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

[Music&Chaos]

I like thin necks like a Gibson 60s neck, but not shredder necks.
I also like the necks on my R9 and Standard 50s Les Pauls.
I am hoping the AZ neck is similar to those in thickness.

I have had very few necks I don't like.
Right now my thickest neck is on my Les Paul R8 and my thinnest neck is probably the Modern C on my Fender Player II Modified Strat HSS or my 61 SG RI, I like all of them.

The GG looked great also, but the AZ looked a little better for my style.

I was primarily a shredder who liked super thin necks. Built a partscaster with a thick neck that feels perfect and realized that it is easier for me to shred on thicker, rounded necks. Counter-intuitive almost.

Those rounded 50s LP necks feel great, just like the thick C custom shop Fender necks.

Haven't gotten to play a Prestige AZ as of yet, but the neck profile looks nice to me.

 

[HowieJams]

I was primarily a shredder who liked super thin necks. Built a partscaster with a thick neck that feels perfect and realized that it is easier for me to shred on thicker, rounded necks. Counter-intuitive almost.

Those rounded 50s LP necks feel great, just like the thick C custom shop Fender necks.

Haven't gotten to play a Prestige AZ as of yet, but the neck profile looks nice to me.

I will report back on the neck feel asap

 

[HowieJams]

Finally got to unbox the guitar today, waiting 24 hours was tough.
The guitar is beautiful, but there is a chip on it that is visible.

I contacted Sweetwater and they don't have any in stock now, but more expected in a couple of weeks.

They said I could keep this guitar until the new one ships.
Better yet, they will call me when the new ones get there and let me choose the one I want.

At least I will have a couple of weeks to try this one out and see how good it is.
I played it for a couple of minutes and it was nice.
Neck is pretty meaty.
Action was OK, I will need to tweak it.

I confirmed with Sweetwater, their 55 point inspection is only to make sure the guitar is within factory specs, they do not do a set-up unless you pay extra.
Here are some pics of the guitar and the chips.
For $2199 + tax I don't think I am being too picky

 

[Rackman]

IMO the hardest type of guitar to source a good one of is a "strat" that has both HB and SC tones. I've essentially settled on a formula which is a Jackson or ESP (Soloist or preferably Kelly body for me), stainless frets, Floyd, big block, correct radius saddles, brass saddle inserts, 5 springs, and I've found a few pickups I like. Holy Diver/Duncan stacks works well. Two Holy Divers with a tap works. EMG TW series (81/89 or maybe better 57/66) at 24v works. Pegasus/Sentient seems to work with some amps but not others.

But it is the ideal setup when you have to cover a wide range of music and stay in tune doing it.

Sorry about the chip and hopefully they send you a very nice one.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Finally got to unbox the guitar today, waiting 24 hours was tough.
The guitar is beautiful, but there is a chip on it that is visible.

I contacted Sweetwater and they don't have any in stock now, but more expected in a couple of weeks.

They said I could keep this guitar until the new one ships.
Better yet, they will call me when the new ones get there and let me choose the one I want.

At least I will have a couple of weeks to try this one out and see how good it is.
I played it for a couple of minutes and it was nice.
Neck is pretty meaty.
Action was OK, I will need to tweak it.

I confirmed with Sweetwater, their 55 point inspection is only to make sure the guitar is within factory specs, they do not do a set-up unless you pay extra.
Here are some pics of the guitar and the chips.
For $2199 + tax I don't think I am being too picky

This will actually work out in your favor, as you get to really try the guitar, and if you like the overall feel, choose one that matches the wood grain/figuring you are seeking.

 

[HowieJams]

IMO the hardest type of guitar to source a good one of is a "strat" that has both HB and SC tones. I've essentially settled on a formula which is a Jackson or ESP (Soloist or preferably Kelly body for me), stainless frets, Floyd, big block, correct radius saddles, brass saddle inserts, 5 springs, and I've found a few pickups I like. Holy Diver/Duncan stacks works well. Two Holy Divers with a tap works. EMG TW series (81/89 or maybe better 57/66) at 24v works. Pegasus/Sentient seems to work with some amps but not others.

But it is the ideal setup when you have to cover a wide range of music and stay in tune doing it.

Sorry about the chip and hopefully they send you a very nice one.

My Fender American Ultra II HSS and even my Fender Player II Modified HSS Strat do a good job of that for me, hopefully the AZ gets me some similar, but more different tones than what I have.

They will send me a new flawless one that I choose, so no problem there.

 

[HowieJams]

This will actually work out in your favor, as you get to really try the guitar, and if you like the overall feel, choose one that matches the wood grain/figuring you are seeking.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[Rackman]

My Fender American Ultra II HSS and even my Fender Player II Modified HSS Strat do a good job of that for me, hopefully the AZ gets me some similar, but more different tones than what I have.

They will send me a new flawless one that I choose, so no problem there.

Yeah I've never been able to get along totally with either the two post or six screw strat trem. I've got an Ultra Luxe Vintage right not (SSS not HSS) but it may end up with a MannMade trem or sold because they're just a struggle IMO.

 

[chumbucket]

Finally got to unbox the guitar today, waiting 24 hours was tough.
The guitar is beautiful, but there is a chip on it that is visible.

I contacted Sweetwater and they don't have any in stock now, but more expected in a couple of weeks.

They said I could keep this guitar until the new one ships.
Better yet, they will call me when the new ones get there and let me choose the one I want.

At least I will have a couple of weeks to try this one out and see how good it is.
I played it for a couple of minutes and it was nice.
Neck is pretty meaty.
Action was OK, I will need to tweak it.

I confirmed with Sweetwater, their 55 point inspection is only to make sure the guitar is within factory specs, they do not do a set-up unless you pay extra.
Here are some pics of the guitar and the chips.
For $2199 + tax I don't think I am being too picky

Looks cool. How does the neck seem to you?

 

[HowieJams]

Looks cool. How does the neck seem to you?

It felt very fat to me at first, but I just played it for about 15 minutes jamming over some backing tracks and it felt great.

Bad omen, I actually broke the High E string on a not so aggressive bend?

I changed the string, I was surpised the Ibanez came with 10-46s, once the new one arrives I will change to 9-42s.

I really love the looks, feel, and tone of this guitar.

The core 5 tones are great, and I also Iike two of the tones (single coil) with the alter switch flipped, the other 3 I don't care for.

 

[HowieJams]

Yeah I've never been able to get along totally with either the two post or six screw strat trem. I've got an Ultra Luxe Vintage right not (SSS not HSS) but it may end up with a MannMade trem or sold because they're just a struggle IMO.

I will never use a trem, but the bridges don't bother me.

 

[Rackman]

I will never use a trem, but the bridges don't bother me.

It's when you use them that the trouble starts...

 

[Fiesta Red]

Wow -- that sucks about the chip, but at least there is a bright side to it like you have mentioned.

Described the "Pearl White Flat" finish? Is it a satin? Gloss?

 

[jski59]

It felt very fat to me at first, but I just played it for about 15 minutes jamming over some backing tracks and it felt great.

Bad omen, I actually broke the High E string on a not so aggressive bend?

I changed the string, I was surpised the Ibanez came with 10-46s, once the new one arrives I will change to 9-42s.

I really love the looks, feel, and tone of this guitar.

The core 5 tones are great, and I also Iike two of the tones (single coil) with the alter switch flipped, the other 3 I don't care for.

Looks super nice, I really like the recessed jack.

Interesting the neck felt fat to you too at first, I guess it's the shape because the thickness spec doesn't seem like it would be. Maybe it's more of a D than a C?

Enjoy!

 

[HowieJams]

Looks super nice, I really like the recessed jack.

Interesting the neck felt fat to you too at first, I guess it's the shape because the thickness spec doesn't seem like it would be. Maybe it's more of a D than a C?

Enjoy!

I actually don't like the recessed jack and I hate the Gotoh locking tuners, locking tuners should have a thumbwheel, all my other guitars have the other type of locking tuners and I love them. First addition I make to my guitars if they don't have them.

I would have to check again while playing, but I think it feels more like a D shape

 

[HowieJams]

It's when you use them that the trouble starts...

I definitely won't be using the trem, so hopefull all is good for me.

 

[HowieJams]

Wow -- that sucks about the chip, but at least there is a bright side to it like you have mentioned.

Described the "Pearl White Flat" finish? Is it a satin? Gloss?

I brought my wife in on this one...

She says it is flat with a little sheen to it.
Definitely not glossy.
It is a very classy looking guitar, my wife says it is beautiful.

 

[HowieJams]

I just got done playing it for over an hour making a ton of videos for YouTube.
The neck is definitely not thin, I would say it is closer to a comfortable 50s neck Gibson thickness, but whatever it is, it is amazing.

This is the only guitar I have ever owned that I actually can play it with 10-46s and it feels great.
All of my other guitars, 24.75 scale Gibsons and 25.5 Fenders need 9-42s for me to be comfortable, but this 25.5 scale Ibanez is smooth to play even with 10-46s.
It would probably be even more amazing with 9-42s.

As for tone...
For me it has 6 great usable tones and 4 I won't bother with.
I like Positions 1,2,4,5 with the alter switch down and positions 2 and 4 with the alter switch up.
The other 4 options I will never use.

The single coil tones are great, I like them as much as a Fender and the Humbucker tones are right there with my Gibsons.

I really like this guitar.

It does have a couple of things I don't like, the recessed jack and the stupid function of the Gotoh style locking tuners for example.
I also still wonder why the High E String broke on me yesterday, is it a sharp spot on the bridge or do 10 gauge strings not take to bends like a 9 gauge string?

I will report more later, but right now this guitar just might be my go to guitar.

 

[Frehley12]

Nice new guitar! I have a Prestige AZ2204N (HSS). I love the necks on these. You probably have the same neck as mine but with 24 frets.

Are you liking those Duncan Hyperion pickups? Mine has those Fortunas which are lower output. I wish my humbucker was hotter.

The stainless steel frets are awesome. The switching system makes these guitars a swiss army knife of tones. I high quality guitar without the Suhr pricetag.

 

[HowieJams]

Nice new guitar! I have a Prestige AZ2204N (HSS). I love the necks on these. You probably have the same neck as mine but with 24 frets.

Are you liking those Duncan Hyperion pickups? Mine has those Fortunas which are lower output. I wish my humbucker was hotter.

The stainless steel frets are awesome. The switching system makes these guitars a swiss army knife of tones. I high quality guitar without the Suhr pricetag.

I LOVE this guitar!!!!

Love the neck, love the pickups, (hate the Tuners lol) , I think it is going to be my favorite guitar even over my Custom Shop Les Pauls.

Out of the 10 tones I only like 6, but I love those 6, the other 4 I will not use.

I just started a new thread with two videos, check it put.

Over the next few days I will be adding about 10 three minute shorts and videos that show the guitar doing specific tones, but I don't have time to load them all to YouTube now, but keep an eye out for them.