Ibanez AZ series

MagicPigDetective

Seriously gassing over the new AZ range. I wouldn’t normally be interested in a pointy Ibanez on aesthetic grounds, but by marrying traditional looks with modern features, Ibanez have got me seriously interested. Particularly like the Indonesian made HH in espresso burst. Sounds fantastic in demos, it’s marketed as a versatile, do it all guitar for professionals. What’s the verdict, fretboarders? 

Daved756

They are purdy

Bucket

There's something about them I don't like and I can't put my finger on what it is.

Daved756

Iz it coz dey iz black?

MagicPigDetective

Bucket said:

There's something about them I don't like and I can't put my finger on what it is.

That’s got me staring at the pic scratching my chin trying to think what it could be. 

Alvin

Something about the headstock looks wrong to me , perhaps it's just the tip ?  Reminds me of something familiar .
     The rest looks pretty cool though .

MagicPigDetective

Alvin said:

Something about the headstock looks wrong to me , perhaps it's just the tip ?  Reminds me of something familiar .
     The rest looks pretty cool though .

Is it a space shuttle or a cock shaped headstock? Guitars are all phallic symbols though, aren’t they?  This discussion is not going the way I imagined it would

Fortheloveofguitar

I’ve got my eye on the AZ242 Tequila sunrise finish 

Looking forward to trying one out 

skunkwerx

Bucket said:

There's something about them I don't like and I can't put my finger on what it is.

For me the trem is too silvery. 

But aye, I also have my eyes on an Rgat in sapphire blue. 
Fixed bridge strung thru, but with Dimarzio’s and a neck thru.. for £489... what the fuck?!  

Stevepage

Headstock doesn't sit right with me. Maybe the old Roadstar headstock would have suited better 

DrBob

I think that one looks like a 90s Yamaha RGX

gusman2x

I think they look fantastic.

dindude

I like them, like the headstock too. I wish more widdle brands would give a 2-point trem option rather locking. Charvel Pro Mod with 2-point trem, yes please!

CarpeDiem

I would like to try one out. I've found other Ibanez guitars well made and easy to play and also more versatile than I'd expected for use in a covers band. Then again, I've found the same by backing down the volume controls on my active-EMG ESP Eclipse.

Ben

Fell in love with the finish on one of the prototypes, would have bought it in an instant if it was released as a production model...

ChrisCox1994

Suhr/Anderson style at far east prices? these are gonna sell like MAD, and I'm gonna buy one in a years time when the depreciation has made them a crazy bargain..

Titch

The headstock looks very similar to a Valley Arts. 

Garthy

Bucket said:

There's something about them I don't like and I can't put my finger on what it is.

The amount of wood on the base side of the fretboard and the headstock for me. I'd still rather have an RG.

Alvin

MagicPigDetective said:

Alvin said:

Something about the headstock looks wrong to me , perhaps it's just the tip ?  Reminds me of something familiar .
     The rest looks pretty cool though .

Is it a space shuttle or a cock shaped headstock? Guitars are all phallic symbols though, aren’t they?  This discussion is not going the way I imagined it would

   Yes,  it looks like it has a helmet head-stock , but it's a grower !

Limehouse_Blues

I'm looking forward to trying one of these but I wish there were a better choice of colours and plain rather than pearloid scratchplates on the HSS ones. On one of the NAMM videos I saw someone playing a pink HH one with white pickups which looked way cooler than any of the production finishes. There also looked to be a limited edition Korina topped NAMM HH one but that will probably be silly money if I could find it anywhere. With any luck the range will be a roaring success and they'll start making them in more attractive finishes.

MagicPigDetective

Agree about the colours and perloid on the HSS, more choice to come maybe. Could do with more HH colours, I love the espresso but don’t want another brown guitar to add to my two already brown guitars! The tequila one looked awful initially, but after seeing this demo, hey it looks pretty cool

https://youtu.be/IRdvWe6sKCA

The marketing is making a lot out of consulting musicians around the world. I wonder if this partly influenced by Chapman Guitars’ social media approach and could be a sign of things to come? 

The more I look at them the more I like. The necks look fantastic. The headstock is fine, I like the gold retro looking ‘Ibanez’ logo.