Did Ibanez Just Release a Better Telecaster Than Fender?? (2021 AZS Series Reaction) || ASKgufish

[@agufish]

Wait, did I just become an Ibanez fanboy? Who am I…?

[@birdsaresinners3373]

Hopefully

[@thedanksavatron7782]

It much more fun & satisfying to have a diverse arsenal of Guitars 🎸🤘🏽

[@oliverjames7315]

Mate they probably listened to you.

[@dahmed8993]

Yes you are confused Give it a few years and you will called sharon

[@RickDanner]

too expensive though

[@anthonysablan8650]

The Schecter PT Special is a great ‘T-type’. Looks, plays and sounds WAY beyond its price point.

[@jonnybroomhead]

Schecter pretty much makes all fender style guitars better than fender haha. And pretty much everything they make is gold. They are kicking so much...butt.

[@anthonysablan8650]

@@jonnybroomhead I’m new to Schecters but I definitely believe that. I’m saving up for that Nick Johnston HSS now

[@agufish]

Schecters are great spec for the dollar, no doubt. Most of the “modern” ones I’ve tried have felt a little soulless, though. Maybe I need to try a PT 🤔

[@boomerdell]

I have a Schecter Solo ii Custom that I bought a year ago when I wanted to add an LP-style guitar to my small collection. I had tried Gibsons and Epiphones and they were fine, but I wouldn’t trade my Schecter for any of them. Amazing guitar that feels, plays, and sounds as good as a Gibson but for about 1/3rd the price.

[@seqta5705]

I have a black pt, it sounds killer! So versatile with the coil split too 😁

[@kevinschmitt4050]

So much more impressive than the Fender release. That control plate upgrade has to hurt

[@nathanmclauchlan5148]

So excited about the AZS series guitars, t style with all the comfort options (finally). Love the Lari Basilio signature guitar. Loving the new Joe Satriani model too 🤩🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@bipbipletucha]

Pretty sure those are the same minihums Fender used to put in the Vintage Hot Rod Teles, minus the big logo. But man, those Tele AZs and the sigs are the shit

[@DeadRoman]

Trying to build a better telecaster is a losing proposition. The telecaster is already perfect.

[@keefjunior4061]

True, and I'm somewhat of a purist when it comes to Blackguards, but I don't consider these Teles. These are just an evolution of a Tele, the same way the Strandberg Salen is. The Salen is also the first guitar I go to these days, and I own a few very early Telecasters dating from 51-58. They are all amazing but reaching the end of their working lives. Old guitar won't age the same way a Stradivarius does unfortunately.

[@abcrx32j]

Everything is perfect if you forgive the flaws

[@DisturbedVette]

I love telecasters but I would say you could make it better by making the body as thin as a strat, and then sculpting the neck heel, optionally adding a tummy cut and arm contour if you manage to make it not look ugly. That would make it more pleasant to use. I wouldn’t call these ibanez guitars “super teles”, something like the elite/ultra series with stacked humbuckers and that series/parallel 4th position thingy would be more like it. The ultimate telecaster stays true to the original tele design.

[@DisturbedVette]

Keef Junior evolution is a stretch lmao these things are ugly, they look like something from an off brand company that you’d find at goodwill for $61.

[@abcrx32j]

@@DisturbedVette So do teles tho, it's just a plank of wood and a plain pickguard

[@darthsensei3838]

It’s crazy that I have heard of these guitars for like today only, and I’m way more excited then the fender releases this year haha

[@Baci302]

As a self-professed old school Fender-guy, I'm seeing some great alternatives to it out there these days. From Fender's Squiers to the Schecter PTs and now these beautiful Ibanez guitars.

[@suitsandstrings55]

Cool teles, but I gotta be honest for the money they should have better looking finishes. Perhaps the pics online don't do them justice.

[@larsheuker]

I mean they are classic and timeless, just plain and simple thats how most "traditional" guitar players like it

[@MaestroJericho]

I think if you were to make a tele you need to at least have a butterscotch blonde with a black pick guard model. hell even Aristides did it and it looks amazing

[@WattchomanBrandySavage]

The AZS looks sick without a pick guard.

[@IanVase]

Really enjoy your content man. Thanks for being one of the real ones that doesn't seem to put on some fake persona. You come off very genuine. Keep doing your thing man.

[@Brannington]

BABE WAKE UP, NEW AGUFISH UPLOAD.

[@Brannington]

btw i would play so much nirvana on that blue azs, you have no idea

[@bb_lz9790]

A quick and cheap way to improve the ergonomics of a Tele's control plate is to buy a RockRabbit control plate. They angle the pickup selector switch slightly and move the adjacent control a bit too. I put one on my Tele and couldn't be happier.

[@michaelmenkes8085]

The plate and the wiring are reminiscent of G&L and Music Man.

[@killroy123]

In 2020, Fender had a Player Telecaster with Roasted Maple Neck and Nocaster pickups as a Fender Special Run (FSR) dealer guitar. I managed to snag one of these. Best guitar ever. Fender NEEDS to make a roasted maple neck player tele as part of the standard lineup moving forward.

[@agufish]

Granted, Sweetwater always gets the best stuff. They looked so nice, lucky for snagging one! Honestly, how had this not been made standard??

[@killroy123]

@@agufish I honestly don't know. This is by far the best tele i've ever played. If it had SS frets too? God.... Btw, love everything you're doing. Keep it up :)

[@maxmustardman298]

The technical changes on these az mop the floor with fender's version. Finally a tele in a 21 century design. Actually fernandes and charvel also did a great modern take on the tele but had to give way for the 90s vintage craze, sadly.

[@FilipeSalgueiroo]

I have one of the first Ibanez's FR models and ever since I saw it that I fell in love with it. Love playing that thing, it's super inspiring

[@Watergrovey]

I haven’t owned a Tele ever, so when I buy a Tele, it’s gonna be a Tele.

[@abcrx32j]

I think everyone has to own at least a Squier tele at some point

[@killroy123]

@@abcrx32j Squier teles are great.

[@jaredibarra6530]

The tele being ugly, bulky and not comfortable to play, is 90% of it’s charm

[@killroy123]

This. Its a slab-o-guitar that can't do you wrong.

[@agufish]

That’s what the FLATV1 is, though. Big ol’ slab body with a roasted maple neck and fingerboard. Soft V neck profile like a vintage Fender, too

[@thedaver8]

@@agufish these Ibanez teles are ugly af

[@agufish]

@@thedaver8 your face is ugly af. Jkjk I’m sure it’a aiite ❤️ lol but I do like these AZSes 🤷‍♂️

[@thedaver8]

@@agufish My mom does say I have the face for radio

[@Holonomics]

I know you say you are not a huge fan of the purple colour but it does pretty much seem to match the colour of your purple equipment on that shelf at the back. Great video and really interesting.

[@saarangnarayan123]

Dude! Thanks for covering the JBBM. ABR seems to be flying under the radar these days but all their recent music has been sick.

[@benhawkinsguitar]

I have intel on the inside, Ibanez is going headless this year 😳🤤

[@JonathanGasper]

I love the violet color on the Lari Basilio model, but I hate the gold hardware. Gold hardware can work sometimes (Ritchie Kotzen Tele comes to mind), but it doesn't work here. Chrome hardware and white pickups would have been my choice, but...it's not my sig model, lol. Great, super informative video.

[@DamianS1893]

Ibanez Guitars are definitely putting out great models

[@ericcarpenter3263]

Really dig the Strat AZ. Just looks like a perfect modded Fender. You HAVE to get ahold of one of those AZ teles, you are the only person I’d trust to check it out and let us all know what you think of it.

[@Magicstarfire]

If only the American audience knew about the super tele that Fender has. Except it's a signature model exclusive to japan. (miyavi signature) I feel Ibanez responded by bringing theirs to the masses.

[@Jydmd]

A Tele with a sustainer? That's a first.

[@DamianS1893]

I'm very impressed with majority of 2021 Ibanez Guitars

[@_caustics_]

I can't wait to hear some jazz on these.

[@ZL1LoVeR]

Best Quarantine NAMM coverage on the tube!

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Those Pia pickup covers! Great show, thanks.

[@keshin_martin]

Hey Hunter, if you want to still play a traditional tele, I recommend the Rock Rabbit Angled Tele Control Plate. It's amazing.

[@matthewf1979]

Josh Smith is a beast. He’s the only person I know that plays 13’s in standard tuning. It’s Five -1 btw. You know, the first year of the Telecaster (1951)and his studio is called the Flat V(Five) Lounge.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

Just wanted to point out that Josh Smith's sig is called the "Flat Five (V)" in reference to the Nashville Number System, rather than the "Flat Vee", in ref. to the neck. Josh uses it in his channel branding (Flat V Guitar Lounge), and (I think) his home studio name too.

[@agufish]

Ohhh that makes sense. Lol I thought it was referring to the guitar (flat slab, V neck) 😂

[@tankdarla637]

Great video! Best part...cat and dog making appearances!!

[@1337million]

Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani and JB Brubaker are the only Ibanez guitars that I like this year(so far). They even downgraded their super cool multiscale RGD with Fishmans! Now it's just another "black superstrat" but with a fade in the bevel. Loved the blue/grey style on the old one. I still want to see them do something super modern(or, well, anything at all) with the Iceman! Make new 7 string, go nuts and make 8 string(Meshuggah had some custom made and they look amazing), make a multiscale Iceman, make new Iceman basses and especially a 5 string! Or basses in general, they are barely doing anything with basses just giving the SR more colors and discontinuing the previous year's colors. Even though it's the same silhouette, their headless models are really cool and stand out a lot in the best way possible!

[@trevor4533]

That violet AZ is the business.

[@maxfrombeyblade]

Cant wait for the azs review. Let us know how much it weighs in the review. I love ibanez's because they're usually feather weight, but teles and t style guitars tend to be extremely heavy. Hoping that's not the case here

[@2550marshall]

This is cool. I was just thinking recently how it would be cool to have a tele with a trem and a min humbucker in the neck and some contours on the body. If the neck is right, I might have to get one of these.

[@SixString_J5]

5:13 On SS vs nickel.... Here is an angle I'm sure nobody else has thought of. If you want the nickel feel, on SS, it's all in the level of polish. I won't call out the California based custom guitar maker that is owned by a guy named jeff.... but I've noticed that my on base spec'd custom shop guitar the stainless frets weren't polished. This is vastly different than on my previous guitar from them that I went all out on the specs and had over $1000 in upgrades on it. They felt like nickel to me because all my stainless fret guitars are hyper polished. Well, I hyper polished them myself and they are just like my other guitars now, but maybe I stumbled across something. Maybe SS frets can be roughed up by using graduated levels of sanding but instead of going up to 4000 grit like I normally do, maybe stop at 600?

[@dam7ri]

The Talmans are more of a traditional Tele & the FreeRocks are super-Teles. This AZS line is a welcome addition, as it does for the FreeRock line what the AZ did for the RG line, dial back the points & hard edges and add more tonal options. I can't wait to try one of these.

[@magnuslikestanks6044]

I really love this shape, I hope one with a more modern hardtail and a HH pickup config will be availible in the future

[@michaelogden5093]

Great video. I like tele's and it's high time somebody did this. The neck still may be a bit thin and 42mm should be a 43. Removing the bridge PU without removing the bridge is just the greatest. Redesigned control plate is the best. For that money, stainless frets should have a gimme. I don't much care for a trem. I won't pay the asking price but it's still probably the best tele thing going.

[@jonrivera]

Yoooo 7 string version of those AZS's and I'm a l l i n

[@CacklingAntagonist]

Hey hunter could you please Review that Prussian Blue AZS? Coolest looking ibanez I've seen in a while... Also if you could highlight reasons not to buy it that would be rad cause I'm trying to save for a house 😆

[@rijosigns]

well with the trad tele all you have to as we or most of know is filp the control switch the other way ....so the toggel is at the back and put the volume pot at the front and move the tone to the middle, but ibanez trys new things so good for them. good looking guitars to funky for me. a tele is a tele.cheers love your show.

[@stephanematis]

Ibanez gunning for F ... dang. But I have a Purple Schecter PT Special coming already. So Ibanez, how but some colourful choices ? I might swing by in 2022, I mean I own Roadstar, Roadstar II, AR, AKJ, TXD and few Talmans. I would welcome a T style from you :) And I have a Lollar Firebird neck pickup looking for a cool guitar to become it's home. You show mini humbuckers, so thanks for that option!

[@scottdouglasswafford4866]

I a musician guitarist left Fender telecaster 🎸 left, u.s.a. I luv heavy metal music, slx3, jackson guitar whamy bar, and ibanez, az2204n, antique white guitar.

[@shredb4dead]

I would like to see a review of the white strat AZ with the compound radius board.

[@3badthebad]

Omg that black PIA is gorgeous 🤩

[@Xaion6]

I'm loving the AZN, love the non recessed bridge and I said my next "strat" will have a rosewood board. That thing fits the bill in a ton of ways, bummer about the vintage locks being junky but that's why I watch you bro! Honesty and I need a single cut guys opinion thats cooler than my dads lol.

[@rijosigns]

now the pia flat black that is awesome!!!

[@iLanFrid]

Schecter PT has a great switch placement. Godin HT has the switch slanted as well. G&L Asat models are fantastic Teles. GJ2 Hellhound and Michael Kelly. All under 600 if not cheaper and better looking pick guards.

[@toadetteremotewithwiimotio3330]

I kinda dig the new T-Styles... but i know that i can buy one... one day i‘m gonna go back to my Fender Tele and stay there

[@grayaj23]

i'm sorry, i'm totaly simping for Lari Basilio's guitar. A humbucker and two tele pickups... the color...

[@xMaoxoaMx]

I‘m in Love with the LB1. Would be my sixth Purple Guitar thought, so i‘m still on the fence if i should pull the trigger.

[@icedtorres]

Love the AZS and LB1! Love the violet color with gold hardware to! lol

[@DamianS1893]

Lari Basilio... Awesome 👍👍

[@ParaBellum2024]

These look to be great guitars, but the appeal to me of a real Tele is that it's easy to personalise. My red Tele started out as sunburst. Amongst its many modifications, I contoured the front and back (hence the need for a respray), flipped the control plate and drilled out the switch slot to fit a 3-position toggle, set at close to a 90 degree angle. Similar in some respects to the stock Ibanez guitar, but mine's a Fender, so it'll always be more authentic.

[@nigelbarnett351]

was not in to the new vai model!! but in black looks cool!!!!!

[@PeteHawthorne]

Destroyers need more love! \m/

[@jwilder2251]

I’m the audience for those Ibbycasters. I don’t do metal at all and would generally never even look at an Ibanez, but they did a nice job of blending old and new. I’d consider one at a lower price point.

[@georgesb1]

Thanks for reviewing the new Ibanez Tele style guitars. Not to be picky, but FlatV1 is pronounced Flat-Five-One after his Flat V Studios. Also, Josh has a large blues fan following who like his traditional tastes. He prefers nickel saddles over stainless steel for tonal reasons. It's all based on his number one guitar which is a Chapin Tele.

[@Jexydoos]

Love Lari Basilio, but I'm with you on that colour. If they released a white version I'd probably be all over it!

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Wow ... I may finally buy an Ibanez.

[@marvinrockon]

I have Kluson Locking heads you have to lock with a coin. Actually kinda cool and on a tele, it adds to the raunchy tele feel imo. It just fits to the "Classic / Vintage" feel you get compared to the shredders modern axes

[@Broccoli_Highkicks]

Never been a tele fan, but Ibanez could really tempt me with that Prussian blue one. If not for the fact that I couldn't possibly justify spending that kind of money on a guitar...

[@fredycorderoarriaza]

I think itd be pretty cool to see you demo one of your dream guitars if you even have one

[@hxopzw]

I've been waiting out so long to purchase a tele... Ibanez looks like the one!

[@williambratton2010]

Hey Hunter. If the pickup selector on a tele is giving you issues, on stewmac they have a control plate with an angled slot. Was running into that same problem. 13 dollars and they fit onto teles, no mods required. Worth a check out my friend.

[@chris_2714]

Banana control plate 😅 Cool guitars, Ibanez is killing it!

[@reecesand3121]

I genuinely feel like a all knowing being when I understand anything to do with guitars on this channel, i enjoy the content though

[@finnwhittaker2556]

Those are freaking sick

[@ZaktanVR]

What do you think about the new Dean 2021 lineup with their new 7 and 8 string multi-scale ML?

[@MHChang2014]

The AZ series has been one of Ibanez's most awesome product lines in recent memories. Definitely excited to see how these Ibanez "super-teles" turn out! Also, I've asked before but I don't think it ever made it to askgufish! What do you think of the lawsuit era MIJ Les Paul's? Any chance of seeing one and comparing it to Epiphones/Gibson's?

[@juanendre9854]

Hey are you planning on posting an updated guitar collection video?

[@tedsmusic5556]

I said it the same way when I first saw it, but the JS model is called “Flat 5” with the V representing Roman numeral five. FLAT5, bV, b5...it’s a graphic design nightmare. Flat 5? I don’t know. A lot of thought and care went into the features, and it sounds great when he’s playing it. The other models look great, too.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

A premium version would be my next Tele!

[@jason.h]

dying for ibanez to make a shorter scale version of the AZS

[@vince8081]

IBYS hits hard !

[@rafaelgutierrez6275]

You better check out the AR420, double cut kinda Les Paul drip

[@Emet.V]

The violet is beautiful love it

[@MarioFromMario]

I'm pretty confident that the neck pickup is a Firebird pickup.

[@wolfganghumboldt4830]

I would love to hear what kinda track you put together on one of those AZS

[@rijosigns]

and the js 410 is sick love that colour.

[@RebeccaHindle]

I like them Think it'll stick with the squire paranormal offset telecaster I'm saving for

[@mvarenin]

6:42 ... "I don't know .. I don't like violet colour" .. and over your left shoulder there is the light of the same shade of violet ... :-D

[@rsheaney]

I'm hoping they come out with another FR series, I love the modern T style, and the FR 800 is probably my favorite

[@scottanderson4175]

I’m holding out for a PRS Tele 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@CrushingAxes]

I'm a Les Paul guy, but this Ibanez telecaster isn't horrible. I still prefer a flying v or a explorer, but this one is ok.

[@gabewilliams7462]

I’d love to see you check out the new Genesis guitar, the RG565! $999 for a MIJ guitar seems insane, plus i love the 80s retro look. Any plans on getting one on the show?

[@hardrockrelics2157]

That Satch this! PLEASE review it! Satriani actually makes them look “Fluid” but the specs are right of a 62 Stratocaster 🔥 wide neck, not so flat radius and NON tilt headstock... George Lynch signatures also don’t have tilt back headstocks ... just like old Stratocasters. Must be a shredders thing. fender vs Gibson thing idk.

[@MrActionRadar]

Love the new Ibanez tele. OMG I want one... And I never wanted a tele before. Don't know what that makes me. On another rnote I was wondering how in the hell you managed to accumulate so much guitar gear?

[@Incaensio]

that's the nicest telecaster I've ever seen

[@StueyDoo]

Would love to hear your opinion on stainless steel frets ;)

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Godin changed their T type switch plate long before Ibanez but I would be happy with either a Godin or an Ibanez. PS. What happens at 100,000?

[@keepscent]

I wonder if Ibanez has a hidden plan to announce new color options for basic 6-string AZ.

[@joshfarinas]

It might be unfeasible to demo every model, but would you do a high-end telecaster comparison video? Suhr, Charvel, and Abasi Concepts released some promising T-Style models last year and I’m curious how/if Fender will react to Ibanez’s telecaster models.

[@thedanksavatron7782]

Keep on keeping on brother 🍻

[@williamfreeman9995]

Thanks!

[@MiikeyLawless]

Cool, but a huge ask for a tele tbh.