Even though Ibanez tends to be a guitar brand associated with modern designs, we have decades of accumulated knowledge and a history to draw from, so pushing boundaries is nothing new for us. The AZ series carries with it all of the hallmarks of these tried and tested Ibanez qualities: the smooth oval neck profile, the well balanced asymmetrical body shape, and the neck heel allowing unrivaled playability an upper fret access. It also features a new tremolo bridge, as well as newly developed Hyperion pickups, produced in collaboration with Seymour Duncan®. All of these elements help the AZ push the existing boundaries of playability and sound to the next level for modern cutting-edge players, while also providing a touch of classic styling.
A first in guitar neck construction, The AZ’s neck is manufactured with S-TECH WOOD treated Maple. This nitrogen-heating-treatment increases the wood’s stability, durability, water resistance and tolerance of temperature changes. The neck is sealed with an oil finish (sealer coat) which helps make it feel similar to a well-played guitar neck.
In order to achieve a supremely comfortable neck, the fretboard edge is finished with a smooth curve that extends through the border between the fretboard and the neck to the fretboard itself. The Oval C neck shape allows for a comfortable grip in the lower register, and a more modern feel in the higher register. Luminescent side dots also provide a great point of reference on dark stages.
A shallow rear body contour combines with a larger forearm contour increases player comfort. The pickups, designed in collaboration with Seymour Duncan®, are a moderate output pickup, sporting Alnico-5 magnets to keep the clarity of the fundamental tone while using distortion. This design also provides a dynamic and clear pick attack. From treble to bass, the overall tone is evenly balanced and works well with various effects. A newly developed dyna-MIX 9 switching system provides excellent versatility in that it has 9 different possible pickup combinations by way of the mini toggle and 5-way blade switch.
The T1802 bridge is a result of direct collaboration between Ibanez and GOTOH®. It features machined titanium saddles and a solid steel tremolo block for a quick response and improved articulation. The narrower string spacing allows for easy picking across strings, for styles such as string skipping and hybrid picking. The snap and hold tremolo arm socket makes it easy to load a tremolo arm, and the arm torque adjuster allows for fine torque adjustments without any tools. The stud lock screws lock the stud bolts in place, for better tuning stability and resonance. The 2-point floating tremolo system creates a super smooth tremolo motion in either direction.
The AZ is also equipped with GOTOH® H.A.P®-M locking 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 to attain appropriate tension on each individual string.