally, obligatory solid vs hollow vid:
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Whatever guitar I'm playing is a jazz guitar.
I just like guitars...well, actually, I still haven't found a semi-hollow that I've bonded with long term...maybe that's not the right guitar for me...but flat tops, archtops, solid bodies, nylon strings...I like all of 'em...
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Jazz can be played on any guitar. BUT, to get the tone that is in your head, some guitars might not do the trick. If you cannot dial in a tone that works for your ears with the SG, it may not be the jazz guitar for you.
If a guitar does not inspire your playing, you will spend less time playing it and that will not move your playing forward. Good luck figuring it out!
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I developed an early bias toward SGs, as I thought the devil horns looked silly. Occasionally I’d try one, but the relatively short scale and balance didn’t feel at home, and they were usually set up with light strings. If someone had loaned me one for a month set up the way I prefer I might have grown to like it.
Jazz can be played on pretty much any instrument, as long as it’s well constructed and set up will for the player’s preferences.
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It’s not the wand! It’s the Magician Weil ding it!
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I think this cost me about $600 Originally Posted by GBRow
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Same same... Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
If you can manage the light weight and slim necks, SGs are really easy and enjoyable to play and sound great for Jazz and Swing.
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Hi, from your post it is unclear whether or not you already own an SG? Originally Posted by GBRow
If so, maybe start by stringing it with a touch heavier (than rock) strings, like .011's on top. It is hard to play jazz voicing on slinky strings. (IMHO).
From there, as you start to learn and get better, you can think about whether another guitar, like a hollow or semi hollow, would suit you better.
Don't let the type of guitar get in the way of your learning! I studied jazz on a Les Paul and a Martin flat top, neither of which I would now prefer for jazz!
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The SG doesn’t seem to hold this gentleman back
personally, as much as there’s a romantic attachment to the arch top hollow bodies, i suppose a hsh strat is home base for me.
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I would totally rock an SG for jazz. oooh, wIth P90s. Originally Posted by Rodney Gene
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Pretty sure that's sacrilegious.... Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
We regret to inform you, sir, that due to your perverse guitar propensities you will no longer be permitted to attend services at the Church of John Coltrane.
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I've been using a Les Paul with P90s quite a bit lately. Just because of the pickup position, it's got a little more fullness and warmth than an SG (something I've actually verified recently by trying a couple of SG's). Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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WELL FINE THEN! And I'm taking my $350 Ibanez strat copy with me Originally Posted by Mick-7
Pretty sure that's sacrilegious....
We regret to inform you, sir, that due to your perverse guitar propensities you will no longer be permitted to attend services at the Church of John Coltrane.
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Or your $100 Aria Pro II PE Les Paul Copy Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
WELL FINE THEN! And I'm taking my $350 Ibanez strat copy with me
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I don't have one of those...but I'm not kidding about the Ibanez strat, I love that little guitar! Originally Posted by Rodney Gene
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I have too many guitars. Solid bodies, hollow bodies, archtops, acoustics. My family has asked me on more than one occasion why I have so many because I sound the same on all of them. TBH, I don't have a good answer except that I like guitars. And amps, and a few pedals, and eventually more of my keyboard, and eventually an electronic drum kit that I don't currently have...
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oh stop it! Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
I want a P90 guitar pretty badly, and i have been thinking about an SG more and more (also about the alternative - a p90 Revstar). I really don't need one but they look pretty damn cool!
Also, that Epiphone Fatomata Diarrhea SG looks absolutely amazing... I might have to eat my words re: Epiphone and get one if it ever comes to the local stores.
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Whatever you do, don’t watch this. I did and it cost me quite a bit of money. Originally Posted by jazzloverfat
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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