Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige in Pearl White Incoming - SuperStrat Thread Got me Thinking

[HowieJams]

I was reading a Thread from a Forum Member who was interested in a SuperStrat, but more like a Traditional Strat in tone, but with HSS configuration.

One guitar he was thinking about was a Fender American Ultra II HSS Stratocaster which I currently own and I gave my opinions on it.

He mentioned he had a PRS Custom 24 and that he was also looking at HH configuration guitars, my feeling is the PRS Custom 24 is basically a HH SuperStrat.

It got me thinking about something along the lines of a HH or HSH type of SuperStrat.

Guitars I was looking at were A PRS Custom 24 (I've owned many and never totally bonded with them tonewise), Charvel Guthrie Govan Made in Japan or USA, and the Ibanez AZ2402. I also looked at other similar guitars from those and other manufacturers.

Main things I wanted were 24 frets, locking tuners, and single coil tones by Coil Tap or Single Coil pickups.

I am a Gibson guy through and through, love their tone and playability, I currently own 4 Les Pauls and 1 SG.
I recently bought 2 Fender Strats, the Ultra II HSS and a Fender Player II Modified HSS and I love them both.

After watching tons of videos and doing a ton of research, the Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige came out on top.
I recently had an Ibanez Prestige RG652 AHMFX, but the neck was very thin and I am not a fan of pointy guitars, plus the tone was just OK.
The AZ2402 has a 12" radius thicker neck, 24 frets, locking tuners (not my favorite kind), and Alnico Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbucker pickups that are vintage voiced with 10 coil split and other options via a 5 way blade switch and a 2 way toggle.

I pulled the trigger today and it should arrive tomorrow.
I usually wait 24 hours to let the guitar acclimate, so by Wednesday I should see if I made the right choice.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I was reading a Thread from a Forum Member who was interested in a SuperStrat, but more like a Traditional Strat in tone, but with HSS configuration.

One guitar he was thinking about was a Fender American Ultra II HSS Stratocaster which I currently own and I gave my opinions on it.

He mentioned he had a PRS Custom 24 and that he was also looking at HH configuration guitars, my feeling is the PRS Custom 24 is basically a HH SuperStrat.

It got me thinking about something along the lines of a HH or HSH type of SuperStrat.

Guitars I was looking at were A PRS Custom 24 (I've owned many and never totally bonded with them tonewise), Charvel Guthrie Govan Made in Japan or USA, and the Ibanez AZ2402. I also looked at other similar guitars from those and other manufacturers.

Main things I wanted were 24 frets, locking tuners, and single coil tones by Coil Tap or Single Coil pickups.

I am a Gibson guy through and through, love their tone and playability, I currently own 4 Les Pauls and 1 SG.
I recently bought 2 Fender Strats, the Ultra II HSS and a Fender Player II Modified HSS and I love them both.

After watching tons of videos and doing a ton of research, the Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige came out on top.
I recently had an Ibanez Prestige RG652 AHMFX, but the neck was very thin and I am not a fan of pointy guitars, plus the tone was just OK.
The AZ2402 has a 12" radius thicker neck, 24 frets, locking tuners (not my favorite kind), and Alnico Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbucker pickups that are vintage voiced with 10 coil split and other options via a 5 way blade switch and a 2 way toggle.

I pulled the trigger today and it should arrive tomorrow.
I usually wait 24 hours to let the guitar acclimate, so by Wednesday I should see if I made the right choice.

Looks sleek! They have one at SW right now with a really sweet board. I love being able to choose the exact one you want from there.

 

[napalmdeath]

I was reading a Thread from a Forum Member who was interested in a SuperStrat, but more like a Traditional Strat in tone, but with HSS configuration.

One guitar he was thinking about was a Fender American Ultra II HSS Stratocaster which I currently own and I gave my opinions on it.

He mentioned he had a PRS Custom 24 and that he was also looking at HH configuration guitars, my feeling is the PRS Custom 24 is basically a HH SuperStrat.

It got me thinking about something along the lines of a HH or HSH type of SuperStrat.

Guitars I was looking at were A PRS Custom 24 (I've owned many and never totally bonded with them tonewise), Charvel Guthrie Govan Made in Japan or USA, and the Ibanez AZ2402. I also looked at other similar guitars from those and other manufacturers.

Main things I wanted were 24 frets, locking tuners, and single coil tones by Coil Tap or Single Coil pickups.

I am a Gibson guy through and through, love their tone and playability, I currently own 4 Les Pauls and 1 SG.
I recently bought 2 Fender Strats, the Ultra II HSS and a Fender Player II Modified HSS and I love them both.

After watching tons of videos and doing a ton of research, the Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige came out on top.
I recently had an Ibanez Prestige RG652 AHMFX, but the neck was very thin and I am not a fan of pointy guitars, plus the tone was just OK.
The AZ2402 has a 12" radius thicker neck, 24 frets, locking tuners (not my favorite kind), and Alnico Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbucker pickups that are vintage voiced with 10 coil split and other options via a 5 way blade switch and a 2 way toggle.

I pulled the trigger today and it should arrive tomorrow.
I usually wait 24 hours to let the guitar acclimate, so by Wednesday I should see if I made the right choice.

I had the 652 in both white and the Nebula. I couldn't bond with the Tone Zones in the bridge, but man, they were probably the best playing Super Strats I've had. The impeccable Japanese fretwork, wide necks and the ability to get stupid low action makes them great players. And the Edge Trem is better than any Floyd I've owned. From 1000 series to real deal, that Edge blew them away. I've been looking at them again, and getting the pickups gutted out for Duncans, which is what I should have done in the first place. I'm not a fan of Dimarzios AT ALL.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I had the 652 in both white and the Nebula. I couldn't bond with the Tone Zones in the bridge, but man, they were probably the best playing Super Strats I've had. The impeccable Japanese fretwork, wide necks and the ability to get stupid low action makes them great players. And the Edge Trem is better than any Floyd I've owned. From 1000 series to real deal, that Edge blew them away. I've been looking at them again, and getting the pickups gutted out for Duncans, which is what I should have done in the first place. I'm not a fan of Dimarzios AT ALL.

I also really enjoyed a 652mpb that I had for awhile. Crazy player. I also disliked the pickups and am not certain I am a DiMarzio guy anymore. The Edge trem is the best to me, and I have played quite a few as a trem guy. The response and flutter is just spot-on.

 

[HowieJams]

Looks sleek! They have one at SW right now with a really sweet board. I love being able to choose the exact one you want from there.

I ordered it from Sweetwater.
I just checked their site to see what was left.
It looks like they sent me the heaviest one (7lbs 9oz) with the lightest colored board without the figuring.
Truth is I would have preferred the lighter one (7lbs 3oz) with the figured board, but truth is I will be able to make out the dots better on the lighter colored board.

 

[HowieJams]

I had the 652 in both white and the Nebula. I couldn't bond with the Tone Zones in the bridge, but man, they were probably the best playing Super Strats I've had. The impeccable Japanese fretwork, wide necks and the ability to get stupid low action makes them great players. And the Edge Trem is better than any Floyd I've owned. From 1000 series to real deal, that Edge blew them away. I've been looking at them again, and getting the pickups gutted out for Duncans, which is what I should have done in the first place. I'm not a fan of Dimarzios AT ALL.

My 652 played very well, tone was OK.
Fret ends could have been finished a little better.
Mine was a hardtail bridge which I prefer.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I ordered it from Sweetwater.
I just checked their site to see what was left.
It looks like they sent me the heaviest one (7lbs 9oz) with the lightest colored board without the figuring.
Truth is I would have preferred the lighter one (7lbs 3oz) with the figured board, but truth is I will be able to make out the dots better on the lighter colored board.

Hey man, I am sure it will feel awesome, and like you said, the lighter board may be better suited for you.

 

[HowieJams]

Hey man, I am sure it will feel awesome, and like you said, the lighter board may be better suited for you.

Yea, but that figured board looked great.
Let's see how this one looks in person.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

You DiMarzio hatin' muddafuckas... lol

I also wanna try one of these guitars, Ibanez just makes literally 319 variants of each guitar so it makes it had to pick what you want.

 

[HowieJams]

You DiMarzio hatin' muddafuckas... lol

I also wanna try one of these guitars, Ibanez just makes literally 319 variants of each guitar so it makes it had to pick what you want.

Ibanez does have a lot of variations...
I knew I wanted a Prestige with 24 frets and a fatter neck than a Wizard so it narrowed it down.
I also just bought a HSS Strat, so the HH or HSH further narrowed it down.

 

[VonBonfire]

You DiMarzio hatin' muddafuckas... lol

Nothing gets the toy robot lead tones like a dUbbEL kReeM. It just plain works.