Here's your timestamps, phone people: 00:00 Hello! 00:13 Introduction and what we’re doing today 01:05 The Ibanez AZES Series and prices 02:20 Specs and info 03:56 Hardtail bridge on the AZES31 05:32 The Alter switch 06:34 Clean tones (AZES31) 08:49 Today’s amp: the Revv Generator 09:46 Weight, feel and setup 10:30 Neck profile 10:55 Henning interrupts us :) 12:43 And he’s gone! 13:10 Humbucker edge of breakup tones (AZES40) 15:22 Overdrive tones (AZES40) 16:51 The new plastic jack input 18:43 Overdrive tones (AZES31) 21:00 Higher gain overdrive with the JHS Double Barrel 24:25 Which of the two guitars is better? 26:26 Beginner guitars now versus when we were kids 26:45 Final thoughts and conclusion
I love the hardtail one as well. Yeah, sadly we didn't have the time (or the info!) to take you through the alter switch. But Ibanez are going to send me one of these guitars to make another video at home soon, and I will cover every option there! Also, check out the Ibanez site where there's a pretty good diagram showing the different switch options: www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/azes31_1p_01.html
I am loving these guitars, y’all. I think I’m going to end up getting one or two for work. They’re so danged affordable, and I’m such an Ibanez fanboy. Ibanez makes some amazing products.
Yeah, go for it Jim! These two were really fun, and I can't wait to get one in at home to actually try it out in detail. It'll be the hardtail bridge one for me, I think. Ibanez knocked it out the park with these...
Yes, I totally agree! It's a great sound but very underused on Strat-type guitars generally. I actually use it a lot because Albert Hammond Jr. from The Strokes always uses it and their sound is a big inspiration for me... but more players should!
Maybe i was just lucky, but i had a quite perfect Squier Bullet HT, and would be super cool to compare those two... Great and useful review, Rich, as always!
Yes, maybe you were! I've had some great Squiers in the past too, I must admit - my old Squier Affinity Tele was fantastic! I would actually love to do some Squier/AZES comparisons... maybe that's something I can so soon :) Cheers!
@@RichWordsMusic Like your guest stated, hardtail strat is such a rarity...SSS hardtail even more..would be awesome to see the comparison...! thank you!! great work!
It was great to shoot a video with Leigh in person... and I have another really good one with him to come soon as well. I'm glad you enjoyed the video! That's why events like 42GS are so cool :)
These look great, might get one with a view to upgrade down the line. Wondering how they compare to the Squier Classic Vibes as a beginner guitar? The weight and out-of-the-box high action on my CV Tele puts me off recommending it to beginners, regardless of its great sound.
Yep, everyone who tried them at 42GS was genuinely really impressed. And they would also be excellent modding platforms. I've played many a Classic Vibes, and these AZES guitars match them in many respects. Most of the recent Classic Vibes I've played have been super heavy, and the new ones I've tried have all had a really high action too. An easy fix, sure, but that and the weight is enough to maybe put off a beginner. These Ibanezes were a great weight - light, but not too light (i.e. they felt like real guitars!) - and the action/intonation/setup on both was spot on. As we said in the video, not sure how much they'd been set up before we played them, but if they all come out of the box like that, they win over the Squiers in that regard. I also have to mention that the whammy on the AZES40 held tune better than the trems on any Classic Vibe Strat I've tried in a store. The other factors are pickups/sounds and overall brand thing. The pickups on the Ibanez guitars are great, and very versatile (especially with the Alter switch), but I feel they're slightly more generic than the Squier pickups I've played in recent guitars. I have the 2021 Classic Vibe Esquire, which has a lovely, twangy pickup (and the weight is also good on it, although it has the high-action thing going on - I have a video of it on my channel if you'd like to see/hear it in action). You also really get that genuine Strat sound from the Classic Vibe Strats. The Ibanez AZES guitars do the Strat thing, but not quite to the extent the Squiers do. But then you have the bridge humbucker option too on the AZES40. And with the brand thing, what I mean is these Ibanez guitars will not have the same coolness factor as a Squier, which is kind of 'the real thing'. Not a Fender, sure, but it has the right headstock and body shape, etc. Some people find that sort of thing very important. Oops, sorry for the long reply! Guess I got into the zone when writing it ;)
@@RichWordsMusic Haha, no I really appreciate it! It's hard for a relative beginner like me to make gear decisions without getting to sit down in a shop and compare products side by side for a good hour or so. As your channel grows you'll likely find it hard to respond to comments like this so I'm eager to pick your brain while I can! I get the impression that a beginner might not be able to appreciate some of the CV features as much as what the Ibanez has going for it. I really like the pickups and slightly rolled edges on my Tele neck, but starting out I think the weight/ergonomics and tuning stability would be a bigger deal - and I think a whammy would be an unwelcome distraction so having a hardtail option would be great. It's the longevity of these that appeals to me; I think it'd be great for the formative year(s) of playing before putting some hot rails and a JB Jr in the SSS version down the line. Rather than upgrade my CV I'd probably prefer to get a lighter, full fat Fender. Thanks again for the informative response!
@@peterklein5861 Ha ha, I'll try my best to keep up with the comments as well as I can! At some point I might have to start making Q&A videos too, where I just say what I'm currently writing, as that'll be quicker. But I think it's really important to answer the genuine questions, and that's kind of why I started this channel (and make videos like I do, trying to answer all the questions about a piece of gear that anyone watching may have. It used to frustrate me that many other channels often didn't give me all the info I would've liked about a guitar or pedal, and I'd have to carry on researching elsewhere). I think if I was advising a beginner on which guitar to get, I'd recommend the Ibanez, except if they were very specifically after a Tele/Strat guitar, or wanted to emulate a specific Strat/Tele player. And I agree with you: the weight, tuning and easy playability on the Ibanez guitars probably gives them the edge. Oh, and the hardtail bridge on the AZES31 is just the icing on the cake. I agree about upgrades too - with Classic Vibes, you can put more expensive hardware and pickups in them, but you're right, then you're already well into the Fender price range. And you're diluting the Classic Vibe vibe! You might as well sell the Squier to fund a Fender in that case. I suppose the same could be said of Ibanez, but it doesn't have the same 'price ladder' that Fender seems to have (at least, not to me!). And these AZES guitars do look prime for modding too. They're the kind of guitar you'd want to progress with for years, adding in new things as necessary. Better tuners here, new pickups there. It would feel more like a custom guitar than a modded Classic Vibe would, I think.
Thank you Ibanez for putting a rounded 10” radius fretboard on a strat clone. So many strat copies have 14” (or flatter) fretboards, which I find uncomfortable and unplayable, but even more importantly- nothing like the guitar they are copying.
Yes, I think Ibanez have really got a lot of the smaller details right with these guitars. That and the medium frets will make these guitars great for students too.
Can you please explain why a rosewood fingerboard would be preferable to the one on the guitar? People say this but never explain why a genuine rosewood fingerboard is any better? Please explain in detail. Or is it that you can’t? I’m waiting.
That's a really interesting point. The true greats do sound great on anything (it's all in the hands, as they always say), but I think the reason you won't find many of them playing budget Ibanez or Squier guitars (or whatever cheaper brand!) is also for overall quality, reliability and convenience. These AZES guitars are fantastic value instruments, and you could use them for anything. And a €2000 Strat is not going to be 10 times better, or whatever the price difference is. But it should feel, play and sound significantly better, and be made of woods and hardware that will prove more reliable and roadworthy over the years. That's how I see it, anyway. That's without going into the whole 'brand' thing too. It's kind of like how an F1 driver could make a Fiat Punto look like a supremely fast car on a track compared to me. It can be done, but you'd use the F1 car for the real stuff ;)
These look great. The sound doesn't impress me as much... But I haven't actually heard it in person. Maybe a bit "tinny" to my ears compared to the classic vibe. Is that the pickups? A little more depth in time would be nice. Are the pickups compatible to swap out with any other single coil option? Wondering if that would solve the issue.
They are really, really fun guitars. I do think the pickups are a bit more modern and almost hi-fi sounding compared to the vintage-voiced ones you'll find in a Squier Classic Vibe. That's something I actually really like, though. I have now borrowed these guitars from Ibanez and there's full-length videos on both on my channel now, so have a watch and maybe they'll give you a few more impressions! I also did a kind of shootout between the two, which will be coming out in June. When it comes to a pickup swap, sure, you'd be able to drop any other standard-sized single coils in there 👌
@@RichWordsMusic Ok interesting. Thought I'd heard that the pickup size on these were slightly smaller. And wondered if the wiring was different due to that extra switch. But I will head down to the store hopefully this weekend to play one. Really like the look of the buttercream one.
@@funkybunch81 Oh, that's something that I've not heard, and by sight alone I never noticed that... but do check and report back if you can! To me they just look like standard single coils in terms of size. And I know the AZES bodies are a little smaller than a Fender Strat's, but I had thought that was the only thing Ibanez had shrunk! I do believe the wiring is different, though. Looking forward to hearing some feedback from you after you try one!
It is indeed! I'm looking forward to getting one and exploring all the possibilities and sounds. Not sure when these guitars will actually be in stock anywhere though...
So I don't know if you'll reply this, but right now I'm struggling to make the call to either buy a Player Strat HSS, or this one with the same configs, I'm not sure if the Strat really worth the $800 price and if the Essential AZs have any compromises, so what should I pick? Also our country is under lockdown bcuz of covid, so I have time to decide Also, does the AZES felt small?
Sure, I'll reply! I always do if I can :) So, there's a few factors here I would consider in your place: firstly, price. The Fender Player would be around twice the price of the Ibanez (at least, they are here in Germany!). Is it twice as good? Nope. (I've played both!) There will be good and not so good examples of both. Secondly, specs. With the Fender, you get Fender hardware and pickups, etc. With the Ibanez, you get no name/Ibanez stuff, which is really good. Both guitars are ones you might consider upgrading in the future - new pickups and maybe tuners or a new nut could improve both. But neither need it, in my opinion. They're great guitars as they come - especially if you get a setup done on them from new. That always helps. Do the Ibanezes have any compromises? I don't think so. Of course, they're cheaper, but Ibanez guitars seem to always punch above their prices more than modern-day Fenders to me. The only thing which could be 'better' about the Fenders, in my opinion, is the fact that you're playing 'the real thing'. You get the Fender branding, the headstock shape, etc. That's really important for some people... it has been for me in the past too :) On the opposite side of that compromise thing, the Ibanez does more sounds than the Fender via its Alter Switch. There's plenty more tones on offer with the AZES guitars, if that's something you'd want. In terms of pure tonal quality, I'd say the guitars are well-matched. If you only want Strat tones, the Fenders might just win it, but the Ibanezes are more versatile. And, just to make things even more complex for you, there's also the Squier Classic Vibe range to consider ;) There's an HSS Strat or two in that range as well. But in my opinion, based on the ones I've played, the Ibanez is slightly above them in the quality stakes. Very finally, weight. These two Ibanez guitar were a lovely weight - we didn't have scales, but I'd guess around 3 kgs or 7 lbs. or so. I've found that with Fenders and Squiers the weights vary a lot, but in recent years more affordable Fenders and Squiers seem to be getting heavier and heavier. So if you don't like heavy guitars, and you end up ordering online, it's kind of a lottery. Sorry for the long reply, but I hope it helps! Ultimately, if I was you, I'd wait until you're out of lockdown, then go out and play both guitars if you can. After all's said and done, and regardless of specs and price, you might simply fall in love with one over the other. It happens! (My main guitar is a 2014 Mexican Fender Tele - cost me €400 or so new, but it just sang to me, and it still does.) If so, you know which to buy. But, if I was buying for you, and had to make a decision right now and order unseen, I'd pick... the Ibanez AZES40 :)
@@RichWordsMusic Ok, you’re right, the Ibanez does give the Squiers a serious run for its money, as for the Fender, I’ve had tried it and I thought it was unbelievable(I’ve played acoustics when I started for a year) but the C-shaped neck felt a bit large for me, but it ain’t no big deal. So yeah, I’ll definitely try both of ‘em when the lockdown ends🤞🏻, thanks for the professional tip.
@@hathaway.1166 No worries. OK, if you prefer a smaller neck, the Ibanez definitely wins! These AZES guitars have been designed to be as easy as possible for students, so while they're full sized, the frets are medium sized (not medium jumbo) and the necks are just really easy to get your hand round. Try them both and if you remember, let me know which one you chose in the end! Cheers :)
Hi there! If you use it like in this video, you'll be fine. If you use it much more heavily, it's not quite so great... but you can get a setup from your local guitar tech and it will help. (Instability = the opposite of stability.) Hope this helps!
Hi Rich, great video. I’m a beginner and interested in buying one of these guitars as they seem to get good reviews. I’ve also watched your other videos featuring these guitars and one of the things that you often mention is the tuning stability of the 30 is better than the 41 because it has a fixed bridge. What I’d like to know is if you don’t fit the trem lever or use it on the 41 would it then be as stable as having a fixed bridge? Cheers
Thanks Richard, glad you've discovered my channel and are enjoying the videos! I think the AZES guitars are an excellent choice as a first instrument, so you'll be in good hands with one of those. And yes, when it comes to tuning stability, if you play the AZES40 without the trem arm in, you will have better tuning stability. It'll still be a tiny bit less stable than the AZES30 (because it's still not bolted to the guitar in the same way - although this is something you could also do if you liked) but the difference shouldn't be noticeable. There are other factors that can affect tuning too, like how well the nut has been cut, the tuners themselves, if the strings are loose in the tuners and slip, etc. But these are all things you shouldn't stress over - and you can get a local tech to give your guitar a setup and they'll all go away. So, the short answer to your question is: yes! You'll be able to enjoy that bridge humbucker in all its goodness! I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any more questions, and enjoy your journey as a guitarist :)
@@RichWordsMusic thanks very much for reply, that’s really useful information for a beginner like myself, and yes I’m glad I discovered your channel. Keep the videos coming!
@@RichWordsMusic thank you so much for this response! i was hesitating so much on which model to pick because of the tuning stability issues, but it seems like it should be fine if i remove the trem arm!!! :))) thank you!!!
Yeah, I think most people assume Alnico should be the better choice (I guess because ceramic pickups are often found on beginner and super-cheap guitars). I think the pickups in these guitars sound great, and they're so versatile. That said, it would be interesting if Ibanez came out with a few different options - still with the different Alter Switch settings - so we'd have a choice! Cheers for watching :)
I wish they'd add another tone for the SSS one just for the bridge pickup so we can tame the brightness down a little and ballance it out with the rest of the pickup positions. And a trem. That'd make the guitar perfect. The headstock is way better and stylish looking than both Fender and Gibson, for like a fraction of their price. Plus, the neck pickup doesn't have that pingy frequencies you hear from cheap single coils either so sounds nice too. Which is apparent in a lot of squire strats. Maybe swapout the nutt with tusq and the tuners with locking ones, and that will make it more perfect than perfect. But how come you guys completely skiped the alter switch that allows you to combine just the neck singlecoil with the bridge single coil to get the telecaster middle position tone? So wanted to hear that. Was waiting for that the whole video. lol Maybe you guys can demonstrate that later.
I think there will be more variants of these AZES guitars over the coming months, especially if they sell well (which they will!)... so I wouldn't be surprised to see an SSS one with another tone pot and a trem too. But for me personally, the SSS is perfect the way it is. I love the option of a hardtail Strat! I agree with you though, these guitars are really classy. They look great, and they do sound very refined. Those Ibanez Essentials pickups are actually very good. With a few choice upgrades, like you say, these could be pro level guitars you could start with as a learner and keep forever! Yeah, apologies about the Alter Switch. At the event we only had very limited time with the guitars, so it wasn't possible to do everything. But Ibanez said they'd like to send me one to make another video with, so hopefully I will get the chance to do that soon, and I will definitely do the whole Alter Switch thing! It's a really cool option and it gives these guitars even more versatility...
@@RichWordsMusic I see. So you weren't kidding when you said you will receive one as a birthday present. lol Congratulations I guess I might get the HSS one and lower the humbucker way down to lower it's output because it will never get as bright as a single coil bridge pickup, being a humbucker. What do you think about that? Would it mimic a bridge single coil with some what tamed brightness with the tone pot? Or would you say it's a good idea to wait a little and buy SSS one with 2 tones when Ibanez releases one? That is of course, if they ever do release one down the line.
@@user-pt1ye7vd7m Ha ha, no... sadly I was kidding! Well, I was hoping... but my birthday came and went and there is no package from Ibanez ;) But they will send one soon I think! And I have to give it back afterwards, but that's better than nothing ;) Hmm, it depends on exactly what you want from a bridge single coil. If you lower the humbucker too much you will just get a quiet humbucker that sounds bad. It won't start to sound like a single coil really. So I wouldn't recommend that. You could wait for Ibanez to maybe release an SSS one with two tones, but you could also just buy and then mod the HSS one - either fit a humbucker that you can split down to single coils too (there's lots of great choices there), or it's also possible to buy single coil pickups that are the same size as a regular humbucker. So that could also work.
Yeah, it's a hard choice because they're both pretty great! For me, I've played them both a lot more now and I think the tuning stability of the AZES31 is what wins it for me... although I would love to have access to a bridge humbucker as well! Would be cool if they could do an HSS model with hardtail bridge option :)
Great on these two! They really felt good in the hand, and the build quality was spot on. They're very easy to play. Of course, these two guitars were brought to the event by Ibanez specifically, so they'll have picked good examples to show us, but I've bought similarly priced Ibanez guitars in the past and they've been excellent too.
These are great guitars indeed... but if the Fender feels right to you then you made the right decision! I guess you could always sell the Fender and get one of these with the money, but it might not be worth it. What you could do is get different pickups for the Fender if it's about the sounds...
Ha ha, you always pick up on the Revv references... but yes. How I'd love a Generator. The Melon's out of my league though, sadly (plus I hate melon!). Think I'd have to stat with a Grape and build up to it.
I’m not Picky on color but I’m a 60 cycle psycho so the melon won’t work with my power, and honestly a gen120p whilst it is my dream amp it’s power would be vastly under utilized sitting in my jam room with only me and a few neighbors(and the 40 some folks who actually watch my vids) ever hearing it. Maybe for me just a G20 or maybe just a G2 pedal. But oooh to have a sweet Onyx Pia and a purple gen 120p my 3 sitting on full stack 🤤 oh I’m just gonna bask in that image for a few hours… or until my boss yells WTF man back get to work !!
@@PooNinja Get back to work! But yes, that's my situation too... possibly D20 for me, as opposed to G20, but something smaller and more in my price range. The G3 pedal would turn the D20 into a snarling beast anyway, and I have the G2 for mid-range crunch. And I also have sensitive neighbors, so silent options are a must ;) And I know you can do that with the Generators too, it just feels like such a waste! That amp is built for stadiums, not bedrooms.
and... what's the surprise... they sound like guitars above 1000 and more... but.... don t have the thin highs of all the Fender and the Fender copies and the Copies of the vintage guitar s had.... all over the the years
@@LeighFugeGuitar I can just imagine him sat on his plush chair in the evenings stroking his various cats, giggling madly and plotting his next attack on Swansea.
Hey I saw a kid at guitar center with his mom trying to return this guitar at least I think it was this one and they saw he dropped it and broke the jack
Uh-oh, I would hope it's not this exact one, but you never know! I actually think these plastic jack sockets should be more robust than the cheaper metal ones, but time will tell...
Slightly smaller frets to get students more into electric guitar? Wtf is that logic? They have smaller frets because it's cheaper and faster to install. Don't say dumb shit just for the sake of saying dumb shit.
Mines being returned has a horrible back bow on the neck. :( I should have gone for a monoprice or Donner. This is worse than a low end squire. Definitely not a Classic Vibe! Shame on Ibanez!
Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear you had one with such a massive problem with yours. I haven't even seen any of the AZES guitars in any shops near me to try out, but the two we had for this video (like we said, picked by Ibanez for the show, but still) were excellent. I hope yours is an exception and not the rule!
Here's your timestamps, phone people:
00:00 Hello!
00:13 Introduction and what we’re doing today
01:05 The Ibanez AZES Series and prices
02:20 Specs and info
03:56 Hardtail bridge on the AZES31
05:32 The Alter switch
06:34 Clean tones (AZES31)
08:49 Today’s amp: the Revv Generator
09:46 Weight, feel and setup
10:30 Neck profile
10:55 Henning interrupts us :)
12:43 And he’s gone!
13:10 Humbucker edge of breakup tones (AZES40)
15:22 Overdrive tones (AZES40)
16:51 The new plastic jack input
18:43 Overdrive tones (AZES31)
21:00 Higher gain overdrive with the JHS Double Barrel
24:25 Which of the two guitars is better?
26:26 Beginner guitars now versus when we were kids
26:45 Final thoughts and conclusion
FINALLY a hard-tailed SSS strat. I've been looking for something like this for ages !
Yes, I'm also really happy to finally have an affordable hardtail SSS Strat option! It does surprise me that no-one else makes one...
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Tomo!
I love that hard tail one, it's a shame they don't demonstrate the alter switch with the series connection, it's a pretty interesting feature
I love the hardtail one as well. Yeah, sadly we didn't have the time (or the info!) to take you through the alter switch. But Ibanez are going to send me one of these guitars to make another video at home soon, and I will cover every option there! Also, check out the Ibanez site where there's a pretty good diagram showing the different switch options: www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/azes31_1p_01.html
Thanks! I’m going for the AZES31
Awesome, enjoy! They are wonderful guitars.
Those new Ibanez AZES look and sound like the new best buy for a beginner guitarist 👍
I agree with you, they play and feel fantastic, and they're priced very well too! Squier watch out ;)
Only problem its way better, than a beginner guitar, this is no squier. 10x Better.
I am loving these guitars, y’all. I think I’m going to end up getting one or two for work. They’re so danged affordable, and I’m such an Ibanez fanboy. Ibanez makes some amazing products.
Yeah, go for it Jim! These two were really fun, and I can't wait to get one in at home to actually try it out in detail. It'll be the hardtail bridge one for me, I think. Ibanez knocked it out the park with these...
SSS all the way! Deciding between Ivory and Vermillion!
That Vermilion is gorgeous! the Ivory is growing on me every time I see it though!
SSS for me too! I think I'll go with the Ivory, but they both look great. I really like the Mint Green option on the HSS one too...
ivory for me, the malmsteen hardtail I always wanted ;)
@@maxmustardman298 Ha ha, yep, it's pretty close!
Ibanez, is one amazing company, nice guitar.
Yep, I'm a big fan too!
Very enjoyable review lads.👍🏻
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed this one!
I noticed with these AZES models that the middle pickup, which I normally rarely use, is excellent.
Yes, I totally agree! It's a great sound but very underused on Strat-type guitars generally. I actually use it a lot because Albert Hammond Jr. from The Strokes always uses it and their sound is a big inspiration for me... but more players should!
@@RichWordsMusic BETTER, fuller, richer sound than any strat I've ever played (and that's well over 50).
These look really good, hoping to try one out soon!
They're super impressive! You need to get on to Ibanez to send you one or two, would love to see your take on these :)
Congrats on the 1000 subs, Rich!
Thanks Mo! :)
Maybe i was just lucky, but i had a quite perfect Squier Bullet HT, and would be super cool to compare those two... Great and useful review, Rich, as always!
Yes, maybe you were! I've had some great Squiers in the past too, I must admit - my old Squier Affinity Tele was fantastic! I would actually love to do some Squier/AZES comparisons... maybe that's something I can so soon :) Cheers!
@@RichWordsMusic Like your guest stated, hardtail strat is such a rarity...SSS hardtail even more..would be awesome to see the comparison...! thank you!! great work!
@@petaralargic Yes, exactly - the Squier Bullet and this one are the only affordable options I can think of! I will see what I can do :)
@@RichWordsMusic The clash of the titans :) thanks for considering it, man..super interesting to me..but hopefoly to many
@@petaralargic Exactly! I hope I can do it soon... I am sure there are more people out there like you and me who are interested too!
Incredible i ve follow you two and now your jam!
It was great to shoot a video with Leigh in person... and I have another really good one with him to come soon as well. I'm glad you enjoyed the video! That's why events like 42GS are so cool :)
These look great, might get one with a view to upgrade down the line. Wondering how they compare to the Squier Classic Vibes as a beginner guitar? The weight and out-of-the-box high action on my CV Tele puts me off recommending it to beginners, regardless of its great sound.
Yep, everyone who tried them at 42GS was genuinely really impressed. And they would also be excellent modding platforms. I've played many a Classic Vibes, and these AZES guitars match them in many respects. Most of the recent Classic Vibes I've played have been super heavy, and the new ones I've tried have all had a really high action too. An easy fix, sure, but that and the weight is enough to maybe put off a beginner. These Ibanezes were a great weight - light, but not too light (i.e. they felt like real guitars!) - and the action/intonation/setup on both was spot on. As we said in the video, not sure how much they'd been set up before we played them, but if they all come out of the box like that, they win over the Squiers in that regard. I also have to mention that the whammy on the AZES40 held tune better than the trems on any Classic Vibe Strat I've tried in a store.
The other factors are pickups/sounds and overall brand thing. The pickups on the Ibanez guitars are great, and very versatile (especially with the Alter switch), but I feel they're slightly more generic than the Squier pickups I've played in recent guitars. I have the 2021 Classic Vibe Esquire, which has a lovely, twangy pickup (and the weight is also good on it, although it has the high-action thing going on - I have a video of it on my channel if you'd like to see/hear it in action). You also really get that genuine Strat sound from the Classic Vibe Strats. The Ibanez AZES guitars do the Strat thing, but not quite to the extent the Squiers do. But then you have the bridge humbucker option too on the AZES40.
And with the brand thing, what I mean is these Ibanez guitars will not have the same coolness factor as a Squier, which is kind of 'the real thing'. Not a Fender, sure, but it has the right headstock and body shape, etc. Some people find that sort of thing very important.
Oops, sorry for the long reply! Guess I got into the zone when writing it ;)
@@RichWordsMusic Haha, no I really appreciate it! It's hard for a relative beginner like me to make gear decisions without getting to sit down in a shop and compare products side by side for a good hour or so. As your channel grows you'll likely find it hard to respond to comments like this so I'm eager to pick your brain while I can!
I get the impression that a beginner might not be able to appreciate some of the CV features as much as what the Ibanez has going for it. I really like the pickups and slightly rolled edges on my Tele neck, but starting out I think the weight/ergonomics and tuning stability would be a bigger deal - and I think a whammy would be an unwelcome distraction so having a hardtail option would be great.
It's the longevity of these that appeals to me; I think it'd be great for the formative year(s) of playing before putting some hot rails and a JB Jr in the SSS version down the line. Rather than upgrade my CV I'd probably prefer to get a lighter, full fat Fender.
Thanks again for the informative response!
@@peterklein5861 Ha ha, I'll try my best to keep up with the comments as well as I can! At some point I might have to start making Q&A videos too, where I just say what I'm currently writing, as that'll be quicker. But I think it's really important to answer the genuine questions, and that's kind of why I started this channel (and make videos like I do, trying to answer all the questions about a piece of gear that anyone watching may have. It used to frustrate me that many other channels often didn't give me all the info I would've liked about a guitar or pedal, and I'd have to carry on researching elsewhere).
I think if I was advising a beginner on which guitar to get, I'd recommend the Ibanez, except if they were very specifically after a Tele/Strat guitar, or wanted to emulate a specific Strat/Tele player. And I agree with you: the weight, tuning and easy playability on the Ibanez guitars probably gives them the edge. Oh, and the hardtail bridge on the AZES31 is just the icing on the cake.
I agree about upgrades too - with Classic Vibes, you can put more expensive hardware and pickups in them, but you're right, then you're already well into the Fender price range. And you're diluting the Classic Vibe vibe! You might as well sell the Squier to fund a Fender in that case. I suppose the same could be said of Ibanez, but it doesn't have the same 'price ladder' that Fender seems to have (at least, not to me!). And these AZES guitars do look prime for modding too. They're the kind of guitar you'd want to progress with for years, adding in new things as necessary. Better tuners here, new pickups there. It would feel more like a custom guitar than a modded Classic Vibe would, I think.
@@RichWordsMusic Thanks for the input mate, appreciate it! I'll likely be getting the SSS once I've had a hands-on with it.
@@peterklein5861 No problem! Let me know which one you end up going for, and how you like it :)
Thank you Ibanez for putting a rounded 10” radius fretboard on a strat clone. So many strat copies have 14” (or flatter) fretboards, which I find uncomfortable and unplayable, but even more importantly- nothing like the guitar they are copying.
Yes, I think Ibanez have really got a lot of the smaller details right with these guitars. That and the medium frets will make these guitars great for students too.
I'm interested in both of these guitars as shown here
You should check them out if you can! Leigh and I just met up this week and played them again, and they're such fun guitars.
Can you please explain why a rosewood fingerboard would be preferable to the one on the guitar? People say this but never explain why a genuine rosewood fingerboard is any better? Please explain in detail. Or is it that you can’t? I’m waiting.
Because in my personal experience, rosewood feels, plays and looks better - simple as.
Nice.... but, I can't wait for the Ibanez Roadstar II Deluxe reissues.... 🤘🥰🤘
Yep, I'd love to try those too!
If a professional guitarist can squeeze some Stevie Ray out of this guitar then there is no point for me going shopping for a £2000 strat.
That's a really interesting point. The true greats do sound great on anything (it's all in the hands, as they always say), but I think the reason you won't find many of them playing budget Ibanez or Squier guitars (or whatever cheaper brand!) is also for overall quality, reliability and convenience. These AZES guitars are fantastic value instruments, and you could use them for anything. And a €2000 Strat is not going to be 10 times better, or whatever the price difference is. But it should feel, play and sound significantly better, and be made of woods and hardware that will prove more reliable and roadworthy over the years. That's how I see it, anyway. That's without going into the whole 'brand' thing too.
It's kind of like how an F1 driver could make a Fiat Punto look like a supremely fast car on a track compared to me. It can be done, but you'd use the F1 car for the real stuff ;)
I would say a good tech could level the playing field between a cheap and expensive guitar.
These look great. The sound doesn't impress me as much... But I haven't actually heard it in person. Maybe a bit "tinny" to my ears compared to the classic vibe. Is that the pickups? A little more depth in time would be nice. Are the pickups compatible to swap out with any other single coil option? Wondering if that would solve the issue.
They are really, really fun guitars. I do think the pickups are a bit more modern and almost hi-fi sounding compared to the vintage-voiced ones you'll find in a Squier Classic Vibe. That's something I actually really like, though. I have now borrowed these guitars from Ibanez and there's full-length videos on both on my channel now, so have a watch and maybe they'll give you a few more impressions! I also did a kind of shootout between the two, which will be coming out in June.
When it comes to a pickup swap, sure, you'd be able to drop any other standard-sized single coils in there 👌
@@RichWordsMusic Ok interesting. Thought I'd heard that the pickup size on these were slightly smaller. And wondered if the wiring was different due to that extra switch. But I will head down to the store hopefully this weekend to play one. Really like the look of the buttercream one.
@@funkybunch81 Oh, that's something that I've not heard, and by sight alone I never noticed that... but do check and report back if you can! To me they just look like standard single coils in terms of size. And I know the AZES bodies are a little smaller than a Fender Strat's, but I had thought that was the only thing Ibanez had shrunk! I do believe the wiring is different, though. Looking forward to hearing some feedback from you after you try one!
“Even Ibanez has some in that price point…” 😎
Yep, these ones actually ;)
The SSS strat is a mysterious MOFO with the alter switch
It is indeed! I'm looking forward to getting one and exploring all the possibilities and sounds. Not sure when these guitars will actually be in stock anywhere though...
Getting one of these instead of the overpriced PRS Strat. So much better value and more versatile.
I've not tried the new Silver Sky SE, but these Ibanezes are a third of the price and a whole lot of fun...
I got chopper bridge and true velvet mid and neck.
Gonna buy the red hardtail and slap it on those.
That's going to make for one awesome guitar, great idea!
So I don't know if you'll reply this, but right now I'm struggling to make the call to either buy a Player Strat HSS, or this one with the same configs, I'm not sure if the Strat really worth the $800 price and if the Essential AZs have any compromises, so what should I pick? Also our country is under lockdown bcuz of covid, so I have time to decide
Also, does the AZES felt small?
Sure, I'll reply! I always do if I can :) So, there's a few factors here I would consider in your place: firstly, price. The Fender Player would be around twice the price of the Ibanez (at least, they are here in Germany!). Is it twice as good? Nope. (I've played both!) There will be good and not so good examples of both.
Secondly, specs. With the Fender, you get Fender hardware and pickups, etc. With the Ibanez, you get no name/Ibanez stuff, which is really good. Both guitars are ones you might consider upgrading in the future - new pickups and maybe tuners or a new nut could improve both. But neither need it, in my opinion. They're great guitars as they come - especially if you get a setup done on them from new. That always helps.
Do the Ibanezes have any compromises? I don't think so. Of course, they're cheaper, but Ibanez guitars seem to always punch above their prices more than modern-day Fenders to me. The only thing which could be 'better' about the Fenders, in my opinion, is the fact that you're playing 'the real thing'. You get the Fender branding, the headstock shape, etc. That's really important for some people... it has been for me in the past too :)
On the opposite side of that compromise thing, the Ibanez does more sounds than the Fender via its Alter Switch. There's plenty more tones on offer with the AZES guitars, if that's something you'd want. In terms of pure tonal quality, I'd say the guitars are well-matched. If you only want Strat tones, the Fenders might just win it, but the Ibanezes are more versatile.
And, just to make things even more complex for you, there's also the Squier Classic Vibe range to consider ;) There's an HSS Strat or two in that range as well. But in my opinion, based on the ones I've played, the Ibanez is slightly above them in the quality stakes.
Very finally, weight. These two Ibanez guitar were a lovely weight - we didn't have scales, but I'd guess around 3 kgs or 7 lbs. or so. I've found that with Fenders and Squiers the weights vary a lot, but in recent years more affordable Fenders and Squiers seem to be getting heavier and heavier. So if you don't like heavy guitars, and you end up ordering online, it's kind of a lottery.
Sorry for the long reply, but I hope it helps! Ultimately, if I was you, I'd wait until you're out of lockdown, then go out and play both guitars if you can. After all's said and done, and regardless of specs and price, you might simply fall in love with one over the other. It happens! (My main guitar is a 2014 Mexican Fender Tele - cost me €400 or so new, but it just sang to me, and it still does.) If so, you know which to buy.
But, if I was buying for you, and had to make a decision right now and order unseen, I'd pick... the Ibanez AZES40 :)
Damn, and despite writing so much, I missed your last question. No, the AZES guitars don't feel small at all. They feel like a very playable Strat :)
@@RichWordsMusic Ok, you’re right, the Ibanez does give the Squiers a serious run for its money, as for the Fender, I’ve had tried it and I thought it was unbelievable(I’ve played acoustics when I started for a year) but the C-shaped neck felt a bit large for me, but it ain’t no big deal.
So yeah, I’ll definitely try both of ‘em when the lockdown ends🤞🏻, thanks for the professional tip.
@@hathaway.1166 No worries. OK, if you prefer a smaller neck, the Ibanez definitely wins! These AZES guitars have been designed to be as easy as possible for students, so while they're full sized, the frets are medium sized (not medium jumbo) and the necks are just really easy to get your hand round. Try them both and if you remember, let me know which one you chose in the end! Cheers :)
hi. does tremolo system cause tuning stablility issue easily if played in the way happen in this video? what does tuning instability means?
Hi there! If you use it like in this video, you'll be fine. If you use it much more heavily, it's not quite so great... but you can get a setup from your local guitar tech and it will help. (Instability = the opposite of stability.) Hope this helps!
Hi Rich, great video. I’m a beginner and interested in buying one of these guitars as they seem to get good reviews. I’ve also watched your other videos featuring these guitars and one of the things that you often mention is the tuning stability of the 30 is better than the 41 because it has a fixed bridge. What I’d like to know is if you don’t fit the trem lever or use it on the 41 would it then be as stable as having a fixed bridge? Cheers
Thanks Richard, glad you've discovered my channel and are enjoying the videos! I think the AZES guitars are an excellent choice as a first instrument, so you'll be in good hands with one of those. And yes, when it comes to tuning stability, if you play the AZES40 without the trem arm in, you will have better tuning stability. It'll still be a tiny bit less stable than the AZES30 (because it's still not bolted to the guitar in the same way - although this is something you could also do if you liked) but the difference shouldn't be noticeable.
There are other factors that can affect tuning too, like how well the nut has been cut, the tuners themselves, if the strings are loose in the tuners and slip, etc. But these are all things you shouldn't stress over - and you can get a local tech to give your guitar a setup and they'll all go away. So, the short answer to your question is: yes! You'll be able to enjoy that bridge humbucker in all its goodness! I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any more questions, and enjoy your journey as a guitarist :)
@@RichWordsMusic thanks very much for reply, that’s really useful information for a beginner like myself, and yes I’m glad I discovered your channel. Keep the videos coming!
@@drachirtteltrab No problem, always happy to help out! Wishing you all the best with it, and yes, plenty more videos to come from me 😊
@@RichWordsMusic thank you so much for this response! i was hesitating so much on which model to pick because of the tuning stability issues, but it seems like it should be fine if i remove the trem arm!!! :))) thank you!!!
I need one of these. What about the ceramic magnet? I think Alnico should be better.
Yeah, I think most people assume Alnico should be the better choice (I guess because ceramic pickups are often found on beginner and super-cheap guitars). I think the pickups in these guitars sound great, and they're so versatile. That said, it would be interesting if Ibanez came out with a few different options - still with the different Alter Switch settings - so we'd have a choice! Cheers for watching :)
I wish they'd add another tone for the SSS one just for the bridge pickup so we can tame the brightness down a little and ballance it out with the rest of the pickup positions.
And a trem. That'd make the guitar perfect.
The headstock is way better and stylish looking than both Fender and Gibson, for like a fraction of their price.
Plus, the neck pickup doesn't have that pingy frequencies you hear from cheap single coils either so sounds nice too. Which is apparent in a lot of squire strats.
Maybe swapout the nutt with tusq and the tuners with locking ones, and that will make it more perfect than perfect.
But how come you guys completely skiped the alter switch that allows you to combine just the neck singlecoil with the bridge single coil to get the telecaster middle position tone? So wanted to hear that.
Was waiting for that the whole video. lol
Maybe you guys can demonstrate that later.
I think there will be more variants of these AZES guitars over the coming months, especially if they sell well (which they will!)... so I wouldn't be surprised to see an SSS one with another tone pot and a trem too. But for me personally, the SSS is perfect the way it is. I love the option of a hardtail Strat!
I agree with you though, these guitars are really classy. They look great, and they do sound very refined. Those Ibanez Essentials pickups are actually very good. With a few choice upgrades, like you say, these could be pro level guitars you could start with as a learner and keep forever!
Yeah, apologies about the Alter Switch. At the event we only had very limited time with the guitars, so it wasn't possible to do everything. But Ibanez said they'd like to send me one to make another video with, so hopefully I will get the chance to do that soon, and I will definitely do the whole Alter Switch thing! It's a really cool option and it gives these guitars even more versatility...
@@RichWordsMusic
I see. So you weren't kidding when you said you will receive one as a birthday present. lol
Congratulations
I guess I might get the HSS one and lower the humbucker way down to lower it's output because it will never get as bright as a single coil bridge pickup, being a humbucker.
What do you think about that? Would it mimic a bridge single coil with some what tamed brightness with the tone pot?
Or would you say it's a good idea to wait a little and buy SSS one with 2 tones when Ibanez releases one? That is of course, if they ever do release one down the line.
@@user-pt1ye7vd7m Ha ha, no... sadly I was kidding! Well, I was hoping... but my birthday came and went and there is no package from Ibanez ;) But they will send one soon I think! And I have to give it back afterwards, but that's better than nothing ;)
Hmm, it depends on exactly what you want from a bridge single coil. If you lower the humbucker too much you will just get a quiet humbucker that sounds bad. It won't start to sound like a single coil really. So I wouldn't recommend that. You could wait for Ibanez to maybe release an SSS one with two tones, but you could also just buy and then mod the HSS one - either fit a humbucker that you can split down to single coils too (there's lots of great choices there), or it's also possible to buy single coil pickups that are the same size as a regular humbucker. So that could also work.
i ll take the mint one....or the blue..dunno..
Yeah, it's a hard choice because they're both pretty great! For me, I've played them both a lot more now and I think the tuning stability of the AZES31 is what wins it for me... although I would love to have access to a bridge humbucker as well! Would be cool if they could do an HSS model with hardtail bridge option :)
sounds really good... a guitar you like to play on
I think these guitars sound great and they're really inspiring to play... I want one in 2022 :)
How is the fit and finish on these ?
Great on these two! They really felt good in the hand, and the build quality was spot on. They're very easy to play. Of course, these two guitars were brought to the event by Ibanez specifically, so they'll have picked good examples to show us, but I've bought similarly priced Ibanez guitars in the past and they've been excellent too.
Sounds really amazing. I should have bought this instead of my fender player with double the price. Oh goodness
These are great guitars indeed... but if the Fender feels right to you then you made the right decision! I guess you could always sell the Fender and get one of these with the money, but it might not be worth it. What you could do is get different pickups for the Fender if it's about the sounds...
@@RichWordsMusic I have already put up my Fender in fb market place. haha
@@borrogove Ha ha, well I hope you can sell it soon and you enjoy the AZES when you get it!
Ibanez AZ premium and ibanez Az essentials made in Indonesia ?
Yep, these AZES guitars are made in Indonesia, and the Premiums too... and the Prestige models are made in Japan.
how does it compares with Ibanez GRX40?
!banez !banez !banez 🤘🏽
8:56 🤘🏽REVV Rules 🤘🏽
Somebody buy the Metal melon 🍉 🤘🏽
Ha ha, you always pick up on the Revv references... but yes. How I'd love a Generator. The Melon's out of my league though, sadly (plus I hate melon!). Think I'd have to stat with a Grape and build up to it.
I’m not Picky on color but I’m a 60 cycle psycho so the melon won’t work with my power, and honestly a gen120p whilst it is my dream amp it’s power would be vastly under utilized sitting in my jam room with only me and a few neighbors(and the 40 some folks who actually watch my vids) ever hearing it. Maybe for me just a G20 or maybe just a G2 pedal. But oooh to have a sweet Onyx Pia and a purple gen 120p my 3 sitting on full stack 🤤 oh I’m just gonna bask in that image for a few hours… or until my boss yells WTF man back get to work !!
@@PooNinja Get back to work! But yes, that's my situation too... possibly D20 for me, as opposed to G20, but something smaller and more in my price range. The G3 pedal would turn the D20 into a snarling beast anyway, and I have the G2 for mid-range crunch. And I also have sensitive neighbors, so silent options are a must ;) And I know you can do that with the Generators too, it just feels like such a waste! That amp is built for stadiums, not bedrooms.
A lil comedy added as an ingredient...great content ///
Yeah, bring Henning in and everything gets a bit funnier. Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for watching!
and... what's the surprise... they sound like guitars above 1000 and more... but.... don t have the thin highs of all the Fender
and the Fender copies and the Copies of the vintage guitar s had.... all over the the years
I agree with this too! Particularly the HSS one really has a fat all-round tone. None of that brittle, ice picky bridge pickup sound to be found here!
"What do you know,? You're Welsh!" Hahah! He can play though ;) I think I have finally figured out that Henning is Doctor Evil!
Ha ha, yep, his fretboard skills make up for any other deficits ;) Henning is definitely a wannabe Doctor Evil, but deep down he's just too nice!
Hahah!! I am Welsh, but Henning secretly loves that about me
He definitely is a Bond villain of some type though… not even joking…
@@LeighFugeGuitar I can just imagine him sat on his plush chair in the evenings stroking his various cats, giggling madly and plotting his next attack on Swansea.
Hey I saw a kid at guitar center with his mom trying to return this guitar at least I think it was this one and they saw he dropped it and broke the jack
Uh-oh, I would hope it's not this exact one, but you never know! I actually think these plastic jack sockets should be more robust than the cheaper metal ones, but time will tell...
@@RichWordsMusic I can’t remember but it looked like this guitar, idk if it comes in that flat black? So it could have been something els.
@@N64Guy This one's so new I hope no-one has managed to break one so quickly!
👍🏻👍🏻
Rock on!
....and what I find real cool... that they are not..!!.aged
That's true! That's not something Ibanez have really touched much I guess... and I'm happy about that!
Slightly smaller frets to get students more into electric guitar? Wtf is that logic? They have smaller frets because it's cheaper and faster to install. Don't say dumb shit just for the sake of saying dumb shit.
So...how it should be?? What guitarra chip Best in the marketing
Mines being returned has a horrible back bow on the neck. :( I should have gone for a monoprice or Donner. This is worse than a low end squire. Definitely not a Classic Vibe! Shame on Ibanez!
Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear you had one with such a massive problem with yours. I haven't even seen any of the AZES guitars in any shops near me to try out, but the two we had for this video (like we said, picked by Ibanez for the show, but still) were excellent. I hope yours is an exception and not the rule!
haha on a budget through a Friedman amp ...
Ha ha, we could only use gear from the event - no cheap amps around ;)
Würde gern auch so spielen können ... aber wenigstens sehe ich dafür nicht aus wie ein Schrotthaufen ;-)