Dude. I don't believe this guy took the lead from EVH.
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Last Updated on January 18, 2024 by Justin Thomas
Offest guitars can be incredibly comfortable to play instruments…like out of this world comfortable! And with versatile humbuckers, oh man, just awesome.
The truth is, while I love offset guitars with humbuckers, I prefer my Mustangs and etc. coming with gnarly P90s (if you love that kind of stuff too, check this article about offset guitars with P90s). But as I said, humbuckers fit an offset guitar really well too. That’s why I was happy to put together this article that gathers the cream of the crop offset guitars with humbuckers together. I also reveal my 3 favorites…and if you have any questions, check the FAQ section of this article or leave a comment.
Let’s get started!
Author: Teemu Suomala
“People’s heads will turn to look again when you play this guitar” is usually part of marketing jargon, but not with this Guild. It’s versatile, it really doesn’t look like any other guitar, but somehow I really dig it. If you see it in a music store, try it out. There’s a high change that you are going to like.
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $149-399
$$= $400-799
$$$= $800-1199
$$$$= $1200-1799
$$$$$= $1800
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| Model | Pickup | Body Style | Price Range | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squier Bullet Mustang HH – Cheapest | 2 x Standard humbuckers | Mustang | $ | Sweetwater* – Thomann* |
| Harley Benton MR-Modern | 2 x Artec AHC-90 Soapbar Alnico-5 humbuckers | Strat-style | $ | Thomann |
| Squier Paranormal Super-Sonic | 2 x Atomic humbuckers | Paranormal Super-Sonic | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Paranormal Toronado – Best Budget | 2 x Atomic humbuckers | Paranormal Toronado | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH – Cheapest Offset Guitar With Active Pickups | 2 x Squier Ceramic Active humbuckers | Jazzmaster | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH | 2 x Atomic humbuckers | Jaguar | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Explorer – Excellent Value | ProBucker-2 (neck) & ProBucker-3 (bridge) humbuckers | Explorer | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Firebird – Excellent Value | Probucker FB720 (neck)- & Probucker FB720 (bridge) humbuckers | Firebird | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic | 2 x Direct Mount Wolfgang Humbucker | Wolfgang Standard | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Sterling By Music Man St. Vincent | 3 x Music Man-designed mini-humbuckers | St. Vincent | $$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
| Fender Player Jazzmaster – Excellent Value | 2 x New Player AlNiCo II humbuckers | Jazzmaster | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guild S-200 T-Bird – Unique Guitar | 2 x LB-1 humbuckers | T-Bird | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Framus D-Series Idolmaker | Seymour Duncan SH-1n (neck) and SH-4b (bridge) humbuckers | Idolmaker | $$$ | Thomann |
| Ibanez Paul Stanley 120 | Seymour Duncan ’59 and Custom 5 humbuckers | Paul Stanley Signature | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Sterling by Music Man Petrucci Majesty 6 ICR | 2 Sterling by Music Man designed humbuckers | Majesty | $$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
| Fender Player Plus Meteora – Best Overall | 2 x Fireball humbuckers | Meteora | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Evh Wolfgang Special Stealth | 2 x EVH Wolfgang humbuckers | Wolfgang Special | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Schecter Ultra-III | 3 x Schecter Diamond Alnico Plus Gold Foil Humbuckers | Ultra-III | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Phoenix | Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic & Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico humbuckers | Phoenix | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender Vintera ’60s Jaguar Modified HH | 2 x Atomic humbuckers | Jaguar | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| BC Rich Mockingbird Legacy ST | DiMarzio D Activator Neck & DiMarzio D Activator Bridge humbuckers | Mockingbird | $$$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
| Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar | DiMarzio PAF DP-103 36th Anniversary Humbucker & DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion Humbucker | Jaguar | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Sparrowhawk | 2 x Seymour Duncan Distortion Gold Cover humbuckers | Sparrowhawk | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster – Best Premium | EMG 81 and EMG 60 Active humbuckers | Jazzmaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson Explorer | Burstbucker 3 and Burstbucker 2 humbuckers | Explorer | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Framus Pro-Series Idolmaker – Stunning Axe | Seymour Duncan SH-1n & SH-4 humbuckers | Idolmaker | $$$$$ | Thomann |
| Gretsch Billy Bo Jupiter | 2 x TV Jones Power’Tron Plus humbuckers | Billy Bo Jupiter | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Music Man Mariposa Galaxy Pearl | 2 x Custom Wound Music Man humbuckers | Mariposa Galaxy | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson 1965 Firebird V Non-Reversed | 2 x Firebird AlNiCo V humbuckers | Firebird Non-Reversed | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
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Why?
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3 Best Offset Guitars With P90s – My Favorites
Why I don’t like Synthetic Bone as a nut material? Based on my experiences it wears off really easily. It’s not completetly terrible and wont’ stop me buying a guitar that I otherwise like, but Synthetic Bone is still my least favorite nut material.
Best Budget – Squier Paranormal Toronado
What I like
- Comfortable C neck shape paired with a shorter scale length (24.75″) make this Toronado really easy to play
- Atomic humbuckers offer really good classic-rock sound
- Surprisingly versatile
- Stable tuning
- Humbuckers handle clean tones really well
- Stunning classy looks
- Easy to handle offset shape
What I don’t like
- The synthetic bone nut is not the best nut material, but for this price it’s OK
- Sometimes lemons slip through the quality check
Who is it for?
If you are after an easy to handle offset guitar that offers versatility, but shines with classic rock tones, the Squier Paranormal Toronado is a solid choice. It offers high value, good quality hardware (except synthetic bone nut), and for sure is fun to play.
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Best Overall – Fender Player Plus Meteora
What I like
- The repertoire of different tones available is stunning (has a coil-split)
- Locking tuners hold the pitch
- Modern C neck paired with 12″ radius and Medium Jumbo frets offers really comfortable feel
- Sounds excellent with everything…cleans, crunch, and distortion
- Pickups have a little gnarly P90 vibe (I love this)
- Usually comes with a gig bag
- Looks awesome
What I don’t like
- Fender should ditch the Synthetic Bone nut from every guitar costing over $500
Who is it for?
If you are after a really cool-looking offset guitar that offers hot tones, stays in tune like a beast thanks to locking tuners, and is a ton of fun to play, Fender Player Plus Meteora is one of the best options. It’s a sure head-turner when it comes to looks and sound, it’s versatile(equipped with a coil-split), and it usually comes with a gig bag. The synthetic bone nut is my least-favorite nut material but if you replace it with TUSQ, NuBone, or real bone nut, this Meteora gets even better!
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Best Premium – Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
What I like
- 12″-16″ compound radius makes riffing near the nut and shredding near the body smooth
- EMG 60 & EMG 81 pickups ensure mean tones
- Comfortable & easy to play
- Locking tuners, stays in tune like a beast
- Great all-around quality
- Usually comes with a hardshell case
- Premium feel
What I don’t like
- Synthetic Bone in a $2k guitar? I would replace that ASAP.
- Expensive
- Same pickups can be found in a lot cheaper guitars
Who is it for?
This Fender has a premium feel to it. Its pickups do sound hot and heavy. It has a really smooth playability with a modern C neck and a compound radius. It’s a premium instrument for sure. But… it has a synthetic bone nut. I even prefer a plastic one over those. This doesn’t ruin the guitar, and it still sounds and feels good. But I would change that nut ASAP for a Bone or Tusq one. This improves the tone and sustain. Still, this guitar has that spark for me, it’s so smooth playing and mean sounding. That’s why it’s my best premium pick.
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FAQ
What Is An Offset Guitar?
Offset guitars have asymmetrical body shapes. Typically offset guitars have an asymmetrical shape from the cutaways, to the waist, to the bottom end of the guitar’s body.
Asymmetrical= having two sides or halves that are not the same : not symmetrical
Symmetrical=having, involving, or exhibiting symmetry
Usually double-cut guitars, where the “horns” and cutaways have different sizes, are not enough to make the guitar an offset guitar.
Are Offset Guitars Easier to Play?
Offset guitars can be easier to play, but there is no such rule that offset guitars are always easier to play for everyone. The reality is that you have to test offset guitars to find out if the playability fits you.
But here’s something that can also help you to decide…The pros and cons of the playability of the offset guitars below!
Pros
- Most offset guitars have shorter scale length which reduces string tension and makes strings easier to press down.
- Offset shape just fits some players(you have to test to find out).
- Some offset guitars have a smaller body size that fits especially smaller players really well.
Cons
- Offest shapes can feel alien to people used to playing guitars with more symmetrical bodies.
- Short scale length and reduced string tension don’t fit everyone(again, you have to test to find out).
Is A Stratocaster An Offset Guitar?
Even though Stratocasters have different-sized “horns” and cutaways, the body is otherwise really symmetrical from the waist to the bottom of the body. This is why Stratocaster is not considered to be an offset guitar.
Is The Gibson Explorer An Offset Guitar?
Gibson Explorer has an asymmetrical body shape from the top to the bottom. That’s why it’s considered to be an offset guitar.
Is The Gibson Firebird An Offset Guitar?
As the photo above reveals, Gibson Firebird has an asymmetrical body shape from the top to the bottom. So the Firebird is an offset guitar.
Typical Offset and Non-Offset Guitar Shapes
Offset
- Explorer
- Firebird
- Jazzmaster
- Jagstang
- Mustang
- Jaguar
Non-Offset
- Stratocaster
- Les-Paul
- Telecaster
- SG
- Flying V
- ES-330
Conclusion
Wow! What spectacular guitars we had here! Especially that Fender Player Plus Meteora…instant crush. And that Guild T-Bird for sure is impossible to forget too… Let me know in the comments what guitar made the strongest impression on you.
I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.
Now go, my son, and Rock!
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