best Jazz guitar for around 3000 and under

[yebdox]

I love my Ibanez GB-10 and if I could only keep only one of my archtops, that would be it.... feedback resistant, great tones with thumb or pick, stable, wonderful neck at 24.75", just rugged and reliable. However, it's not as versatile as a 175, which could be used for lots of other styles with lighter gauge strings, as long as you get the double pickup model. I would say try to find one of the new 59 re-issues used (which might be possible for around 3K), or maybe a used sadowsky semi-hollow, just for the versatility that both would offer.

As much as I love 335s and those style guitars, they just don't get all the overtones that I personally like to hear in my favorite players' guitar voices so I personally keep those strung with lighter gauge strings and tend to crank them up. Of course, all these recommendations are purely personal and you can play jazz on anything you want, but that doesn't seem to be what you are asking about.

Having said all that, there is always the Tele. Most versatile guitar ever and probably a requirement for any guitar collection from day one.

[barrymclark]

At risk of sounding like a Fanboy, the Heritage H535 can be had new for under $3000. Check out Wolfes Guitar. Major dealer of Heritage and where I got my 575. Nothing short of top notch service.

[ooglybong]

Comins GCS-1ES. Semihollow. Spruce top, ebony board. Splitable pickups. Very versatile.

[montykohn]

I know this is an old thread . But, I saw an Epiphone Emperor Regent the other day. It played beautifully and sounded great. It was about $700 or $800. Not a bad guitar for the price.

[TH]

If you are a collector, you should take the advice of others; they know what is "best". If you are a player, get something modest, like a reliable Chinese or Korean semi hollow, play it until you find its limitations, mod it until you fine tune the world of possibilities, love it until you hate it. By then you'll have a good idea of what is right for you. By then you'll have earned the right to have an opinion. By then you will know the best guitar.
Cost of everyone else's opinion=$3,000
Cost of the knowledge of your own musical needs=priceless.
David

[Scot63]

I'm a big fan of the guitars that are semi-hollow in shape but true hollow bodies. A few somebodies have mentioned ES 330. They would be toward the upper end of $3,000 these days. I bought a really nice vintage '62 Guild Starfire III hollowbody for less than $1,500 recently. Here's Ted Greene playing the single-pickup model (plus, doing what he did best: teach).

[Scot63]

One quick correction: this is the Stafire II, not Starfire III (which has a Bigsby tremolo).

[montykohn]

That is a beautiful guitar.

[bryharrell]

I have two excellent guitars just up for sale. Both semi-hollow. 2006 German made Hofner verithin standard in excellent condition with original case and 1997 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion Three in excellent condition with original case. Only used for studio and from smoke free and humidified home.

Bryan in Chicago 773 680 0716

Hofner 950

Gibson 1750