Mint Ibanez AZ2204 AZ Prestige Guitar, Roasted Maple Fretboard, Ice Blue Metallic

PLAYER’S PERSPECTIVE

The Ibanez AZ, specifically the Prestige line, has become one of Ibanez’s most popular new additions in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The 2204 in particular was a launch model for the line and was an amazing take on the more vintage “S”-style guitar with a modern twist, contrasting nicely with their iconic RG and shreddier offerings. This one’s in one of the coolest vintage-era custom color metallic finishes conceived (and one of my personal favorites!), Ice Blue Metallic.

It has a gorgeous dark roasted maple neck and fretboard with Prestige-treated Stainless Steel frets – the FujiGen factory fretwork is phenomenal. The AZ Oval C neck profile is extremely comfortable, and the 12″ radius allows for shredworthy speed and bending, but still feeling in the ballpark of the vintage S-type guitar the AZ series was based upon. The Gotoh T1802 bridge, which is based off of the extremely popular and venerable Gotoh 510, stays in tune for days with the locking tuners.

The Hyperion pickups are exclusive to AZ series and are just fantastic. Made by Seymour Duncan for Ibanez, they’re based on some of Seymour’s existing ideas and elevated to a new level just for the AZ. The single-coils pack plenty of punch whilst still retaining that signature S-style chime and quack, and the Hyperion bridge pickup absolutely rips on higher gain settings. The pickup set as a whole sits at just the right level of output to make this a true “do it all” guitar. What’s also amazing is the dyna-MIX switch that allows you to approximate various S-style, T-style, and humbucker guitars all in one guitar. 

For a classy-looking, do-it-all workhorse axe equipped with several boutique-level features that can cover pretty much every genre under the sun at a surprisingly affordable price point, check out the AZ2204.

Details

Even though Ibanez is thought of as a modern guitar brand, we have decades of accumulated knowledge and a history of pushing the boundaries. The AZ series carries with it all of the hallmarks of these tried and tested Ibanez qualities: the smooth oval neck grip, the well balanced asymmetrical body shape, and the neck heel allowing unrivaled playability.

AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck

S-TECH special roasted treatment increases the wood’s stability, durability, water resistance and tolerance of temperature changes. The neck is sealed with an oil finish which helps make it feel similar to a well-played guitar neck.

S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple fretboard w/Black dot inlay

S-TECH special roasted treatment provides a superior attack and a well-balanced tone and a rich sustain. In order to achieve supreme neck grip comfort, the fretboard edge is finished with a smooth curve.

Super All Access Neck Joint

The Super All Access Neck Joint offers superior playability with its 8mm concave curve from the body top to the spherical surface of the joint area. By maximizing the joint area between the body and the neck, sustain and resonance are increased as well.

Luminlay side dot inlay

The Luminlay side dot position marks make it easy for players to see fretboard position marks when performing on dark stages.

Gotoh® Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P. (Height Adjustable Post)

The AZ comes with GOTOH® MAGNUM LOCK® machine heads, which have an established reputation for tuning stability. Its H. A. P® (Height Adjustable Post). system allows for the adjustment of string posts for the appropriate tension of each string.

Oil-impregnated bone nut and stainless steel frets

The oil-impregnated bone nut provides superior tuning stability and warm rich resonance. Stainless steel frets boast excellent corrosion resistance. The wide and tall fret-type offers a quick response, good articulation when playing chords and clear tone when playing single notes

An ergonomic body back contour

A shallow body back contour and a big forearm contour make the guitar body fit the player naturally, thus increasing playing comfort. The AZ body has a deep waist and different radii on each body edge curve, making it easier to play in both standing or sitting positions.

Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ Pickups

Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ Pickups feature a moderate output through Alnico-5 magnets to keep the clarity of the fundamental tone when using a distortion sound, and to deliver a clear pick attack. From treble to bass, the overall tonal balance is evenly adjusted., and works well with various effect pedals.

dyna-MIX 9 switching system w/Alter switch

dyna-MIX 9 offers nine sound variations, and can easily switch between humbucker and single coil modes with just the mini switch. One mode is even able to simulate a humbucker sound from the combination of the 2 single-coil pickups.

Ibanez T1802 synchronized bridge (Made by Gotoh®)

T1802 tremolo bridge features machined titanium saddles and a machined steel tremolo block for a quick response, thick lows and rich highs. The 10.5mm string spacing allows for easy picking across strings. Its snap-in construction makes it easy to load a tremolo arm.

Specifications Body

• Model: AZ2204 Prestige
• Color: Ice Blue Metallic
• Body: Alder body
• Pickguard: White Pearloid

Neck

• Neck Type: AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck
• Fretboard: S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple fretboard w/Black dot inlay
• Fret: Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
• Scale: 648mm / 25.5″
• Width @ Nut: 42mm
• Width @ 22nd Fret: 56.4mm
• Thickness @ 1st Fret: 20.5mm
• Thickness @ 12th Fret: 22.5mm
• Radius: 305mm

Electronics

• Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ (S) neck pickup (Passive/Alnico)
• Middle pickup: Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ (S) middle pickup (Passive/Alnico)
• Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Alnico)
• Controls: Volume, Tone
• Mini-Toggle: Alter Switch
• Pickup Selector: 5-Way Blade Switch

Hardware

• Bridge: Gotoh® T1802 tremolo bridge
• Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Lock w/ Height Adjustable Posts (H.A.P.)
• Hardware Color: Chrome

Miscellaneous

• Case: Ibanez Molded Hardshell
• Instrument Weight: 7.3 lbs