For 36 years I have been a musician. I was always a Strat guy but found the Fender Strat a bit lacking cuz I played hard rock. Now I have 2 Ibanez AZ a Prestige and a Premium and it is the best of the best! Mike.
@@baraments no they don’t my friend! The playability is amazing on both. The feel is definitely different because of the materials and whatnot but the playability is the same.
@@noire1991 heyy thanks for the input Brother..!! I'm still not sure whether the prestige is worth for the extra money, considering they both premium and prestige are "big budget" guitars for me
Sounds like a good plan. We had the pleasure to play some Prestige models as well. Killer guitars, lovely finishes and craftsmanship. But getting two premium models might be the way to go for you! Our metal guitarist Emanuel is an Ibanez artist and mostly plays premium and iron/axion label models on tour. Never had an issue with them, lovely guitars! Don't forget to check out www.tonepedia.com to compare some guitars of Ibanez' 2020 line up. Cheers mate!
Great video guys! 3:19 The tone snobs will argue that you can't get the neck single coil goodness of a strat, and they are right. The placement of the split pickup Is too close to the bridge due to 24 frets vs 22. To the average listener and even most guitar players, it's more than serviceable and likely not even noticeable.
In the end this instrument is meant to be an allrounder. Sure it will not always sound 100% like the instrument you want to imitate, but the fact that you get so close to many iconic sounds with just one guitar is pretty impressive
I own one (AZ226PB) and I don't know if it's the kind of wood or the treatment or what that it's been used but the basic tone is REALLY crisp and clear. Which is great as a starting point BUT! It is SO crisp and clear that it easily becomes harsh, so, me coming from an all-humbuckers-metal-guitars background didn't know that the tone knob has actually some use. So with these guitars I'd really recommend setting the tone somewhere around 6-7 and go from there. On humbucker guitars I always had tone on 10 because why would you want to bring up the lesser wanted qualities of a humbucker (bassy, unclear, muffled sound). So, yeah, great, SUPERB guitars but really dial in the tone - and sometimes volume - knobs especially with these ones.
Dude, i've seen a ton of reviews since i'm deciding between an AZ and a fender strat, and in every AZ rewiew they praise these guitars for their tunning stability.
Guys, thanks for the video! I want to listen it down tuned so bad! And how bad is it when downtuning on the fly despite having a tremolo bridge? (Just one step on the low E string, to dropped D from E standard for example)! cheers \m/
Hey mate! So glad we could help! Do not forget to check out bit.ly/2Vq8Lr3 for interactive demos! Down tuning works actually quite well for a trem guitar. Our metal player Emanuel does it all the time and can get great tuning stability on drop D even with 9s. Hope that helped!
Hey, Emanuel from TonePedia here! As an Ibanez endorser I have played many of their guitars for years on tour and in the studio. I am mostly into the Nitro wizard shape from their Iron/Axion Label series which is probably their thinest neck except for some old school RG models. I´d say that playing the AZ feels like having 20 percent more neck in your hands. Though you get used to that quick. It is not in your way if you want to shred on it ;) Bests, Emanuel
@@tonepedia Nitro Wizard is far from the thinnest Ibanez neck if you check the specs. Super Wizard and Super Wizard HP are easily the thinnest and even the Jem necks are thinner than the Nitro Wizard. What's a few mm between friends though? (That's what she said...) ;-P
Of course it will. Even the Gold finish hardware on teh AZ Prestige will fade/wear prematurely. Ibanez (using Gotoh Trems & Tuners) are not particularly renowned for the quality of their hardware finishes. Gold & Cosmo Black are particularly delicate. Some Pia owners have remarked that the Gold finish tarnished within two months. That's a £3.5K guitar, so kinda says it all...
@@tonepedia Thanks, what happens is that I live in Japan and I visited the website here and there are different models. What happened, sorry and thank you very much.
For 36 years I have been a musician. I was always a Strat guy but found the Fender Strat a bit lacking cuz I played hard rock. Now I have 2 Ibanez AZ a Prestige and a Premium and it is the best of the best! Mike.
Playability wise, do they feel different?
@@baraments no they don’t my friend! The playability is amazing on both. The feel is definitely different because of the materials and whatnot but the playability is the same.
@@noire1991 heyy thanks for the input Brother..!! I'm still not sure whether the prestige is worth for the extra money, considering they both premium and prestige are "big budget" guitars for me
This is one of the best video on the guitar world! Love it!!!
Instead of getting prestige model I am planning to buy 2 guitars 1 Az242pbg and 1 Rg1121pb both premium model. AZ sounds awesome
Sounds like a good plan. We had the pleasure to play some Prestige models as well. Killer guitars, lovely finishes and craftsmanship. But getting two premium models might be the way to go for you! Our metal guitarist Emanuel is an Ibanez artist and mostly plays premium and iron/axion label models on tour. Never had an issue with them, lovely guitars! Don't forget to check out www.tonepedia.com to compare some guitars of Ibanez' 2020 line up. Cheers mate!
Great video guys!
3:19 The tone snobs will argue that you can't get the neck single coil goodness of a strat, and they are right. The placement of the split pickup Is too close to the bridge due to 24 frets vs 22. To the average listener and even most guitar players, it's more than serviceable and likely not even noticeable.
In the end this instrument is meant to be an allrounder. Sure it will not always sound 100% like the instrument you want to imitate, but the fact that you get so close to many iconic sounds with just one guitar is pretty impressive
Yes, that's why there are H-S-S models in this series too and they really achieve all that strat sound and then some.
@@Vestu gotta have 22 frets to get the single coil in the right place harmonically though. It's close, but not exact imho.
Michael Wagner is an absolute BEAST!!! I love everything about his playing and sound🔥🔥
The lad certain can play. Many of the TonePedia playing styles are played by him you know!
I own one (AZ226PB) and I don't know if it's the kind of wood or the treatment or what that it's been used but the basic tone is REALLY crisp and clear. Which is great as a starting point BUT! It is SO crisp and clear that it easily becomes harsh, so, me coming from an all-humbuckers-metal-guitars background didn't know that the tone knob has actually some use. So with these guitars I'd really recommend setting the tone somewhere around 6-7 and go from there. On humbucker guitars I always had tone on 10 because why would you want to bring up the lesser wanted qualities of a humbucker (bassy, unclear, muffled sound). So, yeah, great, SUPERB guitars but really dial in the tone - and sometimes volume - knobs especially with these ones.
I really hope Ibanez would make reverse headstock variations on their guitars.
AZ is such a great guitar! Sounds great, but plays even better :) nice video and good players, keep them coming.
Thanks for your comment mate! This made our day! We will keep em coming for sure :)
Great playing guys! 🤘🤘🤘
7:10 that's very Paul Gilbert-y! Great tone, and great review. I might need one of these
You can not deny that Emanuel is heavily influence by Gilbert ;) Thank you! Let us know if you get one :)
Two fantastic players on a well made guitar, nice video
Can this guitar play Lil' Wayne solo ? :D
Great demo of this beauties! What's about Jazzzzz?
1:14 i love that tone
You are not the only one ;)
love that paul gilbert licks!
Paul Gilbert =
Because I'm not djent guy... And all that heavy riffs... This ibanez is good enough for me...😎. Anyway nice reviews guys... Keep going...
The H-S-S ones are even more versatile.
HH has 10 combinations and HSS 8. Why are you saying is more versatile?
@@TamesAndrei 9, not 8. The single coils create a wider range of sounds even though there's one less mic configurarion steps.
Awesome video, thanks!
No Jazz?
Excellent video
Tempted by these but the tuning stability without a locking nut freaks me out a bit. I can’t imagine it staying in tune more than a Floyd
Dude, i've seen a ton of reviews since i'm deciding between an AZ and a fender strat, and in every AZ rewiew they praise these guitars for their tunning stability.
Guys, thanks for the video! I want to listen it down tuned so bad!
And how bad is it when downtuning on the fly despite having a tremolo bridge? (Just one step on the low E string, to dropped D from E standard for example)!
cheers \m/
Hey mate! So glad we could help! Do not forget to check out bit.ly/2Vq8Lr3 for interactive demos! Down tuning works actually quite well for a trem guitar. Our metal player Emanuel does it all the time and can get great tuning stability on drop D even with 9s. Hope that helped!
@@tonepedia that tool is PHENOMENAL ! thanks!
@@ArmandoLozada_ThePapaX Made our day! Thanks buddy!
what about beatdown or hardcore?
Yngwie malmsteen/ or Neil Zaza style music?
Good idea! We´ll try to include that next time
U didn't wham or dive bomb it enough to see if it holds tune
Can you say this about any guitar?:)
The question certainly can be asked, which guitars would you like us to put through its paces?
great video
Amazing guitar but it fell a bit flat for the metal stuff, didn’t it.
What about jazz?
Yup, not a problem ;)
How much is the difference between this oval c shape neck and the rg wizard neck?
Hey, Emanuel from TonePedia here! As an Ibanez endorser I have played many of their guitars for years on tour and in the studio. I am mostly into the Nitro wizard shape from their Iron/Axion Label series which is probably their thinest neck except for some old school RG models. I´d say that playing the AZ feels like having 20 percent more neck in your hands. Though you get used to that quick. It is not in your way if you want to shred on it ;) Bests, Emanuel
@@tonepedia Nitro Wizard is far from the thinnest Ibanez neck if you check the specs. Super Wizard and Super Wizard HP are easily the thinnest and even the Jem necks are thinner than the Nitro Wizard.
What's a few mm between friends though? (That's what she said...) ;-P
A to Z but only in the right hands.
It's the Indian, not the Arrows
please do a whammy bar review of this model please
I'd like to buy this guitar, does it stay in tune using the whammy bar ? I use it a lot
Hey there - the whammy bar stays in tune if you do not overdo dive bombs. It can do those but just 2-3 times until it starts to detune.
@@tonepedia OK thanks ! :)
Can this guitar do tele style?
Find it out on www.tonepedia.com - there you can a/b the AZ to a tele or any other guitar in our library
Bottle neck! Sold! Proceed to to check out... card declined... shit lol
Will the Ibanez Az premium gold plated fade out?
Only time will tell
Of course it will. Even the Gold finish hardware on teh AZ Prestige will fade/wear prematurely. Ibanez (using Gotoh Trems & Tuners) are not particularly renowned for the quality of their hardware finishes. Gold & Cosmo Black are particularly delicate. Some Pia owners have remarked that the Gold finish tarnished within two months. That's a £3.5K guitar, so kinda says it all...
Yes it will, I have one and it starts to fade pretty quick but it's alright the guitar plays very well.
Thanks for the info👍👍👍
I'll be buying the AZ 7string HH config this month.
Jazz?
Oh no no no, the AZ’s definitely do Jazz
Listen to Tom Quayle an incredible jazz/fusion guitarist, he plays AZ series, and has signature model.
And dont forget Martin miller
More like, what cant I do with the guitar :(
lol I think you miswrote, are you saying that you can play anything loll
what models are this guitars?
Hey! These are guitars from the Ibanez AZ range. Particularly the Premium models. Hope that helps!
@@tonepedia Thanks, what happens is that I live in Japan and I visited the website here and there are different models. What happened, sorry and thank you very much.
Being affordable
...that did not djent xD it can but you cant xD