Ibanez Prestige AZ2402-PBM

Ibanez's proposed standard model for the new generation of guitarists.

The trend of demanding technical skill in guitar playing is gaining momentum every day, and musical styles such as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and fusion are becoming increasingly intertwined.

With advancements in the internet and digital devices, it's no longer uncommon for individual players to reach audiences across national borders, making it easy to stream performances. As a result, a large community has formed where players of all nationalities, ages, and genders can participate and be appreciated. Interaction within this community is thriving, fostering healthy competition and a constant stream of updates in originality, technique, and expression. We are now in an era where a new generation of guitar heroes and heroines from around the world are taking flight, bringing new surprises to the world.

Ibanez prides itself on being a leading modern guitar brand that creates guitars demanded by contemporary players. The AZ model is the culmination of everything Ibanez has cultivated, from A to Z. The AZ embodies the DNA of guitar making accumulated by Ibanez, which is evident in the design of each part, as well as in the blend of modern and classical elements in its colors and overall design, all aimed at realizing the elements demanded by modern players.

So, is it simply a matter of putting together "good parts" to create a good guitar that produces a good sound? At Ibanez, we believe there is no basis for "good sound"; what matters is the "desired sound." A good guitar is one that can produce the desired sound. In guitars, individual parts and designs are not independent of each other, but rather work in harmony to define the sound character, and as a result, you can obtain the desired sound.

Is the AZ just a rehash of traditional guitars? Is it a guitar that simply follows the crowd? There's only one way to find out: you have to pick it up and play it. What the birth of the AZ signifies is simply that a new generation of guitars has been born.

・S-TECH WOOD roasted maple 1pc neck & fretboard

The fretboard and neck are made of maple wood treated with ESTEC technology. ESTEC treatment is a nitrogen heat treatment technology for wood developed in Sendai, and its use as guitar wood is a world first. ESTEC wood has characteristics such as shape stability, resistance to warping, water resistance, and resistance to temperature changes, and these characteristics have earned it a patent in Japan. After numerous prototypes and tests, the neck thickness was determined to be 20.5*22.5 (at 1F*12F) as the best. Furthermore, the finish is an oil finish that mimics the texture of a well-played guitar neck.

AZ Modern Oval C Neck Grip

This original neck shape was created after measuring and analyzing dozens of guitar neck grips, both from our own company and other manufacturers.
This comfort grip features a smooth, rounded shape from the joint between the fretboard and neck to the fretboard edge. The shape is precisely and reliably reproduced using ball milling.
The neck width is 42mm at the nut, and 56.4mm and 57mm at the last fret for the 22F and 24F models, respectively. The shape is designed to be easy to grip in the lower fret area and to be particularly comfortable for classical-style playing with the thumb on the back of the neck in the higher fret area.

Body Design

This is an original body shape designed with a contemporary aesthetic in mind.
The thin body contour and large elbow contour, reminiscent of Ibanez's flagship S model, create a sense of unity between the player and the guitar, greatly contributing to improved playability.
The body's deep waist provides excellent playability, making it comfortable to hold and easy to handle on stage. The body's front surface has a radius of R3mm, while the back surface has a radius of R8mm, resulting in an ergonomic design that feels comfortable the moment you pick up the guitar, whether sitting or standing.

・Seymour Duncan Hyperion Pickups

We acquired dozens of different pickups and measured the frequency characteristics of all of them. From these, we determined the specifications and sound image of the pickup that we thought was best suited for the AZ, and created this AZ-exclusive pickup in collaboration with Seymour Duncan, a pickup brand with a long history and a reputation for continuing to innovate. This custom pickup is designed to retain some of the original clean tone even when distorted, with a slightly reduced output, and focuses on picking responsiveness and accuracy.
We prioritized overall balance, from the treble to the bass, and even the tone of each string from the 1st to the 6th, while also striving for excellent effect response. All magnets used are Alnico-5.

dyna-MIX with Alter switch
With a single flick of a mini-switch, you can freely switch between humbucker and single-coil modes, ensuring a wide variety of sounds. (10 types for the HH model, 9 types for the SSH model)
This switching system is ideal for modern guitar players who need to perform multiple roles with limited equipment.

●Alter switch
HH model…Switches to Power Tap mode, which delivers a realistic single-coil sound. One coil is tapped, and the other coil's low frequencies are enhanced with special wiring, resulting in a clear high-frequency range and a thick, well-defined sound that cannot be achieved with simple tapping.

SSH model… The neck and center single-coil pickups are wired in series to simulate the sound of a 22-fret neck humbucker.

・Ibanez T1802 Tremolo Bridge (made by GOTOH)

The GOTOH 510 bridge, widely regarded by many players and guitar brands as the definitive tremolo bridge, has been reborn through a collaboration between Ibanez and GOTOH.
Featuring a hard, machined titanium saddle and machined steel inertia block, this guitar achieves both excellent attack and a solid, fat sound, while also boasting extended high frequencies.
The string spacing is a narrow 10.5mm, designed to make it easier to pick across strings, a feature demanded by players who frequently use string skipping and hybrid picking.
Furthermore, it features an arm socket that allows the use of Ibanez Edge tremolo arms and ultra-light tremolo arms (carbon fiber/UTA20/sold separately). Unlike conventional arms that require twisting, the arm can be attached with a snap-in mechanism. It also features an arm torque adjustment mechanism that allows players to fix or release the arm angle according to their preference. In addition, it comes standard with a stud lock mechanism that firmly secures the studs with grub screws embedded in them, greatly contributing to tuning stability and resonance.
It employs a two-point floating support system that allows for smooth arming and arm-up movements.

GOTOH HAP-M machine heads

It features GOTOH Magnum Lock machine heads, which are renowned for their tuning stability.
It features a HAP (Height Adjustable Post) mechanism, allowing you to adjust the post height and achieve the appropriate tension for each string.

*The image is a sample. Due to the nature of the product, the wood grain and color will vary from one item to another, and you cannot choose a specific one. Please understand this in advance.

Neck type:AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD roasted maple 1pc neck
Body: Alder body
Fretboard:S-TECH WOOD roasted maple fretboard w/Abalone dot inlay and Luminlay side dot inlay
Fret:Jumbo Stainless steel frets
Bridge:Ibanez T1802 bridge (made by Gotoh) Neck pickup:Seymour Duncan Hyperion (H) neck pickup
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion (H) bridge pickup
Hardware color: Chrome

Comes with a hard case

■Finish:
・PBM (Prussian Blue Metallic)