I own a few axes and my go to home player is a Pacifica.. always in tune.. neck holds solid.. plays easy... sounds good... just a great little guitar for the price
I really dig the Yamaha the look, the sound, everything. Yamaha really do make some good guitars. I love the Yamaha RGX's. And the person behind the camera was Grandma.
I don't care which one sounds better. I've got both a Yamaha 112V .... and an Ibanez AZES31. 2 great guitars that are affordable, from 2 makers with very good reputations, especially for lower-priced (don't say "budget", or "beginner") guitars.
If you started playing in the '90s, both of these sound superb for beginner's guitars. Pacifica 112s were always built well but the pickups were a weakness. Now I'd give it a slight edge over the Ibanez soundwise. The Pacifica has a vintage strat tone that was fairly rare even on pro guitars 20 years ago without changing the pickups. Either of these guitars would be playable at any level with a setup and a few inexpensive parts upgrades which would largely be improvements in feel.
No way at all the Yamaha sounds better. If you go play both you’d never say that. The Ibanez is lightyears better in every way. I have 2 AZES HSS and SSS. And 3 Pacificas in different models. Not even in the same universe as the Ibanez’s
Missed out on one important feature/spec- Scale length on Ibanez is 25" and Yamaha is 25.5"...As you mentioned it is not entry level guitar, so whoever looking to buy one of these guitar is a must know feature/spec. beginners wouldn't worry about scale length.
Ahhh man, this was so much fun! Thank you so much for having me in the video once again! I always enjoy making videos with you. I loved these guitars, but those AZES are KILLER!! I need one in my life. Next time we should shoot out a full price AZ vs. a full price Pacifica! haha
I have both the 612 and AZ2204. Both are my main guitars. Theyre pretty much on par. But im using the Ibanez more often since i have this guilt deep down in my heart that says "Hey Self, You bought this for $2000 so you must use it". So my Yamaha is basically my alternate guitar and the AZ is my main. I use the AZ for everyday playing, practice and guitar sessions at home, I use the Yamaha every weekends and during Gigs. I dont want to risk my AZ Gigging it. Ibanez in general are great. Theyre my main brand and i have 7 of them. But if i were to be practical there are some brands that can be as good as Ibanez if not can be better than them. Pacifica 612 or On Par with Az's. Charvel guitars are just as good as the Ibanez especially the RG's, and Godin guitars are equally good compare to Artcores.
I am impressed with the Ibanez. I haven't owned one since the 80's. If I live long enough, I might go for a repeat. It sounded quite refined and seemed to play nicely. The Yamaha was great, but I'm not particularly fond of "chimey" guitars. However, it had an explosive depth to its chimey-ness, which could be a nice weapon to have in the arsenal, under the right circumstances. As usual, I'm torn. But the Ibanez gets the nod.
The Ibanez is definitely more vintage looking and aesthetically pleasing. Have a premium AZ series and I can’t wait to get an AZES on my hands. I want to have something right under my AZ, so for me the AZES will do! And they carry a hard tail as well, so might have to get both!
If a guitar has brighter pickups you can always tone them down, with the dials but you can't do the same if the pickups are darker to start. The fretboard radius is quite different from both. AZES: 9.8" and 112: 13 1/4. The 112 V is rosewood as well, which would have been a better model to compare the AZES. I've seen a lot of players comment how fast and easy the 112V is to play. If you go up to the 212's they have nicer color options with matching headstocks. I thought about buying one of those then I can have guitar that plays well and aesthetics for great price still, and I can mod as I wish from there.
the yamaha has more of a scoop tone in the mediums in general, more modern sound. I prefer the look and the sound of the Ibanez, more traditionnal and vintage. But the two guitars are really great quality, you can't go wrong, it's only a matter of preference. Ibanez hits really hard for beginners, i would love to begin with that 30 years ago.
Thanks for the video..i was looking at both of these and this helped! Think im going to start shopping for an Ibanez...being able to switch the coils to series is a big selling point and my experience with Ibanez bass guitars has been awesome.
I'd immediately go to Ibanez because it has shorter scale length so feels and sound would immediately distinguish themselves to me. Bending could feels a little bit easier on 10-46, and this is the set I enjoy using for feel and sound as well.
If I was choosing, the Ibanez would win out hands down, with one feature making the deal: The neck joint. I have an Ibanez RG that sports their AANJ (All-Access Neck Joint), coupling it with a 24-fret neck. That joint permits comfortable access all the way up the neck. It's around as effective at the neck joint sported by my Schecter, which is the same as a so-called set-through. I have two other guitars that have the more traditional, big-block neck attachment, and the always get annoying quickly if I have to do anything past a certain point. I can see where it might not matter to many players, but many others will appreciate the ease of access afforded by that trimmed-down and sculpted neck joint.
I've owned an RG, and I currently own an AZ and I have to tell you the neck joint isn't the same to that of the RG's. It goes a bit further into the neck towards the headstock than the RG's neck joint. Still, it's a 100 times better than those old and stupid ass square joints though so you won't be disappointed.
If you've got small hands or short fingers I suggest you look at the Ibanez because it has the easy access heel joint. Makes for easier access to the higher frets. Frets like an SG in other words, without the neck dive....
@@neiljag718 Maybe I should have stated that I already have an American strat haha. I do love the sound of my Ibanez AZ224f. I chose it because it has 22 frets, so the single coils in the neck and middle actually sound pretty "stratty", also it has steel frets and a great Trem, roasted neck etc... But I still play the strat quite often. I love strats, you might even say I'm a bit obsessed. Fender has just gotten a little wild with pricing in my humble opinion.
I own this guitar as of today, and it’s amazing. The Ibanez is lighter, WAY more versatile. I sold my Yamaha Pacifica, because there’s just no comparison in my opinion. Ibanez hit a home run with this guitar!
I have played an Ibanez before in the past I dont own one but I played an electric one several years ago and it was good playing guitar a nice tone to it.
The dyna-mix system, saddle design, output jack, neck joint, and the roasted jatoboard give the AZES the edge in my opinion. Really liked the Pacifica's tones but couldn't jive with the rear-mounted knobs and that pickup ring!
I have both versions of the AZES and 2 different version of the Pacifica 112. The AZES’s are LIGHTYEARS better than the Yamahas. Like not even in the same realm. They’re by far the best $300 guitar ever made. The Yamahas are great. But the Ibanez absolutely destroy them in every single way possible.
The Yamaha is indeed a little bit brighter. As a Les Paul owner I like this extra brightness above the Ibanez. For those considering the second hand market, here in France it is way easier to find a 112V than the AZES. Considering price tags around 120-150€ for a next to new guitar, this is a no brainer for me.
I was torn between both today in my local music store and impulsively after testing both decided on the Ibanez, hadn´t seen this video before. I liked the lighter fretboard of the Yamaha way more, but the Ibanez just had that little something that made me pick it over the Yamaha. I Ordered it in Pastel Pink and will be getting it in a few days hopefully.
@@thaigo77 I still love it 💕 it plays really good, it sounds great and the colour is a perfect Cotton Candy pink. I changed the strings to D'Addario XS 10-49. I can definitely recommend it if you like the sound. I personally prefer the Les Paul sound and got the Ibanez to have a lighter guitar to take it to lessons, but started playing it at home quite a lot. Even my teacher says it's a great guitar, quality and sound wise.
The Ibanez has a poplar body. Sounds great. The Yamaha has an ALDER body, just like a Fender. Maybe that's your brightness. I think the Yamaha may be close.
@@TheGuitarGeek A ufo. It was pretty big, glowed orange, and made no noise. There was nothing between the ufo and me. It was at a short distance, and if they had wanted to communicate with me, they could have done so with a speaker of any other method of making me understand. Since it didn't', it's just a guess as to why. The simplest idea is that, as a probe, it wasn't' after first contact. OR, the craft might have been in mechanical trouble. It did fly down the pass, so it could at least control its flight path.
Idk if I should get a Yamaha Pacifica, or Classic vibe Squier telecaster. Maybe even a Squier strat? Idk or should I just get a 2nd hand fender? Some people say Squier is mid for the price while others say it exceeds so idk 🤷🏽♀️
I got both. Beware of the Ibanez, the metallic parts was so cheap !!! I got 2 saddles wich has losen screws because of the bad material quality, also the string tree was twisted by the pression of the string. The paint is made of kind of plastic easy to scratch and break. The fret job is pretty bad, so the string action is too high to be pleasant. I'm a careful but this guitar feels like a toy. Yamaha Pacifica is 5x better in terms of durability and quality build. It's solid and stainless. The sound is decent, very balanced but basic. Overall, it's a guitar wich feels very better, it's heavier than the Ibanez because the wood is better, so the sound is better especially in the treble. If you plan to buy and ibanez, you must spend 1000$+++ to get something acceptable...
First and foremost you should know about the Ibanez AZES, that this is Vaporware. After the announcements on 31st August/1 September I ordered it immediately, but after several delays I was informed today by Thomann again, that it will still not be delivered before February 2022. Needless to say, I canceled my order. What a pity. Maybe in a year or two these will be really available.
Hi Andy, Ibanez say the AZ ES has medium frets, rather than the jumbo of the more expensive models. How did they feel under the fingers? Would players who are used to taller frets experience any problems?
@@TheGuitarGeek Can't wait! :D As a 112V owner, I always somewhat considered the AZ for an upgrade, but for more than 4x the price of 112V for a Premium AZ, I don't know, bit hard to justify... AZES alter switch is a neat feature for an affordable guitar!
@@TheGuitarGeek Can't wait for that comparison video. Can you please do a side by side body and neck comparison with the regular AZ in your video, so that we know size differences in the body and neck between the AZES and Regular AZ. I am really interested in AZES40 for a mod platform but the 25" scale length and 10" fretboard radius kinda become a deal breaker for me. So I've been studying the AZES real hard by watching all the review videos before buying one...
Both guitars look great to me. I have a Pacifica 112V arriving soon. I would think that the cause for the brighter sound of the Yamaha is due to it having a maple neck and the Ibanez being a rosewood neck which usually has more bottom. Both awesome affordable instruments.
Yes yamaha 112vm only comes at maple fretboard… that is why i always prefer yamaha 112v with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard… i tell you.. They don’t disappoint.. yamaha is fire for its price
I wish they released the Azes in a less cartooish/childish color. I would buy it in a heartbeat if it came in their Ice blue metallic or Hazy Rose Metallic they have for the AZ series.
Ibanez has a very nice 10" radius board similar to the guitar it is copying....Pacifica's have a nasty 13.75 flat board that I can't stand.....makes it a easy choice for me
Since both these have humbuckers, you should have done a high gain comparison as well so we could judge which was also the best for rock and metal. Sure we needed the clean channel comparison but with humbucker equipped guitars, it’s not a complete review without a high gain comparison.
OMMV but IMV Yamaha designed the Pacifica headstock to look like a Strat's, but with an undeniably superior aesthetic proportion. Pretty sure Fender would have been wishing they had done it an aeon ago, but are between a rock and a hard place in altering a trademark icon figuratively cast in stone now without risking backlash through outright rejection from their stuck in the mud brand fanbase. OTOH, I do like the original Fender Telecaster headstock design. Leo got that one exactly right. Far better proportional design.
@@TheGuitarGeek Well maybe we can see it in the future. I usually only see people talking about the Cutlass and rarely the Stingray. Some people may not like the offset neck profile. But i slowly scraped and sanded my neck into more of a fender profile and its awesome!
@@TheGuitarGeek it’s exactly the same as the Pacifica you played in this video, just different colour. 😊 could you tell me which one you think is better please?
@@TheGuitarGeek if you could let me know which one you think is better Yamaha Pacifica 112 (in this video) or the Harley Benton Fusion III for a beginner who would like to play pop and 80s (disco, rock, pop), that would be great! I will not play any metal. Thanks ☺️
@@TheGuitarGeek Thank you! One final question, so its the coil split HSS yamaha vs the coil split HSH harley benton. Do you think the pickups of the Yamaha are better than that of the Harley Benton? How about the build quality? Thanks again!
I bought both of these guitars, hoping for something good but different. I returned them within a week. Similarly priced Fender Squiers are better in every way based on my experience.
@@tinytuco You're behind the times. The updated Squier Affinity Stratocasters have equal or better features, and much better sound than either of these - and they cost less too.
@@PrettyUglyR6 As I noted in my comments, I think the Squier Affinity Stratocaster is a great value. As with all guitars, make sure it gets set up properly. Or watch a "how to" video on TH-cam, and do it yourself.
I really really want to buy the Ibanez but I can’t deal with that strachplate. Having the lower horn of the guitar and lower horn of the scratchplate be totally different radius looks cheep and nasty. It looks like they used what ever was laying around the factory and not actually designed one bespoke for that body shape.
@@TheGuitarGeek I could deal with it being a little short if it followed the radius of the horn and fitted the design of the body. its the fact it is so awkward a design on a guitar thats supposed to be about being simple and elegant. It might work on a more in your face product line like iron label etc but not here.
Same with you. I personally love to have single coil in the neck position but they did not have one with single coil in the neck and without that butt ugly ass looking pickgard back then, so I bought one of the HH ones instead. Then like 2 monthes forward, they released HSS AZs without pickgards and I was so mad. lol If I get one of those AZESes, I will get the brightest colored one so the pickgard is not as noticeable.
I prefer the Pacifica, a signature some boque. More hight and attack, a twang or zing that one can not create with effects. The Ibanez sound is in my mind very one size fits all tasteless as most guitars are but the best looking but that was a easy one.
I ve bought an Ibanez because of Jatoba wood (beautiful) and because the radius. You forgot to talk about radius. The Pacifica has as 12" radius fretboard (more flat). I just have a guitar with a 12 radius (SG). So I ve got a Ibanez because it has a 10" freatboard radius. And the scale of Ibanez is shorter. It is an intermediate scale. The sound of both are nice.
Unbelievable, Unbelievable, Unbelievable. 1 all the spec info in your description but no signal chain info on that fantastic opening sound. 2 you did not mention the one thing that attracted me to the Ibanez and got me to this video in the first place, IT"S NOT 25.5 INCH SCALE. Have you got any idea how rare that is on a 6 screw vintage trem guitar. At any price. 3 at 13 minutes odd when you say use a clean tone and it's just gritty as f$%K. Don't get me wrong it sounds great as a vintage breakup tone but its not clean. Anyway still a great video. I'd love to know what pedals, amp, speaker and mic got that opening tone??
Okay, Seriously every guitar I want is out of stock or waiting for shipment.. 😂 preordered the AZES today. I need a new guitar and this is so frustrating! I’m stuck with my squire right now and I’m very unhappy with it, mine has a lot of issues but is still playable. I had the opportunity to buy a Fender Player series but didn’t like the model because I’m picky and wanted a different color and yet! Here I am wanting the AZES! I love the red SSS wish they had a HSS in the red!
A better, or perhaps voiced as another worthwhile meaningfully comparative shootout would be between Yamaha's Pacifica 112V and Cort's G Series G250 at around the same price points. The Pacifica is a ubiquitous and perennial standard in this category by which all others are judged, whereas Ibanez and Cort are constantly evolving. I own electric and acoustic guitars from all three brands, and so without brand bias can appreciate the strengths and characteristics all three bring to the marketplace and guitarist's table. P.S. Just a salient point. In my country, Ibanez are always more expensive for any near equivalent model compared with Yamaha or Cort, but consistently don't reflect that premium in what they offer IMPE. I suppose they have to pay for all those celebrity endorsements somehow. Case in point, this Ibanez AZES 40. It's AUD$150 more expensive than the current price of that Pacifica here making the Pacifica a no brainer choice on a bang for your buck basis.And for the AUD$40 less than the price of this Ibanez, I could upgrade to a Cort G260DX which is superior to any of the aforementioned, and in vintage Seafoam Green if that's the preferred colour.
Yamaha Pacifica historically associated with beginners...too bad the folks here are probably too young to know what the Pacifica really started off like:) but keep a close eye on Smashing Pumpkins's Jeff Schroeder for the foreseeable future, thats all Im gonna say..
Thank you so much for sharing!
I own a Yamaha Pacifica 112VM and it's fantastic and stays in tune extremely well. The coil split always works and adds to the tonal options.
From indonesia
@@woodschannel6775 lah?
A comparison vs the squire classic vibe is already overdue!!
I own a few axes and my go to home player is a Pacifica.. always in tune.. neck holds solid.. plays easy... sounds good... just a great little guitar for the price
I love Yamaha guitars. Especially the Rgx's and RgZ's.
I really dig the Yamaha the look, the sound, everything. Yamaha really do make some good
guitars. I love the Yamaha RGX's. And the person behind the camera was Grandma.
I don't care which one sounds better. I've got both a Yamaha 112V .... and an Ibanez AZES31. 2 great guitars that are affordable, from 2 makers with very good reputations, especially for lower-priced (don't say "budget", or "beginner") guitars.
Which one you like better?
If you started playing in the '90s, both of these sound superb for beginner's guitars. Pacifica 112s were always built well but the pickups were a weakness. Now I'd give it a slight edge over the Ibanez soundwise. The Pacifica has a vintage strat tone that was fairly rare even on pro guitars 20 years ago without changing the pickups. Either of these guitars would be playable at any level with a setup and a few inexpensive parts upgrades which would largely be improvements in feel.
No way at all the Yamaha sounds better. If you go play both you’d never say that. The Ibanez is lightyears better in every way. I have 2 AZES HSS and SSS. And 3 Pacificas in different models. Not even in the same universe as the Ibanez’s
Missed out on one important feature/spec- Scale length on Ibanez is 25" and Yamaha is 25.5"...As you mentioned it is not entry level guitar, so whoever looking to buy one of these guitar is a must know feature/spec. beginners wouldn't worry about scale length.
@@simplevideo8629 the neck looks too short on the ibanez!! There's something slightly weird about its look.
This is exactly the two guitars I have been looking at, thanks for the demos but I want both!
Ahhh man, this was so much fun! Thank you so much for having me in the video once again! I always enjoy making videos with you. I loved these guitars, but those AZES are KILLER!! I need one in my life.
Next time we should shoot out a full price AZ vs. a full price Pacifica! haha
Good vid Leigh, thanks!
I'm gonna buy the red hardtail version as soon as it's available in my place too.
Great idea.
Let's throw Fender American strat into the mix.
I have both the 612 and AZ2204. Both are my main guitars. Theyre pretty much on par. But im using the Ibanez more often since i have this guilt deep down in my heart that says "Hey Self, You bought this for $2000 so you must use it". So my Yamaha is basically my alternate guitar and the AZ is my main. I use the AZ for everyday playing, practice and guitar sessions at home, I use the Yamaha every weekends and during Gigs. I dont want to risk my AZ Gigging it.
Ibanez in general are great. Theyre my main brand and i have 7 of them. But if i were to be practical there are some brands that can be as good as Ibanez if not can be better than them.
Pacifica 612 or On Par with Az's. Charvel guitars are just as good as the Ibanez especially the RG's, and Godin guitars are equally good compare to Artcores.
@@daghetto101 So if the Pacifica is on par with your AZ, is it fair to say you get the same value for half the price?
Dang... I'm shopping for a left-handed intro for my son... you guys really did this well. Bravo.
I am impressed with the Ibanez. I haven't owned one since the 80's. If I live long enough, I might go for a repeat. It sounded quite refined and seemed to play nicely. The Yamaha was great, but I'm not particularly fond of "chimey" guitars. However, it had an explosive depth to its chimey-ness, which could be a nice weapon to have in the arsenal, under the right circumstances. As usual, I'm torn. But the Ibanez gets the nod.
Here's to your health and a long life! hope you get the right guitar for you
I have a Pacifica,. Made in Indonesia, I don't have to lift weights, I just play guitar, it weighs ,9 and a half pounds,
The Ibanez does have a true coil split. If you flip the alt switch and then put it in position 4 it will coil tap and only be the bridge pickup
Thank you for mentioning that. The good thing about these two guys is that that brought out much useful comments from good people like yourself.
The Ibanez is definitely more vintage looking and aesthetically pleasing. Have a premium AZ series and I can’t wait to get an AZES on my hands. I want to have something right under my AZ, so for me the AZES will do! And they carry a hard tail as well, so might have to get both!
Both is good!
You won’t be disappointed at all. I just bought it, and it won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
For my part I prefer the Yamaha =), feels more comfortable to me again , depends on what you looking for
If a guitar has brighter pickups you can always tone them down, with the dials but you can't do the same if the pickups are darker to start. The fretboard radius is quite different from both. AZES: 9.8" and 112: 13 1/4. The 112 V is rosewood as well, which would have been a better model to compare the AZES. I've seen a lot of players comment how fast and easy the 112V is to play. If you go up to the 212's they have nicer color options with matching headstocks. I thought about buying one of those then I can have guitar that plays well and aesthetics for great price still, and I can mod as I wish from there.
Great video. Love these guys. Great to finally see them in a video together!
I’d love the Yamaha body with the Ibanez sound. They are both excellent value though. 😀👍👍👍
Yamaha 8 Ibanez 6 for me. Tx for great video
You’re welcome!
the yamaha has more of a scoop tone in the mediums in general, more modern sound. I prefer the look and the sound of the Ibanez, more traditionnal and vintage. But the two guitars are really great quality, you can't go wrong, it's only a matter of preference. Ibanez hits really hard for beginners, i would love to begin with that 30 years ago.
I think you should do the review. Those two guys could not come to a good conclusion; let alone weighing the guitars, could they have used a scale?
Really want to try this ibanez. Pretty cool that it's PRS scale length
I like the sounds of yamaha more. But the ibanez is still very nice 👍😊
Hey Andy cheers from NY! Henning would say "The wood feels harder, that's what she said". lol
Thanks for the review gentlemen! :-)
Hahaha....
@@prefacciprian7728 Real fact based from these two guys ;-)
Nice comparison, I also picked the Ibanez, one they are my favorite guitars but mainly the looks and tones of it for me sounded better
For me it just had the edge
I am getting the Mint Green one because my Mum likes the colour.
Your mum prefers the color black. 😊
YUP ... great things can be bought for little money these days!
You just proofed this once more ... nice job!
Totally! Yes it’s a winning time for guitarists
Thanks for the video..i was looking at both of these and this helped! Think im going to start shopping for an Ibanez...being able to switch the coils to series is a big selling point and my experience with Ibanez bass guitars has been awesome.
I'd immediately go to Ibanez because it has shorter scale length so feels and sound would immediately distinguish themselves to me. Bending could feels a little bit easier on 10-46, and this is the set I enjoy using for feel and sound as well.
Wow I didn't realize it is different.
Ibanez = 25" vs Yamaha 25.5"
If I was choosing, the Ibanez would win out hands down, with one feature making the deal: The neck joint. I have an Ibanez RG that sports their AANJ (All-Access Neck Joint), coupling it with a 24-fret neck. That joint permits comfortable access all the way up the neck. It's around as effective at the neck joint sported by my Schecter, which is the same as a so-called set-through. I have two other guitars that have the more traditional, big-block neck attachment, and the always get annoying quickly if I have to do anything past a certain point. I can see where it might not matter to many players, but many others will appreciate the ease of access afforded by that trimmed-down and sculpted neck joint.
I've owned an RG, and I currently own an AZ and I have to tell you the neck joint isn't the same to that of the RG's.
It goes a bit further into the neck towards the headstock than the RG's neck joint.
Still, it's a 100 times better than those old and stupid ass square joints though so you won't be disappointed.
More collabs with Leigh please Andy. You guys are a great presentation fit.
If you've got small hands or short fingers I suggest you look at the Ibanez because it has the easy access heel joint. Makes for easier access to the higher frets. Frets like an SG in other words, without the neck dive....
Which one should i get ?
The heel contour is a must for me. It's the reason I didn't buy a strat.
Yep I agree
comfort of playing > tone , looks
This is what actually makes you sound better because you play better when it's comfortable .
@@neiljag718 Maybe I should have stated that I already have an American strat haha. I do love the sound of my Ibanez AZ224f. I chose it because it has 22 frets, so the single coils in the neck and middle actually sound pretty "stratty", also it has steel frets and a great Trem, roasted neck etc... But I still play the strat quite often. I love strats, you might even say I'm a bit obsessed. Fender has just gotten a little wild with pricing in my humble opinion.
@@neiljag718 I do absolutely agree with what you said.
I wonder if fender made a strat without the neck plate, and a contoured neck heel if it would still sound the same.
Pacifica 112 アルダー。 Ibanez AZES 40 ポプラ。
音はトーンでブライトから丸くできるが、逆はできない。
YAMAHAはインドネシアにある直営の自社工場。
Ibanezは直営の生産工場を持っていないので、全てOEM。
モデルや価格帯で、生産工場（OEM先）が違う。
質や安定性では個人的にはYAMAHA。
あとは好みの問題。
I own this guitar as of today, and it’s amazing. The Ibanez is lighter, WAY more versatile. I sold my Yamaha Pacifica, because there’s just no comparison in my opinion. Ibanez hit a home run with this guitar!
Do find any differences with feel of neck/fretboard and speed? The AZES has a fretboard radius of 9.8" and the 112 has 13.25".
Very nice explanation about both guitars. Stay blessed brothers.
I have played an Ibanez before in the past I dont own one but I played an electric one several years ago and it was good playing guitar a nice tone to it.
Thank you-I’m liking the sound of the Yamaha more, and yet I haven’t watched the other video for the extra trine options.
You are welcome! Both guitars are a win IMO
@@TheGuitarGeek agreed!
More similar is the Pacifica 112v with rosewood fretboard, yes, rosewood.
Maybe but Yamaha didn’t bring that to the event.
What is the weight of the AZ? How is the setup? Any imperfections? I need to see the trem system under the cover.
Great review
The dyna-mix system, saddle design, output jack, neck joint, and the roasted jatoboard give the AZES the edge in my opinion. Really liked the Pacifica's tones but couldn't jive with the rear-mounted knobs and that pickup ring!
I hear you brother
I love the pickup aesthetic in the Pacifica. Definitively it's a matter of perception
That pink Yamaha is the bomb.
I have both versions of the AZES and 2 different version of the Pacifica 112. The AZES’s are LIGHTYEARS better than the Yamahas. Like not even in the same realm. They’re by far the best $300 guitar ever made. The Yamahas are great. But the Ibanez absolutely destroy them in every single way possible.
The Yamaha is indeed a little bit brighter. As a Les Paul owner I like this extra brightness above the Ibanez.
For those considering the second hand market, here in France it is way easier to find a 112V than the AZES. Considering price tags around 120-150€ for a next to new guitar, this is a no brainer for me.
Did you mention the radius of both guitar neck? I read somewhere the Ibanez AZES has a shorter neck...did you mention this too? ?
Lay back quality content.
Keep them coming guys.
Más toque y menos palabrería. Señores.. Más prueva de sonido
Y menos palabrería... Saludos.
My 2 favourite TH-camrs, I love this video, you should collaborate much much much much much more!!!!!
I was torn between both today in my local music store and impulsively after testing both decided on the Ibanez, hadn´t seen this video before. I liked the lighter fretboard of the Yamaha way more, but the Ibanez just had that little something that made me pick it over the Yamaha. I Ordered it in Pastel Pink and will be getting it in a few days hopefully.
Hey! Enjoy that Ibanez.
A few Months in what do u think of it now?
@@thaigo77 I still love it 💕 it plays really good, it sounds great and the colour is a perfect Cotton Candy pink. I changed the strings to D'Addario XS 10-49. I can definitely recommend it if you like the sound. I personally prefer the Les Paul sound and got the Ibanez to have a lighter guitar to take it to lessons, but started playing it at home quite a lot. Even my teacher says it's a great guitar, quality and sound wise.
Same here, I spent about two hours going back and forth, in the end the Azes won me over.
The Ibanez has a poplar body. Sounds great.
The Yamaha has an ALDER body, just like a Fender. Maybe that's your brightness.
I think the Yamaha may be close.
Close to what?
@@TheGuitarGeek A ufo. It was pretty big, glowed orange, and made no noise.
There was nothing between the ufo and me.
It was at a short distance, and if they had wanted to communicate with me, they could have done so with a speaker of any other method of making me understand.
Since it didn't', it's just a guess as to why. The simplest idea is that, as a probe, it wasn't' after first contact.
OR, the craft might have been in mechanical trouble. It did fly down the pass, so it could at least control its flight path.
Idk if I should get a Yamaha Pacifica, or Classic vibe Squier telecaster. Maybe even a Squier strat? Idk or should I just get a 2nd hand fender? Some people say Squier is mid for the price while others say it exceeds so idk 🤷🏽♀️
So which one is better for the beginner?
I got both. Beware of the Ibanez, the metallic parts was so cheap !!! I got 2 saddles wich has losen screws because of the bad material quality, also the string tree was twisted by the pression of the string. The paint is made of kind of plastic easy to scratch and break. The fret job is pretty bad, so the string action is too high to be pleasant. I'm a careful but this guitar feels like a toy.
Yamaha Pacifica is 5x better in terms of durability and quality build.
It's solid and stainless. The sound is decent, very balanced but basic.
Overall, it's a guitar wich feels very better, it's heavier than the Ibanez because the wood is better, so the sound is better especially in the treble.
If you plan to buy and ibanez, you must spend 1000$+++ to get something acceptable...
For my part I've tried both in a music store, and I'll go with the yamaha, feels better to me and the mic are well balanced like you said =)
First and foremost you should know about the Ibanez AZES, that this is Vaporware. After the announcements on 31st August/1 September I ordered it immediately, but after several delays I was informed today by Thomann again, that it will still not be delivered before February 2022. Needless to say, I canceled my order. What a pity. Maybe in a year or two these will be really available.
The neck width if the Yamaha i need but the Ibanez i really like darn but the neck width too wide for me. 😢
Hi Andy, Ibanez say the AZ ES has medium frets, rather than the jumbo of the more expensive models.
How did they feel under the fingers? Would players who are used to taller frets experience any problems?
Great question. I’ll cover it in my AZ vs AZES video!
@@TheGuitarGeek Thanks Andy. The ES looks a great guitar for the money, but I do prefer a taller fret.
@@TheGuitarGeek Can't wait! :D As a 112V owner, I always somewhat considered the AZ for an upgrade, but for more than 4x the price of 112V for a Premium AZ, I don't know, bit hard to justify... AZES alter switch is a neat feature for an affordable guitar!
@@TheGuitarGeek Can't wait for that comparison video. Can you please do a side by side body and neck comparison with the regular AZ in your video, so that we know size differences in the body and neck between the AZES and Regular AZ.
I am really interested in AZES40 for a mod platform but the 25" scale length and 10" fretboard radius kinda become a deal breaker for me. So I've been studying the AZES real hard by watching all the review videos before buying one...
Both guitars look great to me. I have a Pacifica 112V arriving soon. I would think that the cause for the brighter sound of the Yamaha is due to it having a maple neck and the Ibanez being a rosewood neck which usually has more bottom. Both awesome affordable instruments.
Yes yamaha 112vm only comes at maple fretboard… that is why i always prefer yamaha 112v with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard… i tell you.. They don’t disappoint.. yamaha is fire for its price
That model Ibanez is $60 more than the Yamaha 112VM around here. The comparative priced Ibanez is the GRX70QA.
I wish they released the Azes in a less cartooish/childish color. I would buy it in a heartbeat if it came in their Ice blue metallic or Hazy Rose Metallic they have for the AZ series.
Qual e o modelo da Yamaha pacifica?
Qual o modelo da Ibanez?
Que estão sendo comparadas nesse vídeo?
We need an AZES vs Fusion II or III !
Ibanez has a very nice 10" radius board similar to the guitar it is copying....Pacifica's have a nasty 13.75 flat board that I can't stand.....makes it a easy choice for me
Which guitar should i take?
1. Ibanez grx40
2. Ibanez grg140
3. Yamaha pacifica 112VM
Pacifica
Since both these have humbuckers, you should have done a high gain comparison as well so we could judge which was also the best for rock and metal. Sure we needed the clean channel comparison but with humbucker equipped guitars, it’s not a complete review without a high gain comparison.
OMMV but IMV Yamaha designed the Pacifica headstock to look like a Strat's, but with an undeniably superior aesthetic proportion. Pretty sure Fender would have been wishing they had done it an aeon ago, but are between a rock and a hard place in altering a trademark icon figuratively cast in stone now without risking backlash through outright rejection from their stuck in the mud brand fanbase. OTOH, I do like the original Fender Telecaster headstock design. Leo got that one exactly right. Far better proportional design.
both sound nice and look comfortable
still only rec squier for budget
You should put a Squier and a Sterling Stingray up against these two. I feel like the Sterling is very underrated for such a beautiful guitar.
I tried to put the sterling in the mix but someone else was using it
@@TheGuitarGeek Well maybe we can see it in the future. I usually only see people talking about the Cutlass and rarely the Stingray. Some people may not like the offset neck profile. But i slowly scraped and sanded my neck into more of a fender profile and its awesome!
@theguitargeek what do you think is better, the 112VM or the Harley Benton Fusion III?
I’ve never played that model of Pacifica. Sorry
@@TheGuitarGeek it’s exactly the same as the Pacifica you played in this video, just different colour. 😊 could you tell me which one you think is better please?
@@TheGuitarGeek if you could let me know which one you think is better Yamaha Pacifica 112 (in this video) or the Harley Benton Fusion III for a beginner who would like to play pop and 80s (disco, rock, pop), that would be great! I will not play any metal. Thanks ☺️
Hey! I would go for the Yamaha as it has single coil pickups which will get you closer to the sound you want. Enjoy it!
@@TheGuitarGeek Thank you! One final question, so its the coil split HSS yamaha vs the coil split HSH harley benton. Do you think the pickups of the Yamaha are better than that of the Harley Benton? How about the build quality? Thanks again!
I bought both of these guitars, hoping for something good but different. I returned them within a week. Similarly priced Fender Squiers are better in every way based on my experience.
Fenders yes squires no. But a fender will cost you 3x as much
@@tinytuco You're behind the times. The updated Squier Affinity Stratocasters have equal or better features, and much better sound than either of these - and they cost less too.
@@patrickfitzgerald2861 any you can recommend me I was about to buy this
@@PrettyUglyR6 As I noted in my comments, I think the Squier Affinity Stratocaster is a great value. As with all guitars, make sure it gets set up properly. Or watch a "how to" video on TH-cam, and do it yourself.
LMFAO you have to be kidding me....Squier is pure garbage, up to the Standard level and then they are just ok Fender clones....you are insane.
I would choose the Ibanez because, being an Alter Bridge fan, I need that Alter Switch to get those tasty Tremonti and Kennedy tones.
Does a fender neck or an AZ neck fit on the Ibanez? I would replace the neck with a roasted neck with Jumbo frets
The AZES is 25 inch scale so no, they would not fit
I have the Ibáñez. Wonderfull. With the right amp. For beguiners. Very happy gigin. 🤘🤘🤘
Very nice!
love both! for me ibanez is more modern sound than pacifica
i have try or played az es not yamaha... but my point goes to ibanez as the best budget guitar of year.. ibanez is loud punchy n versatile...
I really really want to buy the Ibanez but I can’t deal with that strachplate. Having the lower horn of the guitar and lower horn of the scratchplate be totally different radius looks cheep and nasty. It looks like they used what ever was laying around the factory and not actually designed one bespoke for that body shape.
I hear you. I can accept it but I prefer when the scratch plate goes to the end of the horn
@@TheGuitarGeek I could deal with it being a little short if it followed the radius of the horn and fitted the design of the body. its the fact it is so awkward a design on a guitar thats supposed to be about being simple and elegant. It might work on a more in your face product line like iron label etc but not here.
Same with you.
I personally love to have single coil in the neck position but they did not have one with single coil in the neck and without that butt ugly ass looking pickgard back then, so I bought one of the HH ones instead.
Then like 2 monthes forward, they released HSS AZs without pickgards and I was so mad. lol
If I get one of those AZESes, I will get the brightest colored one so the pickgard is not as noticeable.
Sound Yamaya good ++,Ibanez beautiful ++
I have to buy it to know how they differs from each other and that's not an excuse to buy another guitar. Well, maybe, but that's beside the point.
the yamaha has maple fretboard, longer scale length and alnico pickups.. Offcause it is brighter and more snappy
Ibanez I love 35 yrs ofplaying,,,gigging,,studio and teaching sweet organic Ibanez they made it too good
How about the AZES compared to Bacchus BST-2-Rsm ?
Yamaha Yamaha!!!
What about playability please?
I prefer the Pacifica, a signature some boque. More hight and attack, a twang or zing that one can not create with effects. The Ibanez sound is in my mind very one size fits all tasteless as most guitars are but the best looking but that was a easy one.
is the Ibanez AZ just a modern Ibanez CT?
I ve bought an Ibanez because of Jatoba wood (beautiful) and because the radius. You forgot to talk about radius. The Pacifica has as 12" radius fretboard (more flat). I just have a guitar with a 12 radius (SG). So I ve got a Ibanez because it has a 10" freatboard radius. And the scale of Ibanez is shorter. It is an intermediate scale. The sound of both are nice.
Yamaha Pacifica is outstanding guitar for a years..
I’ve pasifica 112vm. Im from indonesia and the guitar too
The difference in brghtness is probably due to the maple neck. If the Ibanez had a fulcrum trem it would be a no brainer.
Is the Ibanez a good first guitar
Very much so. Maybe the one without the tremolo
I believe yamaha is better but what about you mind comparing between yamaha 112 and 212 please
Great video!!! Noice IbanAZES!!!!! :D
Thanks V!
Lefty versions?
Disappointed that az es does not come with maple fretboard or black pickguard.
I like the tone of the Yamaha better but I like the look of the Ibanez better. I'm going to have to buy myself a cheap guitar for my collection.
Unbelievable, Unbelievable, Unbelievable. 1 all the spec info in your description but no signal chain info on that fantastic opening sound. 2 you did not mention the one thing that attracted me to the Ibanez and got me to this video in the first place, IT"S NOT 25.5 INCH SCALE. Have you got any idea how rare that is on a 6 screw vintage trem guitar. At any price. 3 at 13 minutes odd when you say use a clean tone and it's just gritty as f$%K. Don't get me wrong it sounds great as a vintage breakup tone but its not clean. Anyway still a great video. I'd love to know what pedals, amp, speaker and mic got that opening tone??
This or the gretsch g2210?
Okay, Seriously every guitar I want is out of stock or waiting for shipment.. 😂 preordered the AZES today. I need a new guitar and this is so frustrating! I’m stuck with my squire right now and I’m very unhappy with it, mine has a lot of issues but is still playable. I had the opportunity to buy a Fender Player series but didn’t like the model because I’m picky and wanted a different color and yet! Here I am wanting the AZES! I love the red SSS wish they had a HSS in the red!
A better, or perhaps voiced as another worthwhile meaningfully comparative shootout would be between Yamaha's Pacifica 112V and Cort's G Series G250 at around the same price points. The Pacifica is a ubiquitous and perennial standard in this category by which all others are judged, whereas Ibanez and Cort are constantly evolving. I own electric and acoustic guitars from all three brands, and so without brand bias can appreciate the strengths and characteristics all three bring to the marketplace and guitarist's table. P.S. Just a salient point. In my country, Ibanez are always more expensive for any near equivalent model compared with Yamaha or Cort, but consistently don't reflect that premium in what they offer IMPE. I suppose they have to pay for all those celebrity endorsements somehow. Case in point, this Ibanez AZES 40. It's AUD$150 more expensive than the current price of that Pacifica here making the Pacifica a no brainer choice on a bang for your buck basis.And for the AUD$40 less than the price of this Ibanez, I could upgrade to a Cort G260DX which is superior to any of the aforementioned, and in vintage Seafoam Green if that's the preferred colour.
Yamaha Pacifica historically associated with beginners...too bad the folks here are probably too young to know what the Pacifica really started off like:) but keep a close eye on Smashing Pumpkins's Jeff Schroeder for the foreseeable future, thats all Im gonna say..