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Ibanez’s AZ Series has a guitar for every genre, budget, and playing level – and it keeps getting better
Ibanez is not a brand to be pigeonholed. Those who think the company is dedicated only to producing metal machines aren’t taking into account the instruments they built for fusion pioneer Pat Metheney, jazz virtuoso George Benson, and acoustic wunderkind Marcin, to name just a few prodigiously talented Ibanez endorsees outside the metal/shred realm.
That versatility is reflected brilliantly in the company’s AZ series.
Featuring over two dozen models in total, with tons of pickup configurations, bold finishes, and choice appointments between them, the AZ series has a guitar for everyone, at every playing level and budget. And it keeps expanding – six new models were added to the line earlier this year!
For starters, beginners and players on a tight budget will find much to love in the AZES models. Starting at just £289, they feature solid poplar bodies, and easy-playing maple necks, and with Ibanez’s build quality, you won’t have to worry about the same out-of-the-box issues as many other guitars in this price range.
Sonically, the choice of SSS or HSS models – coupled with onboard dyna-MIX switching systems on each – gives players a staggering amount of tonal versatility at this price.
Starting at £479, the AZ Standard guitars are a slight step up from their AZES siblings. With alder bodies, stainless steel frets, and beefier pickup lineups (you can choose between HSS and HH models) – the extra cost doesn’t just get you superficial upgrades. And despite the greater pickup punch, the dyna-MIX switching systems still gives players access to a wide variety of smooth clean tones as needed.
Even the most proudly metal-minded model of the entire lineup, the brand-new, jet-black, £949 Iron Label AZ41B1, is far from limited to just that genre.
Just ask Guitar World Junior Deals Writer Matt McCracken, who wrote in his 4.5 star review of the guitar, “The Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 honestly surprised me with just how versatile it is, especially with its very heavy metal lineage in mind.
“It delivers a superb array of tones that can handle everything from crushing modern metal to funky spank, all with an organic feel that never gets too surgical, but can still handle itself when ladled with high gain. Add in a superbly playable neck (once the action was lowered), and you have a real sleeper guitar that can chug with the best but still has enough versatility to play a majority of roles.”
Moving up, we get to the AZ Premium guitars. Starting at £1289, these are serious mid-price axes. With American basswood bodies, a choice of ebony and rosewood fretboards, the options of Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio pickups in HSS, HSH, and HH configurations, luminescent side dot inlays, and Gotoh tuners, the AZ Premium lineup offers that same tonal and aesthetic flexibility, with bulletproof reliability across the board.
Finally, there’s the crown jewel of the AZ series, the AZ Prestige models. Made in Japan, and priced from £1879, these guitars boast famously impeccable build quality – you won’t find a hair out of place.
Like all levels of the AZ series, you’ll find something that fits you no matter what tone you’re going for, though those looking for drop-tuned wallop in particular will delight in the AZ series’ only 7-string models, the AZ24027 and AZ24047. Even here, though, players have far more than one tonal colour, the former is an HH model with a pair of Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers, and the latter is an HSS with a Hyperion ‘bucker and a pair of Hyperion single-coils.
Bottom line is, the Ibanez AZ series is about as comprehensive a range of guitars – in tone, price, and aesthetics – as you’ll find anywhere. From specialists in punk to prog rock, funk, pop, jazz, and everything in between, there’s an Ibanez AZ for everyone.
Find the best deals on all of them at GuitarGuitar.
