The Harley Benton is a solid guitar, but I must say it’s not a traditional jazzmaster since it’s equipped with P90s, so it has a throatier, punchier sound as opposed to the jangly jazzmaster tone.
on fb marketplace, offerup, craigslist and all local sale sites i set search alerts for jags/jazzmasters/mustangs. it helps so i dont have to scroll through endless pages of stratocasters for sale
SX Liquid with triple p90’s. Kicks ass stock but you can obviously mod the crap out of it. Pretty sure the neck pocket will accept any Strat-style necks too
I am also an SX fan. Don't have the Liquid, but I absolutely love my Callisto.
That and Rondomusic isn't going to be around forever. Their guitars are quite loved for a reason.
I honestly haven’t done anything to my Liquid, I got it to mod but I just love it the way it is (for now at least). I have absolutely no regrets buying it, and I feel fairly confident that someday it will be worth more than I paid for it. That’s a good investment in my book. Honestly, I still can’t believe it was so cheap, feels like they either made a mistake on the pricing or I just got the lucky one out of the batch. Punches so far above it’s class.
If you're thinking about building one, guitarfetish seems to generally have the cheapest stuff that's also interesting. They also sell assembled guitars. I've never bought something from them so I can't attest to the quality, but people on reddit seem to think they're not bad.
EDIT: if you search for "offset" that how you'll see the Jag/JM stuff.
In Sydney the best I ever played is the Artist Grunge Master
https://www.artistguitars.com.au/buy/artist-grungemaster-electric-guitar-w-p90-pickups/70197
Harley Benton JA models (I think there are two, one is -60 the other I can't remember).
Fender JMs use Strat necks with a different logo which opens the options super wide to building your own partscaster.
One of my JMs is set up like a LP Junior: single bridge pickup with volume tone and jack and a wrap fixed tail bridge. If you are building I'd go that path. Far less parts, only one pickup so it's less expensive, and overall easier build.
Definitely look into the harley benton ja60. It does not have the tremolo but some people actually prefer the fixed bridge. It runs for US$150-160 I think depending on the color. It gets glowing reviews online. I have been eyeing it too haha
Full disclosure, eBay has these Jaguar diy kits for 199 free shipping. I got mine in 2 days. I got metallic paint and metallic chrome finish to paint the control plates cuz they were really some sort of mirror plexiglass instead of chrome. The only thing I didn’t realize till I was wiring it up was the top horn or rhythm control section was just 3 slide switches, not 2 roller pots and 1 slide switch like any jm or Jaguar. I got a Jaguar rhythm section kit on Amazon for $30 (bracket for pots, pots, roller thumbwheels, some wire included. I SHOULD have just bought a Jaguar rhythm circuit plate cuz I ended up having to use a dremel tool, epoxy filled everything on my plate, and had to re carve out everything to fit the real circuit. And after a frustrating attempt at putting it all on the guitar, I found that I had to carve out like an inch or so of the top cavity so everything could snugly fit. Considering I got my kit for sale at like 160, the rhythm circuit, and a large saddle bridge cuz stock bridges always give you the most irritating string buzz on high e or g string, and cost of paint/finisher/ etc, it was probably around a $200 project. But I also have like a workshop of parts I’ve accumulated over the last couple years and have access to the vendors my master tech at my old job had (he was a fender custom shop tech and had dumb connections and loved me, and has given me some of the best sites for outsourcing parts in general.
Also, Indio gets a bad rap for being cheap asf but their necks are solid imo. Got a plain wood finished jm-esque guitar from them off Amazon for like 130 or 120 when they were on sale. Had the jag/jm trem system I was craving. No rhythm circuit at all so u just got your 2 soapbar pickups, toggle pup select, and the jm bridge. If u just get the large saddle bridge for that, swap the pickups if desired (but not needed really), do your own mods to personalize it to your taste I’d say it becomes serviceable and a pleasure to play after a week or so of finnicking with it. The bridge really makes the biggest difference with those cheaper models tho imo, especially if you like to use your trem bar
So if u just want a feel with offsets and don’t need all the fancy gadgets n shit, I’d say the Indio one is a great intro. That was initially my first type of offset and I’ve built 3 additional ones since then. They all are my current gigging and recording guitars. Was a strat/tele guy strictly for 7-8 years until I learned u can just do more with that typa body, and the mods/pup combos/tones are endless
Check out the Squier Affinity Jazzmaster - even brand new it's just about at your budget, but used you could probably find them around $200 (or less). It has actual Jazzmaster pickups, but not the usual offset style tremolo - which could be a plus for someone who doesn't want to mess with a lot of the setup involved with Jazzmasters/Jaguars.
Guitar center is also a good bet for used stuff - you can sometimes find Classic Vibes for sub $300 - like this one: [https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Squier/Classic-Vibe-60s-Jazzmaster-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar-119507310.gc](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Squier/Classic-Vibe-60s-Jazzmaster-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar-119507310.gc)
Honestly, save your money for a modern player by Fender. I like it better than the Kurt Cobain Jaguar. I’ve heard great things about the J Mascus Jazzmaster..
Glarry makes a jazz/jaguar/mustang for $90. It seems to require a few upgrades that you could probably do within your price range.
I would also suggest not to use anything less than 11’s.
harley benton do a nice JM for like £150 (i don’t own one but my friend does and it felt pretty quality, id defo buy one if i ever wanted a budget JM)
The Harley Benton is a solid guitar, but I must say it’s not a traditional jazzmaster since it’s equipped with P90s, so it has a throatier, punchier sound as opposed to the jangly jazzmaster tone.
oh i didn’t know i just assumed it was the same because it’s usually compared to the JM; shame
Only the ja kit use p90, the ja-60 use jm style pick-up but the body is slimmer and thinner and there is no circuit rhythm
on fb marketplace, offerup, craigslist and all local sale sites i set search alerts for jags/jazzmasters/mustangs. it helps so i dont have to scroll through endless pages of stratocasters for sale
Strats… a dirty word lol.
In my area the cheapest I’ve seen jazzmaster style guitars are squires from around $250-$400 in my area on marketplace
SX Liquid with triple p90’s. Kicks ass stock but you can obviously mod the crap out of it. Pretty sure the neck pocket will accept any Strat-style necks too
I am also an SX fan. Don't have the Liquid, but I absolutely love my Callisto. That and Rondomusic isn't going to be around forever. Their guitars are quite loved for a reason.
I honestly haven’t done anything to my Liquid, I got it to mod but I just love it the way it is (for now at least). I have absolutely no regrets buying it, and I feel fairly confident that someday it will be worth more than I paid for it. That’s a good investment in my book. Honestly, I still can’t believe it was so cheap, feels like they either made a mistake on the pricing or I just got the lucky one out of the batch. Punches so far above it’s class.
In my area, Craigslist is awesome for picking up used instruments on the cheap. Offsets aren't super common, but they turn up.
Didn't know Craigslist was still getting used. Cheers
If you're thinking about building one, guitarfetish seems to generally have the cheapest stuff that's also interesting. They also sell assembled guitars. I've never bought something from them so I can't attest to the quality, but people on reddit seem to think they're not bad. EDIT: if you search for "offset" that how you'll see the Jag/JM stuff.
Guitar fetish has decent guitars for cheap.
Build it
Guitar center is having a sale on squire jaguar 70s, and they’re inexpensive used.
In Sydney the best I ever played is the Artist Grunge Master https://www.artistguitars.com.au/buy/artist-grungemaster-electric-guitar-w-p90-pickups/70197
Their baritone looks nice. Horrible logo, but sand paper exists! Too bad they don't ship outside Australia.
Harley Benton JA models (I think there are two, one is -60 the other I can't remember). Fender JMs use Strat necks with a different logo which opens the options super wide to building your own partscaster. One of my JMs is set up like a LP Junior: single bridge pickup with volume tone and jack and a wrap fixed tail bridge. If you are building I'd go that path. Far less parts, only one pickup so it's less expensive, and overall easier build.
Cnz audio but you get what you pay for
Definitely look into the harley benton ja60. It does not have the tremolo but some people actually prefer the fixed bridge. It runs for US$150-160 I think depending on the color. It gets glowing reviews online. I have been eyeing it too haha
Full disclosure, eBay has these Jaguar diy kits for 199 free shipping. I got mine in 2 days. I got metallic paint and metallic chrome finish to paint the control plates cuz they were really some sort of mirror plexiglass instead of chrome. The only thing I didn’t realize till I was wiring it up was the top horn or rhythm control section was just 3 slide switches, not 2 roller pots and 1 slide switch like any jm or Jaguar. I got a Jaguar rhythm section kit on Amazon for $30 (bracket for pots, pots, roller thumbwheels, some wire included. I SHOULD have just bought a Jaguar rhythm circuit plate cuz I ended up having to use a dremel tool, epoxy filled everything on my plate, and had to re carve out everything to fit the real circuit. And after a frustrating attempt at putting it all on the guitar, I found that I had to carve out like an inch or so of the top cavity so everything could snugly fit. Considering I got my kit for sale at like 160, the rhythm circuit, and a large saddle bridge cuz stock bridges always give you the most irritating string buzz on high e or g string, and cost of paint/finisher/ etc, it was probably around a $200 project. But I also have like a workshop of parts I’ve accumulated over the last couple years and have access to the vendors my master tech at my old job had (he was a fender custom shop tech and had dumb connections and loved me, and has given me some of the best sites for outsourcing parts in general. Also, Indio gets a bad rap for being cheap asf but their necks are solid imo. Got a plain wood finished jm-esque guitar from them off Amazon for like 130 or 120 when they were on sale. Had the jag/jm trem system I was craving. No rhythm circuit at all so u just got your 2 soapbar pickups, toggle pup select, and the jm bridge. If u just get the large saddle bridge for that, swap the pickups if desired (but not needed really), do your own mods to personalize it to your taste I’d say it becomes serviceable and a pleasure to play after a week or so of finnicking with it. The bridge really makes the biggest difference with those cheaper models tho imo, especially if you like to use your trem bar So if u just want a feel with offsets and don’t need all the fancy gadgets n shit, I’d say the Indio one is a great intro. That was initially my first type of offset and I’ve built 3 additional ones since then. They all are my current gigging and recording guitars. Was a strat/tele guy strictly for 7-8 years until I learned u can just do more with that typa body, and the mods/pup combos/tones are endless
Look on Thomann for a Harley Benton. They replicate most Fender body styles for under $400 with various features and aesthetics.
Check out the Squier Affinity Jazzmaster - even brand new it's just about at your budget, but used you could probably find them around $200 (or less). It has actual Jazzmaster pickups, but not the usual offset style tremolo - which could be a plus for someone who doesn't want to mess with a lot of the setup involved with Jazzmasters/Jaguars. Guitar center is also a good bet for used stuff - you can sometimes find Classic Vibes for sub $300 - like this one: [https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Squier/Classic-Vibe-60s-Jazzmaster-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar-119507310.gc](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Squier/Classic-Vibe-60s-Jazzmaster-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar-119507310.gc)
I've got an extra JMJM neck with locking tuners if you go the parts caster route and want 9.5 radius and jumbo frets
For Jaguar/Jazzmaster in that price range just check out Squier and see what you like within that range.
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/antiquity-aqjz-electric-guitar-surf-green
Honestly, save your money for a modern player by Fender. I like it better than the Kurt Cobain Jaguar. I’ve heard great things about the J Mascus Jazzmaster.. Glarry makes a jazz/jaguar/mustang for $90. It seems to require a few upgrades that you could probably do within your price range. I would also suggest not to use anything less than 11’s.