Love the AZ I hope they can give us some more color options at some point and maybe a compound radius neck. The new green and gray finishes are really cool
Agreed, not so sure I am too stoked about a 12 inch radius. I’d much prefer the 12 to 16 compound radius like Charvel uses. That is the magic neck for me but the rest of the specs on this Ibanez AZ guitar are great.
Great demonstration of the guitar. I've thought about pulling the trigger on an AZ several times but I've always hesitated because I've got a JS1000 that is basically the same guitar minus a few features. JS1000's are very underrated guitars. It sucks the price of used guitars has gone up. A couple years ago you could find good used JS1000's for $600-900.
From the opening intro, I could hear that it has "that" sound, that Ibanez thing that blew me away when I first heard it from Satriani all the way back in 1987. Sure, it's also the amp and especially the player, but that guitar sings. I know you love your PRS, but Heaven Above on that thing should make it a worthy contender for your affection.
Its nice to see The Midnight getting some love. Cool band! I have 2 AZ’s, a Premium and Prestige (Both with Dimarzio HSH pickups). I play them all the time. I love the fatter neck shape and wide fingerboard.
Fujigen Ibbies are usually all extremely well build with amazing playability, it's just a shame that Ibanez seems to have completely given up on making new Prestige RG, RGA & S models. Second year in a row, without a new Prestige RG model, which was their flagship guitar. Hell, I would be happy if they would release a Genesis version of the RG1570 similar to the RG550 Genesis Series.
Yeah. I agree. The RG Prestige models ,.....imo, have always been the flagship model. I have this sickening feeling they are going to start "reissue'ing' those incredible RG 550's and so on. For Gibson CS type prices. Call it a hunch. Hence,....the reason,....I THINK,.... Randall Smith was fired. He was refusing to go along with reissuing the Rectifier and they were going to start importing cheaper components for the core line of Mesa. It'll all come out eventually.
I'm much more of a DiMarzio guy, but I think it's cool that Ibanez is including so many pickup options now including Duncan, EMG, Fishman, Bareknuckle, etc. They know they have to consistently expand their customer base and it's the right thing to do. The thing I dig about the AZ series most is that they are not as metal focused as a lot of Ibanezes. Nothing against metal guitars. I've owned my share. But I tend to like what I'd call a more traditional sort of super strat with non-locking trems. These are very well designed, classy axes.
Hoping for a collab with The Midnight someday, would be a perfect match! Sweet guitar too, very versatile. My Cort G300 Pro is extremely similar, almost identical outside of the mini-toggle switch. It plays like a dream too.
I have The Prestige black 22 fret, and it is probably the most playable guitar I have ever had. I really like the Hyperion pickups, and it's just a good all-around guitar. The neck is a tiny bit chunkier, but I love the feel.
Gotta love an Ibanez, I haven't tried a high end AZ, but I played the cheaper model and that was super great at its price point, that one you have looks beautiful 💚 definitely a great Strat for a shredder.
Got my HSS AZ in 2018.. I have since sold most all my other guitars.. It does most things and plays like butter. I did change out the pearloid pickguard for a flat mint green to fix the look.
I love my AZ 2204 Prestige. Just wish they would have other color options on the AZ2202. The finishes on the AZ standard series are amazing. Why not use them on the Prestige?
These are the exact reasons i ended up picking up one! Wasnt even looking to buy guitar just cruising around testing stuff, found an AZ and it was so easy to play i ended up leaving w it
Love Ibanez especially the Japanese made ones they all are so easy to play. I have like 8 Ibanez rgs premium and Japanese still need a az model . Great video 🔥🔥🔥
The AZ is always so close to getting me to bite, but they're missing rosewood or ebony fingerboards on the no-pickguard HH Prestige model. And too many gross flat finishes, too. Woof. "Oh, white with roasted maple isn't TOO bad... oh, it's flat white. Never mind."
This is the first time that guitar has really looked worthy of the prestige line. Every other time the finishes just looked like cheap veneers or even prints of flamed maple. But this finish looks fantastic.
KINGS X baby!!! Yayh!!! You have shown me the way to guitar greatnwss, Leon. I MUST LEARN "Out of the Silent Planet", note for note, front to back. Then when Ragdoll hits Detroit you and I can jam!!!
Great color choice 👍 I wouldn't kick them out of bed. But it would be top shelf to have a type of that 90' era fender roller nut thing. I don't like the toggle in between the V and T, and if the 5 way were RG angled. Also do not like roasted mapl baby poo, but on this color it works.
Picked up an Ibanez AZ47P1QM in September to be rhythm guitar workhorse. I’m more of an H/H guy but the mid position single coil clean just can’t be beat! The only thing that made me hesitate was that when I think of Ibanez necks, they’re usually too shreddy. The AZ’s are beefy!!
I've had a Prestige 7 string for a couple of years, it's a fantastic guitar. I only found out yesterday that it's called an AZ because it can do anything from A to Z.
I have a love / hate relationship with mine. Pros: Plays great, sounds great. Cons: Tremelo system doesn't hold tuning very well at all. Locking tuners are needlessly finnicky. Jack placement is a bad solution to a nonexistent problem.
Whenever I see an AZ (and the proclaimed new design) I take a look at my old StarField American Cabriolet guitar and say "naaa"... I think Starfield was a division of Ibanez at the time.
The AZ is a better strat than the strat itself. I'd love to have one, but I just can't jive with that headstock though. I need to look into the possibility of neck swapping a RG neck into an AZ body.
Hahaha... when I heard it I thought it sounded incredible, I was bout to go on a rant about how awesome it was that people nowadays had access to affordable guitars that basically sounded as good as an Ibanez JS1000 back in the day. I assumed the guitar was cheap due to its looks... but I just googled the price, it's NOT cheap haha! Sounds great, wish it didn't look so cheap though.
Ibanez always tweaks systems to make them far better. Like the ibanez "Ibanez ZR bridge" (floyd) or "Gibraltar III" (tune o matic) or "Back Stop" (tremolo stabilizer)
@@LeonTodd two point strat style trems are more than good enough for most bar tricks (like flutters). No Floyds with locking nuts needed. Floyd Rose bridges are overengineered, turns out.
@@LeonTodd aka decked. I have that on my Fernandes. That one even has the early days style trem posts screwed directly into the body (instead of using bushings).
I got an AZ2204 a few years back in a trade. Best trade I ever made. It's got the HSS strat vibe, is really lightweight and the roasted maple is gorgeous. Tuning stability is also phenomenal (I suspect the stiffness of the neck to be a big factor there). One thing that catches people of guard is that the neck is quite chunky, it's the opposite of the super thin wizard necks Ibanez is known for. I couldn't care less for the toggle switch for the different pickup sounds. As soon as you add some gain into the mix, the difference is not big enough to warrant the switch in my opinion. The comfort heel looks great and it's better than the square Fender one, but it extends quite a bit and doesn't help upper fret access all that much. But that's all nitpicking really. So in all: can't recommend these guitars enough if you're looking for a versatile strat that maintains the classic esthetic with a modern twist.
The AZ coudn't be more boring. So many companies are nowadays manifacturing these Suhr copies, that I realy dont understand why Ibanez is focusing on these. RG is the reason what makes Ibanez the Ibanez. When watching the catalogue, the RG selection is really suffering because of the AZ. They are treating the RG like it would be only metal guitar, only different shades of black and blue guitars. The only interesting guitar from Ibanez of late has been the Yellow RG Genesis, which is already from 2017.
Guess they sent you the only flawless one. Once again. The last three Ibanez guitars i had were botched beyond repair. Dirtiest woods, flimsy tremolo systems (tremolo sockets falling out of the plate), bad fretworks, Toplocks positioned wrong, weird (and crooked) pickups, body lines visible under high gloss paint, backbowed neck, weak springs that couldn't take 9-46 strings (seriously!), you name it. Prestige Series.
Not a fan. The Ibanez's don't look like Ibanez. I'm sure they are fine guitars. But, they don't say Ibanez to me. Nita Stauss' s signature is the best looking Ibanez out there now. The white one, folks
I was subscribed here but can't in good faith support someone who actively deletes comments on their videos that challenge them. Censoring speech instead of having a discussion is such a fascist and closed minded approach. Siloed communities breed toxicity and become stale.
Aside from the amazing playing, especially that siiiiiick legato section at about 2:10, Leon the rack of ADA preamps behind you is an absolute vibe.
Tone for days with my ADA's! -Paul Gilbert circa 1982
Holy crap, a guitar review where the reviewer can ACTUALLY PLAY GUITAR
Too bad he can't speak properly.
You call all that noise playing
The funny thing is people also complain for the exact opposite reason now. “They can play a potato and still sound good” kind of arguments 😂
Oh, man, wasn't expecting a Midnight track for the demo but heck yeah! I love The Midnight and your style of playing really fits! Great video, Leon!
They're so great!
I don't know anything about them will you tell me about them?@@LeonTodd
@@a.j.garrett9639 awesome Retrowave band with occasional sax!
Great demo, really like how they are finally adding a bunch of new finishes
Sick run @2:06!
Neon Leon has a very distinct style!
This guy is the same color as my first ever electric, definitely working the nostalgia angle for me!
The thing is you could put six strings on a broom stick with pickup and you would kill it. 😂😂. Just awesome. Magical man!!
Love the AZ I hope they can give us some more color options at some point and maybe a compound radius neck. The new green and gray finishes are really cool
Agreed, not so sure I am too stoked about a 12 inch radius. I’d much prefer the 12 to 16 compound radius like Charvel uses. That is the magic neck for me but the rest of the specs on this Ibanez AZ guitar are great.
@pizzaisgood4877 I’m not sure which one but there is an az seven string with a compound neck. So there’s hope.
Awesome intro mate!
Fantastic playing. If that guitar could make me play like you I would buy it
Dayuum That's such awesome playing 🤘
If Ibanez did this model in gold with a black headstock I would be sold!
Great demonstration of the guitar. I've thought about pulling the trigger on an AZ several times but I've always hesitated because I've got a JS1000 that is basically the same guitar minus a few features. JS1000's are very underrated guitars. It sucks the price of used guitars has gone up. A couple years ago you could find good used JS1000's for $600-900.
From the opening intro, I could hear that it has "that" sound, that Ibanez thing that blew me away when I first heard it from Satriani all the way back in 1987. Sure, it's also the amp and especially the player, but that guitar sings. I know you love your PRS, but Heaven Above on that thing should make it a worthy contender for your affection.
Its nice to see The Midnight getting some love. Cool band!
I have 2 AZ’s, a Premium and Prestige (Both with Dimarzio HSH pickups). I play them all the time. I love the fatter neck shape and wide fingerboard.
They're so sleek
I saw them at NAMM in 2018 and really liked it. Got a Premium model that year and it has been my main guitar since.
River of Darkness, love the Midnight
That is a gorgeous colour- I don’t get on with the necks on them but maybe time to give it another go
killer playing as always
Fujigen Ibbies are usually all extremely well build with amazing playability, it's just a shame that Ibanez seems to have completely given up on making new Prestige RG, RGA & S models. Second year in a row, without a new Prestige RG model, which was their flagship guitar.
Hell, I would be happy if they would release a Genesis version of the RG1570 similar to the RG550 Genesis Series.
Yeah. I agree. The RG Prestige models ,.....imo, have always been the flagship model. I have this sickening feeling they are going to start "reissue'ing' those incredible RG 550's and so on. For Gibson CS type prices. Call it a hunch. Hence,....the reason,....I THINK,.... Randall Smith was fired. He was refusing to go along with reissuing the Rectifier and they were going to start importing cheaper components for the core line of Mesa. It'll all come out eventually.
I'd be all over this if I didn't already have an Ernie Ball Music Man JP15. Great playing, man.
I'm much more of a DiMarzio guy, but I think it's cool that Ibanez is including so many pickup options now including Duncan, EMG, Fishman, Bareknuckle, etc. They know they have to consistently expand their customer base and it's the right thing to do. The thing I dig about the AZ series most is that they are not as metal focused as a lot of Ibanezes. Nothing against metal guitars. I've owned my share. But I tend to like what I'd call a more traditional sort of super strat with non-locking trems. These are very well designed, classy axes.
I dig how understated yet powerful it is.
Great stuff Leon. However if the price doubles all of a sudden, you may have some explaining to do :p
:D
Hoping for a collab with The Midnight someday, would be a perfect match! Sweet guitar too, very versatile. My Cort G300 Pro is extremely similar, almost identical outside of the mini-toggle switch. It plays like a dream too.
I have The Prestige black 22 fret, and it is probably the most playable guitar I have ever had. I really like the Hyperion pickups, and it's just a good all-around guitar. The neck is a tiny bit chunkier, but I love the feel.
Awesome guitar! Ty would be proud of your playing. That seems like the perfect riff for this guitar. Love it!
Love Ty
Gotta love an Ibanez, I haven't tried a high end AZ, but I played the cheaper model and that was super great at its price point, that one you have looks beautiful 💚 definitely a great Strat for a shredder.
Got my HSS AZ in 2018.. I have since sold most all my other guitars.. It does most things and plays like butter. I did change out the pearloid pickguard for a flat mint green to fix the look.
Nice touch of Sykes in that 1st jam. Great playing, man. Peace
Cheers mate!
Nice vid of a really good sounding guitar ... and great playing as always ... 😊
I got an AZ2204NW in mint green a few weeks ago and yeah, this is it.
Love the AZ. Charvel's Pro-Mod DK24 is about 90% of the performance for half the price though.
where is the additional 10%? I have a couple of DK24s that are amazing, so I wonder what the AZ does better?
@@gerrykavanaghSS frets objectively, and different neck feel (more oiled than the “unfinished” feel on the Charvel) which is just personal preference
That’s a Leon colored AZ if I’ve ever seen one.
Love this series
Love it! But, personally, I'd get a Charvel Pro-Mod in HH format for about half the money.
I love my AZ 2204 Prestige. Just wish they would have other color options on the AZ2202. The finishes on the AZ standard series are amazing. Why not use them on the Prestige?
These are the exact reasons i ended up picking up one! Wasnt even looking to buy guitar just cruising around testing stuff, found an AZ and it was so easy to play i ended up leaving w it
Love Ibanez especially the Japanese made ones they all are so easy to play. I have like 8 Ibanez rgs premium and Japanese still need a az model . Great video 🔥🔥🔥
I can see why - sleek machines!
The AZ is always so close to getting me to bite, but they're missing rosewood or ebony fingerboards on the no-pickguard HH Prestige model. And too many gross flat finishes, too. Woof. "Oh, white with roasted maple isn't TOO bad... oh, it's flat white. Never mind."
Oh, nice choice with The Midnight. Royce Whittaker is such a great player.
Absolutely, love his playing and tone
This is the first time that guitar has really looked worthy of the prestige line. Every other time the finishes just looked like cheap veneers or even prints of flamed maple. But this finish looks fantastic.
It's like a Suhr for half the price
one of their Prestige's is still the nicest feeling guitar that i have held
It looks really good!
Try one you feel different unless you like baseball bat necks
The playing there was incredible.
I've been jamming along to Sunset. I had no idea about this band, and now I want that guitar lol
KINGS X baby!!! Yayh!!! You have shown me the way to guitar greatnwss, Leon. I MUST LEARN "Out of the Silent Planet", note for note, front to back. Then when Ragdoll hits Detroit you and I can jam!!!
Nice review… great to hear King’s X “Over my head”
It's such a great song.
Been looking at these , great value for money
Well thought out features
Yep, state of the art tech at reasonable prices.
Wish they make a 7 string one without the pickgard but in HSS configuration with 22 frets.
But your playing very good omg.
Great demo as always and I like this green color! Was it chorus or detune effect used after dirt tone?
Cheeky little bit of pitch detune 💪
Great color choice 👍 I wouldn't kick them out of bed. But it would be top shelf to have a type of that 90' era fender roller nut thing. I don't like the toggle in between the V and T, and if the 5 way were RG angled. Also do not like roasted mapl baby poo, but on this color it works.
😁
I found the dyna switch 9 on the hss pickup configuration suit me better than the dyna 10 on the hh pickup configuration
Picked up an Ibanez AZ47P1QM in September to be rhythm guitar workhorse. I’m more of an H/H guy but the mid position single coil clean just can’t be beat!
The only thing that made me hesitate was that when I think of Ibanez necks, they’re usually too shreddy. The AZ’s are beefy!!
I've had a Prestige 7 string for a couple of years, it's a fantastic guitar. I only found out yesterday that it's called an AZ because it can do anything from A to Z.
Any guitar can do A to Z
I have a love / hate relationship with mine. Pros: Plays great, sounds great. Cons: Tremelo system doesn't hold tuning very well at all. Locking tuners are needlessly finnicky. Jack placement is a bad solution to a nonexistent problem.
How well does the trem stay in tune?
Gotta share the intro backing track, man. I love it!
River of Darkness by The Midnight
@@LeonTodd you're a Champ!
The intro sound
I don’t like floating bridges, wish they made the double humbucker one with a no floating bridges, I’d buy one!
Looks great in that green! Amazing playing as always Leon!
Damn! That guitar really suits you, Leon. Hope you're doing well at the start of 2025? Sounding great as ever.
Thanks mate! It's like putting on a really comfy set of jeans isn't it? Did you go for a similar neck profile for your sig?
Whenever I see an AZ (and the proclaimed new design) I take a look at my old StarField American Cabriolet guitar and say "naaa"... I think Starfield was a division of Ibanez at the time.
Guitar faced the hell out of that one.
10.15 is the best
thats a cool metallic green
Love ibanez ❤
The AZ is a better strat than the strat itself.
I'd love to have one, but I just can't jive with that headstock though.
I need to look into the possibility of neck swapping a RG neck into an AZ body.
Hahaha... when I heard it I thought it sounded incredible, I was bout to go on a rant about how awesome it was that people nowadays had access to affordable guitars that basically sounded as good as an Ibanez JS1000 back in the day. I assumed the guitar was cheap due to its looks... but I just googled the price, it's NOT cheap haha! Sounds great, wish it didn't look so cheap though.
Ibanez always tweaks systems to make them far better. Like the ibanez "Ibanez ZR bridge" (floyd) or "Gibraltar III" (tune o matic) or "Back Stop" (tremolo stabilizer)
Ibanez makes a lot of cool guitars….. so many flavors to choose from
...and you can always expect the same playability. I've never picked up an ibanez an experienced a lemon.
wow love the jam of - The Midnight - River of Darkness Guitar Cover ......... josh jjosh feeeeeeelLLLL
Great band!
Axe fx preset? Please share! Sounds stellar
It's my live preset from the new factory presets :)
What's that backing track at the beginning?
River of Darkness by The Midnight
@LeonTodd thank you so much!!
Put lo pro edge on it and I would buy it
i was going to buy one of these but i instead i got a charvel guthrie signature. I am glad i did
Sweet axes!
@@LeonTodd By far the most versatile guitar i have ever had man! I barely play my other guitars. That Green AZ you have there is very nice though!
Where was it made
Japan
Cool Ibanez my middle name is Leon 2.
Andreas
What model is this
I demand more whammy bar on this channel
This and the Strat Ultra are making me love the bar!
@@LeonTodd two point strat style trems are more than good enough for most bar tricks (like flutters). No Floyds with locking nuts needed. Floyd Rose bridges are overengineered, turns out.
@@rutger4131 a well set up Floyd that's set up to dive only is something i'm coming around on though :p
@@LeonTodd aka decked. I have that on my Fernandes. That one even has the early days style trem posts screwed directly into the body (instead of using bushings).
lol you remind me of Rowley Birkin QC
Lukather vibes
Love that color, how you get on with the fat neck on those?
Love it
noice mate!
Good review , but for 2K. it should be great i think ... greetzz
Similarly spec'd Suhr would be double this
I got an AZ2204 a few years back in a trade. Best trade I ever made. It's got the HSS strat vibe, is really lightweight and the roasted maple is gorgeous. Tuning stability is also phenomenal (I suspect the stiffness of the neck to be a big factor there). One thing that catches people of guard is that the neck is quite chunky, it's the opposite of the super thin wizard necks Ibanez is known for. I couldn't care less for the toggle switch for the different pickup sounds. As soon as you add some gain into the mix, the difference is not big enough to warrant the switch in my opinion. The comfort heel looks great and it's better than the square Fender one, but it extends quite a bit and doesn't help upper fret access all that much. But that's all nitpicking really.
So in all: can't recommend these guitars enough if you're looking for a versatile strat that maintains the classic esthetic with a modern twist.
The AZ coudn't be more boring. So many companies are nowadays manifacturing these Suhr copies, that I realy dont understand why Ibanez is focusing on these. RG is the reason what makes Ibanez the Ibanez. When watching the catalogue, the RG selection is really suffering because of the AZ. They are treating the RG like it would be only metal guitar, only different shades of black and blue guitars. The only interesting guitar from Ibanez of late has been the Yellow RG Genesis, which is already from 2017.
"if this was double the price" bruh don't give post pandemic companies any more ideas 😭
Very Neal Schon-ish!
Thanks mate! Love Neal
Wonder why it's called "AZ"
It’s supposed to cover everything from “A to Z.”
Probably designed by a bloke called Aaron, who had a nickname "Azza"
@@LeonTodd you're awesome, bro.
Looks tiny on him
you know why ? cuz its a san dimas.
Case closed.
👍👍🍺❤️
I'm sure it plays incredibly. Unfortunately, the AZ models have about as much visual appeal as a beige wall.
I'd love a desert yellow AZ
Guess they sent you the only flawless one. Once again. The last three Ibanez guitars i had were botched beyond repair. Dirtiest woods, flimsy tremolo systems (tremolo sockets falling out of the plate), bad fretworks, Toplocks positioned wrong, weird (and crooked) pickups, body lines visible under high gloss paint, backbowed neck, weak springs that couldn't take 9-46 strings (seriously!), you name it. Prestige Series.
Damn, the worst I had with an ibanez was just some high frets (on a 500€ one).
Neck is fat AF, like a 50’s les Paul, not suited for everyone
Not a fan. The Ibanez's don't look like Ibanez. I'm sure they are fine guitars. But, they don't say Ibanez to me. Nita Stauss' s signature is the best looking Ibanez out there now. The white one, folks
I was subscribed here but can't in good faith support someone who actively deletes comments on their videos that challenge them. Censoring speech instead of having a discussion is such a fascist and closed minded approach. Siloed communities breed toxicity and become stale.
Solid guitar, but soooo unsexy........
Nothing new just this shit color would be better Pink or Yellow