About this guide
A stock Les Paul isn’t the first guitar jazz players reach for, but a Les Paul dialed to its neck humbucker gets close, and Gibson’s own semi-hollow and archtop siblings deliver the warmth jazz chord work wants without leaving the family. This roundup covers genuine Les Paul models set up for jazz-friendly neck-pickup tone, plus the closest Gibson/Epiphone relatives players actually recommend when “a Les Paul for jazz” really means “something warm and clean-toned.”
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The picks, in detail
Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s
A USA-built Les Paul whose 490R neck humbucker gives warm, round cleans with enough clarity for jazz chord voicings when rolled back.
- 490R neck / 498T bridge humbuckers
- Mahogany body with maple top
- Rounded ’60s neck profile
- Genuine Gibson USA build and tone
- Neck pickup cleans up well for jazz voicings
- Solid body still lacks the air of a hollow archtop
Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s
The thicker '50s neck profile and same 490R/498T pickup pairing, for players who want a beefier neck under warm neck-pickup jazz tones.
- 490R neck / 498T bridge humbuckers
- Thicker ’50s neck profile
- Mahogany/maple construction
- Full, chunky neck feel some jazz players prefer for chord work
- Same warm neck-pickup tone as the ’60s version
- Thick neck isn’t to every player’s taste
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Custom
The dressed-up Custom model with ebony finish and gold hardware; its neck pickup is repeatedly singled out as warm and articulate for jazz and blues.
- ProBucker neck/bridge humbuckers
- Ebony finish, multi-ply binding
- Gold hardware
- Best value entry to Les Paul-family jazz tone
- Classy stage look favored by jazz players historically
- Not a full Gibson USA build
Epiphone Les Paul Standard ’60s
Epiphone's more affordable take on the '60s Standard, giving the same neck-pickup warmth in a budget-friendly package.
- ProBucker humbuckers
- Mahogany body, maple top
- SlimTaper neck
- Most affordable route to authentic Les Paul jazz-leaning tone
- Widely available
- Pickups are a clear step below Gibson USA units
Gibson ES-335
Gibson's semi-hollow sibling to the Les Paul lineup and the guitar most jazz-leaning Gibson buyers land on — warm, resonant, and less prone to feedback than a full hollow body.
- Semi-hollow maple body with center block
- 490R/498T humbuckers
- Warm, resonant tone
- The classic jazz/blues/rock all-rounder from the same maker
- Center block tames feedback at volume
- Costs more than the solid-body Les Paul Standards
Epiphone ES-339
A smaller-bodied, more affordable semi-hollow with the same warm, resonant jazz-friendly tone as the ES-335, in a Les Paul-sized footprint.
- Semi-hollow body, Les Paul-scale size
- ProBucker humbuckers
- Warm midrange, smooth highs
- Compact body is easier to handle than a full ES-335
- Genuinely jazz-capable tone at a fraction of Gibson pricing
- Not as resonant as the full-size Gibson ES-335
Gibson ES-175
The archetypal full-hollow jazz box from the same Gibson family — warm, round, and bell-like, the guitar Joe Pass and Pat Metheny built careers on.
- Full hollow archtop, maple top/back/sides
- P-90 or humbucker pickup options
- Mahogany neck
- The genuine, historically definitive jazz archtop
- Exceptionally warm, articulate tone
- Full hollow body feeds back more readily at stage volume than a Les Paul or ES-335
Ibanez AS73
A budget semi-hollow alternative players keep even after they can afford a Gibson — a common recommendation for jazz beginners wanting Les Paul/ES-family warmth cheaply.
- Semi-hollow maple/basswood body
- Classic Elite humbuckers
- ART set-in neck
- Excellent value for jazz-leaning tone
- Center-block construction reduces feedback
- Pickups and hardware are a clear step below Gibson/Epiphone
What each one costs
Typical price, cheapest first. Tap a name to jump to that pick and its buy link.
Compare any three
| Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s | Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s | Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Custom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,500-$2,800 | $2,500-$2,800 | $700-$900 |
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Buying tips
- For jazz tone on any of these, play mostly through the neck pickup with the tone knob rolled back — that’s where the warm, round jazz voice lives on a humbucker guitar.
- A semi-hollow (ES-335, ES-339, AS73) or full-hollow (ES-175) body gets closer to a traditional jazz box tone than a solid-body Les Paul, at the cost of more feedback risk at loud stage volumes.
- Flatwound strings push any of these further toward classic jazz tone by damping high-end brightness.
- If budget is the deciding factor, the Epiphone models deliver most of the tonal character of their Gibson counterparts for a fraction of the price.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.