The Best Value Offset Guitars – Jaguars, Jazzmasters, And More!
Someting for every budget!
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This list of the best value offset guitars includes something for everyone. Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Mustangs, Firebirds – there is something for everyone. Let’s take a look!
These Are The Best Value Offset Guitars
Best Value Offset Guitars – What To Consider
If you ask around among guitarists regarding offset guitars, it’s most likely they’ll mention Fender Jazzmasters and Jaguars. However, like Strats, Teles or Les Pauls these iconic designs have been emulated by many guitar brands.
The name ‘offset” is derived from the angled body design, where the top horn is positioned much further than the lower bout. While there was a time when offset guitars where a bit out of fashion, many are turning to these more unusual guitars these days, for their looks, their sound, and their legacy in music history.
Many associate offsets with alternative rock bands from the 80s and 90s, like Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr., just as much as some of the Grunge greats like Nirvana. It is worth noting, however, that guitarists like Johnny Marr and Elvis Costello and Bands like The Cure and Television also contributed to these guitars’ popularity. Note: This list is strictly ordered by price, from most affordable to most expensive.
Harley Benton JA-60CC
The Harley Benton JA-60CC line comes in many striking finishes – perfect for any Indie-Pop, Surf-Rock, or Alternative band! As usual with HB, these models are about as affordable as they get, which makes them the perfect entry point to offset guitars.
This series has a Basswood body, a C profile caramelized Canadian maple neck, a Laurel fretboard with block inlays, and 21 frets. A left-handed model is also available. Each guitar comes with a pair of Roswell Alnico-5 P90 pickups, and the control layout consists of a single volume and tone, plus a three-way pickup selector switch.
One of the best value offset guitars, the Harley Benton JA-60CC is available at Thomann* starting at 179 euros.
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Jazzmaster
If you’re after a well-spec’ed offset guitar that doesn’t break the bank, take a closer look at the Squier CV 60s Jazzmaster LRL OWT. Plus, it’s got looks! The Olympic White finish, combined with a four-ply tortoiseshell pickguard and matching hardware, gives it a beautifully vintage vibe.
The guitar comes with a poplar body paired with a maple C-profile neck, plus an Indian Laurel fretboard with 22 narrow-tall frets with Pearloid dots inlays. A pair of Fender-designed Alnico Single-Coil pickups with the traditional control layout for a Jazzmaster, including the original Rhythm Circuit on the top horn is part of the package.
In addition, this Jazzmaster includes the classic floating bridge with dynamic vibrato tailpiece tremolo, which is something not available with the Harley Benton models, for example. This offset guitar is available at Thomann* for 395 euros.
Guild Surfliner Deluxe
It doesn’t have to be Gibson or Fender! And if you ask around, Guild’s Surfliner series is a bit of an insider tip among the best value offset guitars. Compared to the OG Jazzmasters and Jaguars, it lacks the additional electronics to switch between rhythm and lead tones, but it’s got the vintage looks, great build quality, and three pickups!
The series comes with two DeArmond Aerosonic single coils at the neck and in the middle and a Guild HB-2 Humbucker in the bridge position with a 5-way switch to change and combine the pickups. A poplar body, bolt-on roasted premium maple neck and a rosewood fretboard provide a very solid basis for this beautiful offset.
This models are available at Thomann* for 769 euros.
Fender Vintera II 70s Jaguar
Let’s not make this list too Jazzmaster-y! If you’re in the market for a Jaguar, the shorter-scaled sibling to the Jazzmaster, there’s a variety of different models from Fender and Squier available. This model, from Fender’s Vintera II series.
With the typical 24″ scale and an equally short 7.25 radius, block inlays, that Vintage White finish and a four-ply tortoise shell pickguard – this offset just oozes 70s vibes. It comes with an alder body, maple neck (Late 70s “C” profile), and a maple fretboard, plus 22 Vintage Tall Frets.
The guitar houses two vintage-style ’70s Jaguar single coils with the typical control layout for lead and rhythm tones and pop-in vintage-style Jaguar tremolo. You can get it at Thomann* for 1,279 euros.
Epiphone 1963 Firebird
I have to admit that it’s a bit of a stretch to call these Firebirds a best value guitar. While it’s stunningly beautiful and comes with two Epiphone Custom Shop Alnico 5 Mini-Humbuckers, it’s not exactly cheap. But if you love the looks of offset guitars, and you’re looking for something other then Fender’s dominance in that area, the Firebird is well worth a look.
This model comes with a mahogany body and a Mahoganty / Walnut set-in neck-trough-body (1963 Firebird neck profile) and an Indian Laurel fretboard. It also includes original style Kluson banjo tuners and a Redesigned Maestro tremolo.
The Epiphone 1963 Firebird is available at Thomann* for 1,555 euros.
Conclusion
While Fender designs dominate offset guitars, these are far from the only options when you’re looking for the best value offset guitars.
As always, the question now is, which offset models did we miss? Which ones would you have not put on the list? Let us know in the comments!
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