Ibanez AZ2402-PWF Prestige - In-depth Demo & Review

[@HughesandKettneramps]

Great vid Vlad! We remember hearing this guitar in person at 42GS and it was clear it's a pretty special one :) Hope it brings you many years of inspiring riffage!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! So far I've been super happy with it and hopefully that's not going to change!

[@jorgemlcosta]

Nice opening track, thorough review of design and features, honest unbiased comments, this is the best Ibanez AZ2402 review overall, congrats Vlad!

[@CatPickStudios]

Dude thank you so much!

[@JS-nf1sn]

Its probably been said, but the tuners are self locking (you don't need to turn them with a pick or whatever). The design tightens and releases with the normal winding of the strings, just FYI. There are some videos about the Gotoh HAP tuners that explain...Great video.

[@CatPickStudios]

Yep I've been educated about the tuners since. I think I watched Tom Quayle's video about the AZ series and he said he used a pick to unlock them, so that's where I got the info.

[@mrp5150]

Intro song is badass! Incredible writing and playing!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@Terrysoddy]

Thanks for the honest take on this guitar, it helped me alot with my decision

[@Oilid]

Great video man! Great playing too! 😉 Thanks for sharing!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks dude!

[@muurimc]

Oh what a rock song you have here, nice intro and melodies

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks!

[@jakobgurung6625]

dream guitar

[@CatPickStudios]

It's worth saving up for + they have more color and specs options now so you can really choose what you want!

[@SM-xs3gf]

Excellent review, I’ve just decided I’m going to buy this guitar 🎸 Also, I really love the studio name and graphic, excellent choice 🐈

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you, appreciate the feedback!

[@Rob_Lee]

Great video! I have had my eye on one of these for awhile now. Would love to play one before I buy. They’ve been back ordered for so long though! Seems like a really nice guitar.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! It's a great guitar, but I do recommend trying one out if in any way possible. Bunch of my friends tried the guitar and the neck profile was a dealbreaker for some of them.

[@gravitydragon1904]

Recently got this guitar in Pearl White. It's incredible!

[@CatPickStudios]

Congrats! I still love mine!

[@gravitydragon1904]

@@CatPickStudios One thing, do you know if the whammy bar is just snug fit, or you have to screw it in?

[@CatPickStudios]

You insert the tremolo arm in and then tighten the thing around the insert point. You can make it either completely still or have it rotate without the tremolo arm falling out.

[@gravitydragon1904]

@@CatPickStudios Oh, is that what the black thing is for?

[@lucacastellaro3221]

Man, I think I'll buy this guitar!... And let me tell you, you have one masterpiece there behind you...Eat'em and Smile, the best of Roth's albums IMHO and Steve Vai's most tasteful performance to date. Thanks for your review. Ibanez is always a great choice. Those Japanese know how to build serious guitars (go ask Vai, Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Pat Metheny, John Scofield...).

[@CatPickStudios]

I’ve been so happy with mine! It’s been my most played guitar ever since I got it and I’m still finding new sounds with it! And yeah that album is great, some of my favorite Steve Vai work actually.

[@jakemf1]

Love that opening track- killer

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks!

[@tomireunanen8033]

Actually, you don't really need anything to "unscrew" the tuners. What I do, is I'll just hold the string and start unwinding, so at one point, the string itself will keep the top part of the tuner in place and release the locking mechanism. The same thing can be done when putting on new strings: Pull the string through and start winding, at one point, it will lock itself in place.

[@ValKitsakis]

Great video and great playing!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you, appreciate the feedback!

[@pablo9364]

Very nice review . Beautiful guitar. Nice song

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you!

[@7thString84]

I have the same guitar (different colour) since 2 months and it is fantastic! I don't have any issues with tuning stability. It's actually even more stable than my floyd rose guitar. I barely have to tune it at all. For days! And my fret ends are also completely perfect. Maybe, you got one that was made shortly before closing time in the factory and the worker wanted to leave in time?! ;) The tuners are also absolutely fine to me. Just stick a coin into the slot and start turning the actual TUNERS. And everything works from its own. So yes, I agree, that this guitar is "very good" but I disagree with the subtitle "not perfect". At least to me, it is definitely a perfect guitar. I haven't found anything that I don't like yet.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks for a great comment! Sounds like I need to take a look at the nut and maybe fine tune it just a bit. And I hope to get used to the tuners, it's just that my first impression of them wasn't 100% positive :)

[@7thString84]

@@CatPickStudios I personally use to use Fast Fret also on the nut. Just to be sure. Which string do you use? I have Elixir Nanowebs (10s) and they seem to work absolutely smooth with the nut.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check Fast Fret out, maybe it will help. Right now the guitar has NYXL (10s) set, but I usually use Elixirs as well. The local store was out of stock so I went with those. Maybe just swapping back to Elixir would help. :)

[@7Boots]

Excellent review, thanks a lot!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks!

[@gordospeti]

Thanx for this very informative demo! One thing. I wonder why the neck is not one piece maple.

[@CatPickStudios]

I believe it's because a 3-piece of 5-piece neck is just more stable than a one piece one. One common way to do this is to take a piece of maple, saw it three (or more) pieces, filp one of those pieces around and then glue them together. That way when the wood dries and starts moving, the pieces are 'pushing' against each other -> your neck is much less likely to warp. :)

[@gordospeti]

@@CatPickStudios I see. :)

[@BrokenStrings231]

This was pretty fun to watch and listen to. NIce job man.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks!

[@BigSh00tsie]

the tuners i think are supposed to be unlocked and locked with an Allen key from the back. the front slots are to raise and lower them i believe

[@Proximus84]

Post height is adjusted with the allen key. The tuners are self locking and unlocking, you only need to use a coin /pick the turn the screw if a string snaps. Gotoh has a video on their website about it.

[@mojo-hand4539]

Great Demo! Good to see some heavier stuff played on this model. And I love that White. Just ordered the Tri Fade Burst in Lefty (only finish available). Really looking forward to it.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! If you want to find out more about the guitar, there's a "one year later" video of the guitar on my channel. Spoiler: I still like it a lot. :)

[@simonfarrell6841]

Left handed white now available

[@PooNinja]

20 sound samples 🤘🏽and great playing and graphics Yo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you! Hope you’re break is going well. ;D

[@PooNinja]

It is and January will be fun when I start up again 🤘🏽

[@Mohmega]

You remind me of David Maxim Micic nice review

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback!

[@Quantumface]

Really considering one of these but dont wanna pull the trigger when im unsure of the neck.

[@CatPickStudios]

Do you have a store nearby where you could try one? I definitely recommend trying one out before buying, because that neck won't be for everyone.

[@prabhu3903]

Awesome track. Perfect track for a roadtrip...... 🤘

[@CatPickStudios]

Awesome thanks!

[@Kaisiilerite]

Nice guitar!! Wat is the name of that monitor speaker in your background

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! Do you mean the guitar cabinet I'm using or the monitor speakers I have? The guitar cabinet is something I've built myself many years ago. And the studio speakers are Focal CMS 50's. :)

[@ukguitarnoodle]

great playing !

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you!

[@ryanngkahboh2004]

Like your review the intro was smokin!!! Would like to know the longevity and your point of view about the stainless steel fret because I wear out fret pretty fast so would hope you could share your experience on these. Did u see any sign of wear or flat spot? Your reply is greatly appreciated. Thank you

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! I think I'm roughly 8 months in and so far so good. Finland is a tough place for a guitar with all the temperature and humidity changes but the AZ has held up well. Frets still feel like new and I'm still finding new sounds with it. I'm also noticing that I'm not completely against the idea of maybe trying some different pickups with this guitar at some point. The pickups it comes with a really good but also kind of "too universal". They are meant to cover a lot of ground and do that well, but on the other hand I usually prefer my gear to do one thing really well than just be good at everything. I haven't really used the Alter Switch tbh.

[@MrStrato81]

Cool song!!!

[@CatPickStudios]

Thank you!

[@guitarabuser567]

Hey there great video, I was curious if the trem system screw in cap thingy for the bar makes any noise like the old design Ibanez trem systems used when they would work them selves loose all the time

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! Mine has been fine, haven't noticed any issues with it so far.

[@deg00dman]

hello Vlad, nice review. I want to know if neck is comfortable for small hands.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! I'd say it really depends. I don't think the necks on these are that thick, but I've had friends say they find it a bit too much. I'm afraid the only way to find out is to try one out.

[@deg00dman]

@@CatPickStudios thanks for the reply!

[@hugowasalreadytaken]

hey man great video.. i was wondering if you were experiencing any large volume drops if you switch to the in between positions? My guitar kinda has this problem, and it kinda bothers me

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! I'm afraid the volume drop is inevitable on a passive circuit especially since some sounds are out of phase stuff where the pickups partially cancel each other out. I use those volume drops for my advantage, so for example in quieter parts of the song I use split sounds and for chorus I switch to full humbucker. I understand that approach doesn't work for everyone, but that's how I do it.

[@pc3776]

You can always use a compressor to boost the out of phase sounds

[@hugowasalreadytaken]

@@pc3776 yeah i might do that, thanks!

[@alexZZGuitar6447]

Hi Vlad, great playing. I just wondered on the inside split coils position 4 how strat quack like it sounds say for instance if you a/b it to a real strat? Be great to hear your opinion on this... many thanks, alex

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks Alex! I don't have a real strat but I did just get a HSS guitar from Vola that to me sounds exactly like a strat. I think I'll do a comparison between the two. :)

[@bakarenibsheut12]

Hi, would the angled output jack of this guitar be uncomfortable when playing in the classical position? I'm thinking of buying this, but I'm worried my leg might get in the way of the cable and put strain on the jack.

[@CatPickStudios]

Hmm I think I've played mine in a classical position few times with no issues.

[@bakarenibsheut12]

@@CatPickStudios Thanks, that's good to know!

[@richardprater9730]

everybody is wrong about the tuners! you hold on to the string while turning and it releases the string! NO TOOLS NEEDED!

[@tiggy7777]

Will the white yellow over time? I live in a sunny place and cant be bothered to put it in the case every time

[@CatPickStudios]

Most likely yes, but it will take years, if not decades. My poly finished white tele I built in 2014 has seen a lot of sunlight over the years and is still white. All of them do become more yellow over time, but as I mentioned, it might take decades for that to happen.

[@tiggy7777]

@@CatPickStudios oh wow that's nice to hear. Thanks for answering! im worried because my white squier contemporary rh tele yellowed significantly in less than 2 years. Still love the thing tho.

[@CatPickStudios]

Yeah two years is definitely two fast for a Japanese made guitar to yellow. They take pride in building things that last you a long time.

[@daniyal4557]

Is this guitar suitable for post rock? Or is az2202 more suitable?

[@CatPickStudios]

I'd say it depends on what you need. If you need single coil sounds for your music, then I'd go for the HSS version of this guitar. The split sounds of the humbuckers are very decent, but I wouldn't describe them as 'real' single coils.

[@danidogma]

Iis it matte finish or does it have some lacquer? For me it is very important because my hands sweat a lot, and in the matt finish it shines in the area where the right hand rests.

[@CatPickStudios]

Even the matte finishes usually have some lacquer (this definitely has some). I could see this guitar get polished in some of the places as you mentioned, but they might also have found a way to prevent that. Haven't had it for long enough to know. Luckily Ibanez has a great amount of finish options on AZs now, so I'm sure you'll find a high gloss one that you like.

[@dominickortega8489]

Nice review man. To bad the frets aren’t 100%:/ however as for tuning I have the same issue and it’s cAuse the nut is not cut to high. I’m too lazy to get it fixed rn but other than that the guitar is excellent. Also I have the nut lubed with nut sauce (lol) and it still goes out of tune but it’s only the low E string.

[@CatPickStudios]

Thanks! I actually swapped the strings back to Elixirs that I usually use and the tuning stability improved significantly. So to only thing are the frets and honestly I'm not noticing them anymore. Played two big shows with the guitar last Friday and it sounded so good! :)

[@dominickortega8489]

CatPick Studios I love elixir. They’re my main strings as well. But that’s good at least the tuning issues went away. But ya I’m glad you still like it. Rock on man!

[@fabiol.9161]

In this configurationn HH is it not an rg in fact? Where is the difference? Thanks

[@CatPickStudios]

That’s a great question! I think the biggest difference is in the neck (wizard vs thicker vintage style profile), bridge and the pickups. All those together make the instruments pretty different, but I do see why you might ask this question.

[@fabiol.9161]

@@CatPickStudios well i know there are different specs.. Maybe the bridge should be the main.. But i ll buy that primarely to have both strat and rg sound so i think HSS is the real az guitar type meaning. Thanks anyway

[@carlobomb95]

Hi, what is the name of the music? Is a jam? I really like what you did play 😎👌

[@CatPickStudios]

It's my own tune I wrote for this and some other videos. Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated!

[@carlobomb95]

DUDE, PUT THIS IN A REAL MASTERPIECE! DON´T WAST YOUR TUNE! Thank you

[@AdrianFarrell]

6 months on, ... I was wondering if the tuning stability had improved with natural wear of the nut? I found that has been the case with my Charvel dk24, but still needs a bit of extra lubrication, although it doesn't have the self lubricating nut like the AZ.

[@CatPickStudios]

It actually has! Now that you asked I'm noticing I haven't paid attention to tuning stability in a while. Obviously I can still get it out of tune with some heavy whammy bar use, but it's significantly better now.

[@lucasseptianfauzi9516]

Vs ibanez az242pbg-ckb ?

[@CatPickStudios]

Mine is a made in Japan, the one you're mentioning is made in Indonesia. Both are great guitars that do actually sound different. Check out a comparison video on Phil McKnight's channel, I think he actually preferred the Indonesian made ones.

[@rgurung]

A prestige (no pun intended) way to place a jack input.😂

[@CatPickStudios]

Haha I've grown to like it as well.

[@rgurung]

@@CatPickStudios thanks buddy for your prompt reply. as im trying to grow my channel myself. now that you have replied me, probably i will get some boost to my channel. thanks anyway. cheers!

[@b10t3rr0r]

Jos ostit tän Levytukusta, niin ne varmasti hoitaa nauhojen päät kuntoon, koska ne nyt kuuluu olla uudessa Prestigessä kunnossa.

[@muurimc]

pienellä viilalla ne hoituu kotonakin ja vähän teippiä suojaksi :)

[@CatPickStudios]

Ostin vähän toista kautta suoraan Ibanezilta, joten Levytukku ei auttane asiassa. Mutta mä saan kyllä tuon huollettua, eipä tässä hätää. :)