Whether you’re a surfer, an alt-rocker, or a tonal wayfarer simply after a bold, new sound to add to your sonic toolbox, there’s no denying the idiosyncratic style and comfortable feel of an offset-waist guitar. But before we dive into our list of outstanding offsets, let’s begin by answering a simple question: Just what is an “offset” guitar?
An offset guitar is a guitar whose two innermost points of the waist sit at an angle, as opposed to the purely symmetrical nature of something like the Telecaster’s or Les Paul’s waist. And while that’s the purest, most literal definition, there’s a bit more to the story.
Because so many of the original offset guitars from the vintage era sported consistent specs — two single-coil pickups, a tremolo unit, unique wiring schemes, and so on — those elements have become a large part of what makes an offset guitar an offset guitar. Are they a required part of the offset formula? No way — any guitar with a slanted waist is, by definition, an offset guitar. Still, you’ll often find those secondary features on guitars marketed as offsets, and many offset fanatics are going to expect them on offsets of the “vintage-inspired” variety. With the ground rules set, let’s jump into our list of the best offset guitars in 2024!
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- G&L CLF Research Doheny V12 Electric Guitar
- Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster
- Reverend Ron Asheton Jetstream 390 Electric Guitar
- Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII 12-string Electric Guitar
- Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
- Ibanez Ichika Signature ICHI00 Talman Electric Guitar
- Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster
- Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Electric Guitar
- Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One Electric Guitar
- Harmony Silhouette Electric Guitar
- Guild Surfliner Deluxe Electric Guitar
- D’Angelico Deluxe Bob Weir Bedford
G&L CLF Research Doheny V12 Electric Guitar
Leo Fender’s final say on the offset guitar
Like most of the instruments in the G&L stable, the G&L CLF Research Doheny V12 electric guitar represents Leo Fender’s final say on a classic six-string design from his past. This thoroughly modern take on the vintage-offset formula boasts a classic-looking ash body coupled with two ultra-versatile MFD humbuckers and a flexible array of tone-shaping switches. You also get a fast-playing Modern Classic maple-on-maple neck, an expressive Dual-Fulcrum vibrato unit, and rock-solid, sealed-back tuners. Simply put, the G&L CLF Research Doheny V12 is a superb choice for the guitarist seeking a thoroughly 21st-century six-string with retro-offset style.
Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster
Capture the sound of a Jazzmaster legend
The Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster is a dependable six-string designed by Dinosaur Jr. mastermind J Mascis — an offset-guitar hero if there ever was one! This guitar combines a decidedly vintage-inspired look (note the handsome gold anodized-aluminum pickguard) with performance-minded specs handpicked by J. What makes it unique? A repositioned tremolo, an Adjusto-matic bridge, and jumbo-size frets provide this Jazzmaster with rock-ready playability that’s far more conducive to J’s searing, fuzz-drenched lead tone than your typical vintage-correct offset. A slightly hotter and fuller-sounding set of Jazzmaster single-coils completes the package, all adding up to a seriously playable six-string worthy of an offset-guitar legend.
Reverend Ron Asheton Jetstream 390 Electric Guitar
Raw power in offset form
The Reverend Ron Asheton Jetstream 390 electric guitar is a snarling tribute to the Reverend championed by the late, great Ron Asheton of the Stooges. This aggressive offset’s foundation is built upon a lightweight slab of korina and topped with a triple-lightning-bolt decal favored by Ron. Next, the roasted maple neck’s rosewood fingerboard and full-feeling Medium Oval profile form a firm launchpad for bluesy punk-rock firepower. Factor in the trio of high-octane Reverend 9A5 single-coil pickups, the Wilkinson WVS50 IIK tremolo, and the pin-lock tuners, and the Reverend Ron Asheton Jetstream 390 serves up punk-rock attitude with top-class tone and performance.
Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII 12-string Electric Guitar
A jangly 12-string with an offset edge
No guitar collection is complete without the chiming sound of a top-tier 12-string such as the Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII 12-string electric guitar. Essentially a hardtail Jazzmaster with six extra strings, this guitar features a lightweight poplar body equipped with two Fender-designed Jazzmaster pickups. The maple neck sports heavy-duty graphite reinforcement and a comfortable “C” shape, and it’s all topped off with a sleek laurel fingerboard. You also get a unique hybrid string-through/top-load bridge with individually adjustable saddles for superior intonation across all 12 strings.
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
A modded Jazzmaster masterpiece
From his two-decade tenure in Queens of the Stone Age to his extensive array of side projects, Troy Van Leeuwen’s massive musical range requires an equally versatile instrument. His guitar of choice? The mighty Fender Jazzmaster, and the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster represents his ultimate offset. This guitar’s bones are largely based on the elegant Jazzmasters of the mid-1960s, boasting a luxurious C-shaped maple neck and an eye-catching bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays. The alder body’s dual American Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster pickups bring all the crisp treble and springy bass you’d expect from an old-school Jazzmaster, and a traditional Jazzmaster tremolo unit sets it all off with an expressive edge.
Ibanez Ichika Signature ICHI00 Talman Electric Guitar
Primed for high-speed performance
Modern six-string maestro Ichika Nito’s technique-heavy style necessitates a six-string with the highest level of performance — a quality that the Ibanez Ichika Signature ICHI00 electric guitar delivers in spades. Based on Ibanez’s traditional Talman style, this instrument’s nyatoh body comes equipped with a trio of ICHI-S single-coil pickups, voiced to excel with Ichika’s clean, precise, and lightning-fast sound. The maple neck is carved into Ibanez’s speedy Wizard C shape for swift navigation of the rosewood fingerboard. It’s all finished off with a world-class hardware configuration, including an Ibanez T106 tremolo bridge and Gotoh MG-T locking tuners.
Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster
A Jazzmaster for the modern guitarist
Hunting for a more modern spin on the classic Jazzmaster formula? The Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster fits the bill perfectly. From the fast-feeling Modern D maple neck to the compound-radius rosewood fingerboard, this Jazzmaster is primed for modern performance! It sports an equally forward-thinking electronics section, thanks to the dual Ultra Noiseless Vintage Jazzmaster pickups and series/parallel switching options. Even the classic alder body boasts enhanced body contours and a tapered neck heel for superior upper-fret access. Finished off with a traditional Jazzmaster floating tremolo and locking tuners, the American Ultra Jazzmaster takes Fender’s oldest offset formula straight into the 21st century.
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Electric Guitar
Your ticket to six-string Nirvana
If there’s a single guitar responsible for bringing offset guitars back into the mainstream, then it’s arguably Kurt Cobain of Nirvana’s Fender Jaguar. The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar electric guitar replicates Kurt’s modded Jag to a tee, boasting a fearsome pair of DiMarzio humbuckers that perfectly capture the raw, ripping tone of ’90s grunge guitar. A rich, resonant alder body features Kurt’s TOM-style bridge mod and electronics alterations — electrical-tape covering not included! It’s all topped off with a charming CBS-style bound rosewood fingerboard on a Modern C maple neck.
Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One Electric Guitar
A smashing addition to your six-string stable
As one of the most prominent alt-rock icons of the 1990s, it’s no surprise that Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins harbors a soft spot for offsets — that’s where the Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One electric guitar comes in. A double-cut alder body kicks it all off, complemented by a sturdy, stable, roasted maple neck and fingerboard in a comfortable Medium Oval profile. Dual Railhammer Billy Corgan Z-One pickups dish out a buzz-saw bite of clear humbucker tones, equally capable of capturing the tone of Billy’s soaring solos and his lush, clean rhythm sounds. Finally, this guitar boldly brandishes a string-through-body hardtail bridge to boost sustain and enhance setup stability.
Harmony Silhouette Electric Guitar
Classic Harmony style elevated to a whole new level
Crafted in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Harmony Silhouette electric guitar represents a premium re-imagining of the Harmony guitars of yesteryear. This aerodynamic offset’s alder body packs two fiery gold-foil Alnico III mini humbuckers under the hood along with a Bigsby B5 vibrato unit for wavy pitch-bending possibilities. On the opposite end, a classic C-shaped maple neck grants sleek playability across the breadth of the 12-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard’s 22 medium-jumbo frets. Wrap it up with a thin nitrocellulose finish, and the Harmony Silhouette blends its vintage heritage with all the best of modern playability and performance.
Guild Surfliner Deluxe Electric Guitar
Guild’s modern spin on the golden-age offset guitar
From splashy surf rock to swirling shoegaze, the Guild Surfliner Deluxe electric guitar does it all in outstanding offset style. It all starts with a heavily contoured poplar body, home to a two-piece vibrato system that’s sure to feel familiar to any offset fanatic. An exceptionally versatile HSS trio of pickups supercharges this vintage-inspired instrument with a wealth of sonic voicings from hard-edged humbucker grit to in-between quack. Last, a classic C-shaped maple neck adorned with a glassy rosewood fingerboard, beautiful binding, and eye-catching block inlays seals the deal. All in all, the Guild Surfliner Deluxe is the ideal marriage of traditional offset aesthetics and flexible HSS firepower.
D’Angelico Deluxe Bob Weir Bedford
Designed by legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir
Finally, we reach the D’Angelico Deluxe Bob Weir Bedford, a high-class offset designed by legendary Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. A trio of boutique Seymour Duncan and Lollar pickups emboldens the Deluxe Bob Weir Bedford with a singing tone, offering coil splits for the bridge- and neck-position stacked P-90s. The guitar is bookended by rock-solid Grover locking tuners and an expressive Wilkinson six-point tremolo to provide stage-ready stability. Cap it off with a sustain-rich maple/walnut set-through neck and a 14-inch-radius pau ferro fingerboard, and the D’Angelico Deluxe Bob Weir Bedford is ready to take on everything from Dead-style jams to raw rock tones and beyond.
Shop Sweetwater’s Outstanding Selection of Offset Guitars
From classic vintage-spec Jazzmasters and Jaguars to thoroughly modern six-string creations, Sweetwater’s selection of offsets is nearly endless! If you’re looking to add the distinctive sounds and character-filled attitude of an offset guitar to your collection, then make sure to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 for expert advice on choosing your next axe — offset or otherwise!
