Ibanez AZES - My Verdict After Gigging It

[@therangersinger]

For the price. Especially in that price range. The quality and playability you get these days is light-years ahead of what was even offered in that same price range 15 years ago. A little set up, a little tweaking to pick up height, maybe a little touch up on frets and you have a solid guitar.

[@modscientist9793]

I agree. My first guitar was horrendous. Ibanez did a decent job. My only real issue with guitar companies these days is the lousy nuts they keep cutting. It's a vital part of the equation, but also one of the cheapest to fix right from the factory. Stop cutting the nuts so lousy already. It's 2022. Embrace graphtec or a similar offering for goodness sakes.

[@geokar16]

To be honest though John could pick up a $100 guitar made 15 years ago and still sound phenomenal.

[@modscientist9793]

@@geokar16 agreed! He'd make a 2x4 piece of lumber sound good.

[@carlosalbertomunozgiron6089]

I agree with You mate. The guitars that we're offered in those years we're crap compared to what offers this guitar!!

[@bluwng]

@@geokar16not really

[@diegoleiva7242]

I've gigged with expensive and inexpensive instruments. If it stays in tune, plays well and you like the sound, you can gig it. One of the most expensive guitars I've had was Japanese built and I couldn't rely on it, so I sold it. And one of my favorite guitars for playing live is an Ibanez SZ320, which is very cheap and solid in every aspect.

[@AndyCelleyMusic]

John - You are an amazing world class guitarist. It is a true delight to hear you play. I bought an Ibanez AZES40-PRB which is identical to what you’re playing. After owning Fender Player Strat, Squire Strat & Pacifica 612, the AZES40 is the best feel, most quiet studio pickups, and a delight to just keep one wanting to keep picking it up and playing every minute. The tuning has been good except for the Tremelo as you state. PS- I’m a piano player but guitar was my first instrument. It’s such a delight to hear you play - makes me feel confident that I bought thee we right instrument. Especially with with smooth saddled for muting, molded Ibanez heel-joint, plastic input Jack & additional pickup selector switch. BUT - John, we can tell you like playing the AZES40 very much! Bravo! Thanks for the video and for sharing. You are a MONSTER PLAYER! Keep going- Bless you! Andy Celley Music!

[@LA.Guitar]

Recently got a Squier Bullet after hearing that Mike Rutherford uses them on the recent Genesis tour. Fitted locking tuners and graphite string trees, polished the frets and gave it a proper set up and now it’s my main gigging guitar! Absolutely fine, light as a feather, trem works flawlessly, holds tune almost an entire gig with trem use! With locking tuners and string trees, cost me £180 all in! Bargain!

[@druchumley4571]

Bullets are criminally underrated. Picked up a bullet tele in a trade. It's a great guitar.

[@zerozerotwosix]

Agreed, my bullet strat in Shell Pink literally is one of my best for $249 straight from the store. Even while using 11-49 it still holds tune pretty well. No problem at all with 10-46.

[@southwestshooters]

John - the opening line you played was awesome. Very impressive! Also - the cheapest guitar I ever gigged with was a Yamaha Eterna, they were 160 pounds new in the mid 90s, I had four at one point, and the cheapest one I gigged with was brought used for 40 pounds. I painted it black with white paint splatters.

[@jamesfarrington9030]

I used an Ibanez el cheapo ($225) typical Ibanez body. Flat fretboard, jumbo fret, humbucker or Strat sound. One of the best guitars I ever played.

[@Scara.s_wife]

I ordered this guitar today! Can't wait to to get it and play on it

[@therangersinger]

That bend and the notes played immediately after at 5:27 to 5:31 gave me chills. Random comment but that is a beautiful lick. I just saved it to my watch later list to try it today. Thanks John!!

[@byZander]

wow. absolutely gorgeous playing. Probably some of my favorite i've heard from any guitarist in the last couple years.. maybe its the key setting it off for me

[@colerichardson6739]

I gigged a squier tele that I got used for 250. It was killer and held up. Same with the squier std strat I had as well. I’ve gigged a 900$ Gibson SG and a 800$ Jackson soloist. The only reason I upgraded was because of the pickup layouts (buckers vs single coils) and then to the soloist was simply for a floyd rose. I go back to the squiers from time to time and it’s never really felt that different. As long as it achieves a sound you want then it is perfection

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I got this guitar for something inexpensive to tote around, and for something to tinker on that isn’t precious. It did need a setup and a couple hours of finishing work but is as nice as everyone says it is. I have the hard tail version It stays in tune fine and the neck and fretboard are only getting better as it wears in; I’ve had it for about six months. Not a fan of the pups but they do grow on me. I want to make it a two pup guitar so it’s more like a fender mustang, and paint it purple. This is a great guitar and I think a better value than squire at the same price point

[@valueofnothing2487]

I got an Ibanez 'SA Series (higher end)' HSS that came with Alnicos. Playability is excellent. No sharp frets, low action, frets were shiny, fingerboard was quite good. You are getting 500k pots and very bright pickups. I did swap them out for 250k GFS alnicos which I think was an improvement.

[@Xcorgi]

After lubing the nut on this guitar it stays in tune really well. Even with heavy tremelo use. But i can see why you’d say avoid heavy tremelo use right out of the box.

[@TomoFujitaMusic]

Thank you for sharing!

[@jaricklosey4607]

I recently bought the $2000 MIJ version of this guitar and it’s amazing. This looks like a killer budget model.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Ya, I’d say $350 v $2000 is something to consider, lol

[@Aloysius1966]

I just got the black model delivered yesterday. I agree with everything said in this video. Tough to beat for the money. If I have one complaint; I wish the frets were a bit bigger. These are kind of on the medium/thin side as fret wire goes.

[@elitesaint9631]

Meant for small size hands 😜

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

I´ve had it for about a week. No gigging yet, but I tried several guitars in the same price range like Squier Affinity Strat, Yamaha Pacifica etc. before deciding. A good deal of the fun in buying a new guitar is trying out all kinds of guitars :-) As someone else said below, what you can get for less than 300 Euros or Dollars these days is amazing. Nothing like what was available 10 or 15 years ago. All the guitars I tried were good, really. But I couldn't stop playing this Ibanez AZES40. I loved the flexibility and the playability and the looks of the guitar. Let´s face it, looks is important too :-) First. it was perfectly set up. As low an action as can be. I had never played a guitar with a radius of 250 mm. A typical Fender or Squier would be 300 mm (12") and som shredding Ibanez guitars would be 400 mm (15-16 inch). Almost flat. This one is only 10" (9.8 actually). It is a bonus to beginners and those with small hands. I suspect some of the playability is due to the fretboard radius. What I would like improved: The protective nylon overlay is difficult to remove. And the whammy (tremolo arm) is very stiff. It is not built on a floating bridge. It may be that it contributes to the stability of the tuning (it keeps its tuning surprisingly well), but it requires some strength to use it. I would recommend it to the beginner and the professional alike. It has the qualities for both gigging and learning. And it is a pleasure to play.

[@renukadevijoseph6386]

What would you pick over affinity Stratocaster or Ibanez azes40

[@michaelfrederiksen2809]

Bought an Ibanez Gio as backup guitar second hand off a mate for £80 12 years ago. Gigged it a few times. Looking back it was awful and needed a lot of work. My £250 RG is probably the best cheap guitar I’ve gigged. Ibanez I feel are pretty solid all around but the parts quality on cheaper guitars let’s them down.

[@koolkutz7]

Looks a nice guitar. I have been using a Squier Contemporary HT for about 12 months and it performs well in a live situation. I guess everything has bedded in now as the tuning is very stable, the roasted maple c-shaped neck and laurel fretboard make it a breeze to play and the 3 single SQR alnico pickups are reasonably good too. It's in the same price range as that Ibanez AZES-40 roughly. I have got my eye on getting the Sire S7 though, which looks really great for the money 🙂

[@JasonWadeGuitar]

You know what day it is.....🤔 That being said, amazing intro. There isn't much you can't make sound good tbf. I had an Ibanez AZ, it was nice but got passed over to the point I sold it and got a K Line. So there. 😝😝

[@johnnathancordy]

And a suhr classic antique metallic....

[@redcomn]

I swap my tuner with gotoh button locking tuners and bone nut. Send it to my luthier for fret level and setup and now it play like a dream. Funny thing is i prefer it more then my prs now.

[@fabiodigennaro8505]

I'm considering to upgrade this guitar with Gotoh locking tuners. Can you tell me please which model of Gotoh locking tuners did you buy? I want to be sure to buy a model that perfectly fits in my AZES. Thank you

[@klopfer_im_baellebad]

@@fabiodigennaro8505 I bought the gotoh sg381-07 and they suit perfectly. And I prefer the azes31 over my fender Mexico strat :D by the way

[@lauriemacquanan2141]

A year later, I watched a couple of videos on this for the: The loose trem, one guy put a tiny piece of foam earplug in the hole n it works. On the sli. Neck all the guitar makers are appealing to the female players we have smaller hands. TY .

[@razztastic]

It's insane how much the intro noodling sounds like an older Polyphia song off Renaissance.

[@RoninCotter-fp8nu]

I own one of these and it's my favorite axe!

[@Crabfather]

Dornthe last 10 years ive played and gigged a squier VM strat which, i only changed the bridge pickup and modded it to have a tone in that position and absolutely loved it, new, it cost me under $300 (£150) I have been gifted a schecter and everything has changed.

[@riderbatang]

Love your playing bro. I like the AZ series

[@michaeljohnson3383]

Why not try the AZES31 - it does the humbucker thing with the alter switch and no trem to worry about.

[@ronhoffman7941]

John for similar money Ibanez has an s561 seafoam green H S S setup with a hardtail, have you demo'ed this guitar ? is it better than the AZES ? thoughts ?e you demo'ed

[@daniellafage7991]

J'ai reçu la mienne hier soir, elle était presque accordée aucun défaut,seule petite chose le micro double était complètement remonté vers les Cordes d'un côté j'ai donc dû le redescendre . j'aime pas trop les mécaniques fendue je pense les changer par des mécaniques a blocage mais je ne sais pas quelle modèle sera compatible si vous avez une idée je prend. Sinon au niveau du son pas trop eu le temps d'essayer correctement mais le peu que j'ai pu entendre me convient parfaitement. Quand au manche c'est super confortable très facile. 🤘🇨🇵

[@BecauseILikeFood]

What in the world was that opening song???

[@ronhoffman7941]

But for what it costs it is a good guitar !!

[@mike1967sam]

I have a Squier Classic Vibe Strat, it's completely stock. I haven't even changed the nut and I can play an hour straight and do crazy bends without having to tune it once. We have a break after one hour and when I check the tuning it's just slightly flat. I tune it and play another hour.

[@johnnathancordy]

Yeh - Squier Classic Vibes are pretty awesome frankly!

[@melexdy]

Best cheap guitar I ve bought was a Cort g260 for about 400 euros.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

One of the most underrated guitar manufacturers.

[@ritupabankotoky]

Hi John Nathan, I think you can try some Music man guitars. recently i am playing one. I bought it used. Very light weight guitar. Noiseless. Fret board is super smooth. I already had a Gibson Les paul (60s tribute). Only thing i dont like in that Lp is its weight is very heavy. Cant play it for long . After playing on the Music man . I dont want to touch the Lp. just shared my experience.

[@Guitarrhage]

Neat ! It sounds really nice, what amp are you using ?

[@alnon6304]

Nice, I got one in black. . Pero mo suena tan bien. Que amp utilizas? Esa es la clave. Le pudistes un efecto?? La mia mo suena para nada ASI.. gracias por contestar.

[@billk5864]

That tone is beautiful. I’ve only bought one Ibanez guitar an Upscale RG series I believe. It was a couple years ago. The quality of the guitar was not good. I had to shim the neck to get any sort of playable action and even then it was just playable. The pickups were ok but not outstanding. For the price I expected much more. Been reluctant to try another.

[@danabiondo9243]

Very Unusual. From what others say about the MIJ. Did you Ask to send it back. Most even the Indonesian ones get Great revi÷ws.

[@shawnbayless777]

Can’t even get them on this side of the pond, every store wants you to pre-order them. I am not paying for something without a predetermined delivery date even if they are as cheap as these are. Thank you for the demo, it sounded great and I definitely want one but I will wait until they are being stocked.

[@giosuemazzei6019]

Great guitar i own one and i live it

[@michaelw6277]

Did you lubricate the trem? I’ve found that all of my tuning stability issues are cured with a dab of lube on the trem pivot points, saddles, nut slots, and string trees.

[@vanyugo154]

What do you recommend to make the trem usable? If im going to upgrade the trem what would you recommend? I am a beginner and generally clueless about this sort.

[@wanoilagan4756]

Can you please do a comparison of the AZES and Corona Guitars Standard Plus ST? Thank you.

[@RECTIFIER101]

I bought a AZ premium and the fret work was horrible, high and low all over the neck, sent it back.

[@klebersonsilva5509]

beautiful backtracking!! is it possible to send us the mp3? I'm about to get this azes40 guitar this month, hope I have a good experience!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

You’ll make a twig sound good. I just find that, irrespective of the model, they all have that distinct Ibanez sound/tone, which is an acquired taste. Plug in a Jem, without changing any settings, and they sound exactly the same (without dive bombing etc 🙂).

[@hadiffnazhan862]

I think if you swap the 500k pots for 250k ones it would sound significantly better

[@briane.paulson]

Btw, I used your Eric Johnson tone you created for the Nux MG30 on my latest tune, Jesus at the Disco.Thanks

[@BloodBoughtMinistries]

Jesus Christ is Lord

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

Thanks. for mentioning this! I wasn´t aware of it but I searched and found it. I have a NUX MG-300.

[@getattrs]

That plastic wrap sticking out of the pick-guard is triggering

[@johnnathancordy]

I tried to pull that off before the gig, but some of it is kinda stubborn!

[@Timm4y]

I've been watching your videos on this for a lil. If you compare this to the Jet Guitars you played as well, which one do you prefer?

[@nemesis0217]

Aah!sweeps, great and this is really the broom needed. 😅

[@TigerPalmer]

If you could get the trem system stabilized, I think this guitar could be a Squier killer. The trem is the only negative I keep hearing about the AZES.

[@JeremyJames_studio]

Do you know if the Trem can be floated? I read somewhere that it can't pitch up which sounds wrong 🧐

[@caseykittel]

But what strat style guitar stays in tune with moderate trem use? I honestly want to know so I can buy one. Thanks? 😊

[@lassekalhauge4801]

Sublime playing Johnnathan! And I love the tone from 4:40.... is that a preset (EricLead) without any tweaking? Best regards

[@johnnathancordy]

That is Lasse!

[@snakeplissken44]

I have one. It's fucking sick!

[@johnnathancordy]

Digging?!

[@maJastoL]

You are very skilled

[@briane.paulson]

Tasty as a Sunday brunch at Grannies.

[@TCMx3]

I think it looks cool.

[@Xcorgi]

The only downside to this guitar is that it comes stock with a cheap plastic nut. Even Squier is making bone nuts standard in most of their guitars and Yamaha is making GraphTech nuts standard on most of their Pacifica models for good tuning stability. This is especially important for tremelo equipped guitars and the fact that they are only about a $5.00 item, there’s NO EXCUSE for Ibanez to not put them on a guitar they’re branding as “essentials”. Because there’s nothing more essential than tuning stability. I’m sure everyone out there would be willing to pay an extra 5 bucks for the overall cost of this thing to have better tuning stability with the tremelo.

[@johnnathancordy]

Hmm are squier really using bone? On the classic vibes right?

[@Bjornsguitarspecials]

awesome guitar! I have some high end guitars but I gig with a €99 Harley Benton guitar haha. I just had to change the pickups and honestly it plays pretty well. I don't want to use expensive guitars for live cause I don't want anything to happen to them. love the videos dude

[@johnnathancordy]

Nice! Yeh I know the feeling, occasionally you end up in a situation where you're like...I wish I wasn't here with my favourite guitar lol

[@CMHobbies]

Bill Corgan’s “Gish Strat” comes to mind… 😐

[@ayersbiz6458]

I have an HB TE-20 HH SBK and it's a very nice gigging tool.

[@andriyderkach2065]

How is your Ibanez AZES so far?

[@Hhll0707]

Is this better or a fender squier for my first ever electric guitar? I used to play an acoustic guitar. Thankss!

[@johnnathancordy]

I'd try the Ibanez AZES!

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

They´re both good guitars, but Ibanez AZES40 is much easier to play. If you choose Squier anyway, don´t go for the Bullet version. That will not be the one that is close to the Ibanez. An Affinity will be a better match.

[@Jorexton]

Can you please share what pedals you use🙏

[@allenthomas834]

What's the colour ?

[@cozzzydays9050]

Hello John, Do you have chance to try Sire S3 ? I dont have chance to try Sire S3 and Ibanez azes40. Which one do you prefer? I really need strat tone.

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

Sire S3 is more expensive. You could get better guitars than Sire for that money.

[@akhilkjose512]

Very nice guitar 🎸🎶

[@Johnherold121]

(Offtopic) Hey John, I found this really cool video made by some Japanese bloke, about the Eric Johnson 1988 Live from Austin, Texas, where he goes over the gear Eric used during the gig, using Trail of Tears as an example. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rF7Ji6WLfpqkfc0 Around the 24 second mark there's an exact picture of the routing Eric had going with his four amps. I know DSP is an issue, but it would be cool to see you try to replicate that setup with Helix!

[@robinsrirr]

How much this guitar costs?

[@orenji13]

is the action low enough?

[@JohnLloydDavis]

Great demo, now please take the film off that pickguard!!!!!!

[@thekramer1097]

The only thing that stoped me from buying one was the scale. 25" is kinda weird for me even if I don't have big hands. A 25,5" would be perfect for me

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Looks like you’ve got it setup very nicely with pretty low action, the way your able to play those pickless runs. Lots to love about this guitar, but not crazy about the colors available :(

[@zerozerotwosix]

What string gauge do you use sir?

[@johnnathancordy]

10s generally

[@DouglasThomas-kx6gj]

Hate when a guitar is reviewed with professional sound effects. Could make a $20 guitar sound like a jem

[@gregmock6808]

Comparable to a Yamaha Pacifica I'd say....

[@johnnathancordy]

I think the pacifica might even edge it, but I haven't been able to get my hands on one again!

[@gregmock6808]

@@johnnathancordy I played Pacificas in clubs overseas and they are underrated guitars....especially the higher end ones..yamaha makes solid instruments.

[@RN-fx3zl]

Silver sky killer right there

[@wesboundmusic]

Really nice, I enjoy watching your videos, this one seems from a while ago! For comparison, see my demo of the "Freeway Switch" for ST-type guitars (Squier Deluxe built in Indonesia in my case), which offers 5 additional tones to the regular single-coily ones, so it's 10 in sum total (Ibanez seem to have missed one possible wiring in the bridge position with the alternative switch on and off, both sporting the same wiring, at least that's what the diagram says, no?). It fits into any ST-style guitar and does a similar job as the Dyna-Mix9 here (and one more wiring). Just for consideration. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPUeqmtlpqjgqssi=xocR2XMMSnP3UkcX

[@CocoKoi321]

Sadly I think its discontinued Probably cause the trash name didn't get it to popularity, sad cause it's better then high end MIM strats and classic vibes around 500 bucks

[@superg8018]

It's not discontinued. Sweetwater is taking pre-orders on them and is expecting them in a couple of months.

[@ronhoffman7941]

I feel the AZES 31 hardtail is the better sounding of the two !!! better pickups would be nice

[@BrianPremo]

I prefer hardtails, I wish they would make a HSS with one.

[@Thick1]

Your phrasing is phenomenal! Also, what is to the right of you? You keep looking over there. Is it a sandwich? Were you hungry from all those tasty licks?

[@caseykittel]

But what strat style guitar stays in tune with moderate trem use? I honestly want to know so I can buy one. Thanks? 😊