Best offset guitars: Unique designs with complementary tones

Originally a niche appeal, offset guitars offer some out-of-the-box unique looks and sounds. As an alternative to more traditional double and single-cut bodies like T-style guitars, they have found their way into all styles of music – from pop to country to metal.

There may come a time that you want to ditch the safety of symmetrical guitars and step into the unknown.

Best offset guitar overall: Gibson Custom Explorer

The Explorer is one of the most identifiable offset guitar types in history. The design has gone through many iterations throughout the decades, and this model brings the best of all.

It sports the tonewoods ubiquitous with Gibson guitars like mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. Burstbucker pickups give some nice bite to the warm, round sound of the guitar.

If you’re looking for traditional, why not go with a classic?

Best offset guitar for heavy music: Schecter E-1 Apocalypse

Schecter is well-known for making some of the best guitars for playing heavy music, and their foray into the world of offsets is no exception.

The unique combination of tonewoods lay the tonal base, like a swamp ash body, maple neck, and ebony fingerboard. This makes for the ideal modern metal sound – bright and forward.

The duel Apocalypse VI humbuckers provide searing overdrive tones with coil splitting for single coil sounds. The three-way pickup switching is familiar with just master volume and tone controls.

It has some appointments you would be lucky to find in even higher end models, like GraphTeq nut, TonePros bridge, and locking tuners.

Best high end offset guitar: Gibson Firebird Custom

The Firebird is one of Gibson’s all-time most creations and this Custom model pays homage to the spirit of it. It’s built with Gibson’s tried-and-true combo of mahogany body and neck with comfortable C shape and comes with an environmentally-friendly Richlite fretboard.

CTS pots control the dual humbucker pickups that offer independent tone and volume controls. It’s sleek, sexy, and a perfect blend of the tones of yesterday and today.

Best offset guitar under $1,000: Epiphone Firebird

A mini humbucker equipped Firebird is one of the coolest offset designs. This model from Epiphone packed in all of the features from the original 1963 design.

This includes a slim taper C-neck, mahogany body and neck-thru design for increased sustain. The ProBucker mini humbucker pickups create tones from the same proportions from the original mini humbuckers built in Michigan all those decades ago.

It doesn’t exactly push any boundaries, but it’s damn good at what it does.

Most unique offset guitar: Fender Player Duo-Sonic

In 1956 Fender unveiled a novel body shape. Aimed at students, the Duo-Sonic has some shared aesthetics with the Stratocaster. The smaller (slightly) scale length and neck provide a fresh feel and sound to familiar Fender tones.

It comes in different variations of neck tonewoods and pickup configurations as well, including SS and HS. It stays simple with a single volume and tone control and three-way pickup selector.

This one makes for a great starter guitar and/or a unique, arty complement to your arsenal.

Best non-reverse offset guitar: Gibson Custom 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird V

Offset guitars have designs meant to push boundaries, and this one proudly carries on that tradition. The biggest thing that sets this model apart from “traditional” Firebirds is the non-reverse body.

The alnico V mini humbucker pickups bring the punch and clarity expected from a Gibson Firebird. Gibson’s Custom Shop didn’t hold anything back as far as manufacturing goes. It comes with or without a Maestro Vibrola tailpiece and the neck plays fast.

One of the biggest complaints guitarists have with Firebirds is that they can be neck heavy and thus subject to neck dive. It’s pricey, but it sounds great and makes a unique addition to any guitar collection.

Most esoteric offset guitar: Guild S-200 T-Bird

Perhaps Guild’s most unique idea in their entire lineup, the original T-Bird run was from 1964-1968. The S-200 resurrects it with period correct details and a really unique control set.

The mahogany body and vintage C-shape mahogany neck provide warm tone with solid sustain, and the Guild Little Bucker pickups fall somewhere between the weight of humbuckers and the spank of single-coils.

Best budget offset guitar: Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Jazzmaster

The Classic Vibe series offers affordable options to some of the most favorite designs that Fender has come out with. The 60’s Jazzmaster includes everything from the originals with improved modern manufacturing.

Appointments include a C-shape neck with 9.5” profile, barrel saddles and floating bridge. It’s got a unique combination of tonewoods too, with a poplar body and Indian laurel fingerboard.

Dual Fender designed Alnico single-coil pickups give you clean chime, but make no mistake – they can get dirty.

It packs in a lot of value, and this convincing replica of one of Fender’s most popular designs is a great way to bring the 1960’s into the 21^st century.

Most versatile offset guitar: Fender Vintera ‘60s Jaguar Modified HH

Much like the Squier Classic Vibe line, the Vintera collection from Fender brings the best of yesterday into tomorrow. This 60s Jaguar model features aggressive Atomic humbuckers that can be coil split, and there are a number of slider switches to create unique sounds.

The alder body is a complement to the maple neck and fretboard, and together they provide bright, snappy tones with a lot of attack. The vintage floating, locking tremolo lets you bend to your heart’s content, Adjust-o-matic bridge fine tunes the intonation.

FAQ

What is an offset guitar?

They’re defined by an asymmetrical body shape, where one side of the guitar is extended compared to the other. The design, originally introduced in the 1950s, was intended to make the guitar more comfortable when playing sitting down. Offset guitars are known for their retro-modern look and unique sound.

Do offset guitars have a unique sound?

Absolutely! Offset guitars typically have a bright, jangly tone with pronounced midrange and a smooth low end. The unique circuitry of many offsets allows players to explore a wide range of tones.

Why is it common for alternative and indie rock bands use offset guitars?

The distinctive look and sound of offset guitars attracts artists in the indie, alternative, and post-punk scenes going back to the 1980s. Their tonal characteristics and comfort make them ideal for players in genres that value both unique aesthetics and diverse sounds.

What should I look for when choosing an offset guitar?

When choosing an offset guitar, consider factors like body size and weight for comfort, pickup configuration for tonal versatility, bridge and tremolo type for tuning stability, and build quality.

Think about the genres you play most and whether you want brighter, jangly tones or something warmer and thicker. The tonewoods, neck shape, and scale length also influence playability.