JET Guitars launched in 2020 and having, er, flown under the radar for its first few years is now quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names in the budget guitar market.
Indeed, throw a pick at your YouTube homepage, and we guarantee you’ll hit a ‘You won’t believe how much this guitar costs…’ clip raving about a sub-£200 JET guitar.
While the entry-level sector is notoriously packed, JET is starting to make some serious noise. Of course, the world has no shortage of Asian-made S- and T-style electric guitar builds, so what is the firm doing to get people talking?
The answer is straightforward: JET’s focus is on keeping prices low while packing its builds with player-friendly features that make them feel expensive.
In particular, players rave about the necks. All of JET’s builds feature an extremely comfortable modern C profile rendered in roasted Canadian maple. This is further complemented by a sculpted neck heel – enabling generous access to the upper frets.
These kind of ergonomic tweaks used to be the preserve of custom luthiers, but here they’re standard, from the entry-level 300 Series up – and in some cases we’re talking about instruments that cost less than your average power bill.
Yes, the days of the beginner baseball bat neck and punishingly high action are (fortunately) long gone, but there’s a sense that JET has taken things one step further: offering a premium feel that will please everyone from hardened fretboard warriors to newbies looking for a friendly way in.
Elsewhere, you get bone nuts, relic’d finishes and, as you scale up the ranges, upgraded Wilkinson hardware and Alnico V pickups. There’s a huge range of options available, too.
For instance, if you’ve seen a JET guitar demo, it likely featured the JS-400 (£199), The S-style seems to be forming a rabid YouTube sub-culture in its own right as a (not so) secret bargain build and mod platform. It offers a vibey HSS basswood body and maple neck, while a flexible trio of ceramic pickups punch way above their weight. Plus there’s a heap of colors and finish options to choose from, too.
Move up to the JS-700 series (£355) and you’re in shred-friendly territory, with a Wilkinson double locking Tremolo and an HS configuration incorporating an Alnico V J-87 Bridge and J-Rail neck pickup. HH and H options are also available.
Meanwhile, for bassists on the look out for a classic J-style build that won’t break the bank, the JJB-300 is a must-try. It’s got a roasted poplar body, Canadian roasted maple neck and two JB-style pickups and oozes vintage class well beyond its £349 price tag.
JET is still a new name, but it’s one budget guitar buyers and experienced players alike need to know.
Get your hands on a JET and find out why for yourself using the JET dealer locator.
