4 Best Acoustic Guitars for Jazz (warm tone)

Parent article: Best Intermediate Acoustic Guitar

A lot of people default to an electric guitar like a Fender Stratocaster for their jazz playing or gigging. While this isn't a bad option, most jazz players use an acoustic-electric hybrid, often with some form of pickup or electronic system.

In this regard, jazz is definitely not limited to electric guitars, but is instead a congealing of the two styles, often better served by the warmth and thickness of an acoustic instrument.

In this section, I'll go over a few of the best acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars for a jazz-focused playing style.

Best Acoustic Guitars for Jazz (top 4 picks)

1. Taylor T5z Classic

The Taylor T5Z is a feature-rich Mahogany acoustic with two pickups and an electric-style control scheme.

With the profile and electronics of an electric guitar, you have an acoustic that's extremely lead-friendly, ideal for jazz players that do a lot of melodic improv while also needing an acoustic for smooth chord progressions.

Warn tones provide a distinctly dark and jazz-friendly sound, though with the controls and slimmed body style it can get really bright. We'd recommend adding an external preamp like the LR Baggs Venue DI or something that will allow you to take advantage of the wide-ranging tone capabilities of the T5Z.

IDEAL FOR: Jazz styles, recording, blues, small pub performances

2. Godin A6

This gives the A6 a lot of appeal to those who are currently playing jazz gigs with an electric guitar but want to transition to an acoustic.

The A6 gives you the feel and tone of an electric in the form of a chambered acoustic body.

It's a good balance of the two worlds.

IDEAL FOR: Acoustic-focused jazz styles, Cedar fans, recording, and performing

3. Gretsch G100CE

Made specifically for jazz players and tones, the Gretsch G100CE is affordable by archtop standards, though it does limit you to only laminate construction. However, the tone it produces is distinctly warm and sounds more "jazz" than anything else on this list.

These hollowbody acoustic/electric hybrids are some of the most common jazz guitars, though would still technically be considered acoustic, given the body design and natural resonance.

Like the A6, you can get some electric-sounding breakup from the humbucker.

You've also have plenty of natural resonance without plugging in.

The only thing we don't like is that guitars like this can - in certain situations - be difficult to hold and somewhat uncomfortable, especially for smaller players.

IDEAL FOR: Good balance between acoustic and electric tones, extremely warm and pleasing tone

4. Blueridge BR-341 Parlor Acoustic Guitar

Ideal for live scenarios where more comfort is needed, the BR-341 is smaller than most acoustic jazz models.

We like it for its strong tone profile and how easy it is to hold. It's especially convenient for smaller players, or those with should or elbow pain, particularly if you prefer to play sitting down.

As a fairly normal-sized 5'11 man, I like these smaller parlor guitars for the comfort factor, specifically.

The only drawback is that you'd have to add your own pickup, if needed, as this model doesn't ship with any onboard electronics.

IDEAL FOR: Those not worried about electronics, fans of solid tonewood, mic'ing recording, performing

How to Choose

What should you be thinking about as you shop for a jazz acoustic guitar? Here's what we would recommend taking note of:

Your Priorities

What is it that you want to spend money on when you get this guitar? Do you care most about the tonewood quality, the electronics, or perhaps something else? Make a note of what matters most to you and what you want to prioritize.

More Acoustic VS More Electric

Of the four acoustic guitars we've recommended in this list, two of them lean more acoustic while the other two lean more electric. Think about whether you want your acoustic guitar to feel more like an acoustic or an electric.

Better off with a solid body electric?

Another thing to consider is whether you'd be better off with a solid body electric guitar instead of an acoustic. A lot of jazz players use solid body electrics, so it shouldn't be totally discounted unless you also want some of the benefit of a more traditionally acoustic instrument.

Chords or Melody

You should also think about whether you'll be using this chord to play primarily chords or picking melody (lead guitar). The distinction between rhythm and lead playing styles is going to be a significant factor in determining what type of guitar you're most comfortable with. Jazz can have a lot of both playing styles, so it can be helpful to target an acoustic/electric hybrid that's good at handling both.

Best Practices for Jazz Gigs with an Acoustic

If you're in a jazz group that plays live, here are a few suggestions for making things work with your new acoustic.

Plug Into an Amp

Even if your acoustic has an onboard preamp, having some kind of an external preamp, or even an acoustic amplifier, is a good idea. It'll give you a lot more control over your tone and likely a balanced output to connect to your PA system.

Use a Soundhole Cover (if applicable)

If your acoustic has a traditional soundhole like the Blueridge model, we'd recommend getting a soundhole cover for playing live, especially if you're plugging into some kind of amplifier. It'll help prevent feedback and give you a more mellow tone.

Features that Matter in a Jazz Acoustic

To finish up, we'll look at some of the features that matter most in this type of acoustic guitar and the jazz genre. While these features are important for buying any type of acoustic, they're uniquely prevalent for jazz players.

Electronics

The tone tone and volume control and pickup systems are an important feature to keep an eye on, as it's likely going to be a big part of your tone since jazz acoustics are often played plugged in as opposed to mic'd. 

Tone Profile

How does the guitar sound? Jazz should have a warmth and mellow tone that you can't get out of any acoustic guitar. That's why we like the hollowbody design with an electronics system that lets you tweak the sound to be a little darker and moodier. 

Body Design

We're looking for a hollowbody acoustic that has a cutaway, allowing you to get to higher notes, and perhaps even a slimmer profile for better playability when sitting down.

Neck Design

Ideal, your acoustic guitar's neck would be thinner for allowing you to play faster, especially in regards to lead and bluesy improv.

Process for Including Each Jazz-Friendly Acoustic Guitar

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