SSS vs HSS Stratocaster comparison featuring the Ibanez AZES31 and AZES40 | Which is best for YOU?

Today, we’re answering two of life’s biggest Strat-based questions: which is best - SSS or HSS pickups?! And: vibrato/trem bridge, or hardtail bridge?
And, in answering these questions, we’re also comparing the two Ibanez AZES guitars - the single coil, hardtail bridge AZES31 and the AZES40, which features a vibrato bridge and humbucking bridge pickup - to see which is the ultimate budget Strat type guitar!
Ibanez AZES31 (SSS version) at Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/524895?offid=...
At Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/KjW50A
Get the Ibanez AZES40 (HSS version) at Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/524926?offid=...
At Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/an4dOb
I know most of you will have your opinions on which kind of Strat is best, so please leave your thoughts in the comments. But I think the two AZES guitars are the perfect way to check out the main differences between the SSS and HSS Stratocaster types, especially because they share the vast majority of their specs apart from their pickup layouts and their bridges.
In the video, I play both guitars in as many different styles as I can - from country, folk and indie, to pop, rock, punk, metal and more - to see which is more versatile, which sounds more at home for which genres, and which holds its tune better!
Here are some links to the various playing samples and info bits:
00:00 Hello!
00:17 What we’re doing today
00:58 SSS vs HSS Strats
01:30 Hardtail bridge or trem?
02:35 Ibanez AZES specs and info
03:24 The Ibanez Alter Switch extra pickup options
06:21 Today’s rig and plan
07:00 Clean tone reference chords on all pickups/Alter Switch options
08:14 Clean tone samples
10:18 Classic rock tones
11:49 Indie rock tones
13:47 Hard rock tones
15:16 Punk rock tones
16:13 Modern alt rock tones
17:08 Metal tones
19:28 My thoughts
20:00 My view on the Ibanez AZES guitars
21:03 SSS or HSS discussion
22:51 The Alter Switch tones on the AZES guitars
23:42 Which pickup config is most versatile?
24:11 Hardtail or vibrato bridge?
25:11 My conclusions
26:12 Which of the two AZES guitars would I buy?
27:05 Thoughts and goodbye
My setup was as follows: I ran the AZES guitars into my Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200 head, using my Revv G3 pedal for the heavy distortion sounds. The amp went from the Red Box DI straight into my Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, which went into Logic Pro X. That's it. No post-processing on the sounds was done.
Here’s some links to those bits of gear:
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H&K Black Spirit 200 head: bit.ly/HKBS200rwm
Revv G3: bit.ly/RevvG3RWM
Focusrite 4i4 (this is the newer equivalent of my 2i4, which they don’t make any more!): bit.ly/Scarlett414RWM
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Enjoy!
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Backing music from the KZbin Audio Library: Duck In The Alley - TrackTribe.
#Ibanez #IbanezGuitars #IbanezAZES #Stratocaster #GuitarShootout
Note: certain links in the description are affiliate links. If you click said links and purchase anything as a result, I will receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help to support the channel. So, if you do that, thank you very much!
‪@IbanezOfficial‬

[@thatpeterboy]

Thank you for not referring to these as “beginners guitars” like other reviews. I’ve never bought into the beginner description, a good guitar is a good guitar and they all have the same notes regardless of ability.. I do appreciate the price is more conducive to a beginner but that’s it. I’m an experienced player and looking at these for something a little more affordable. Top review and comparison :)

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks for the comment! I totally agree with you. These guitars would of course be excellent for beginners (I wish I'd had a guitar this good back when I was starting out years ago!) but they're easily good enough to gig or record with, even at a pro level. After a setup, they'll do the job anywhere. They're simply excellent guitars, regardless of the budget!

[@RichWordsMusic]

And here's your timestamps: 00:00 Hello! 00:17 What we’re doing today 00:58 SSS vs HSS Strats 01:30 Hardtail bridge or trem? 02:35 Ibanez AZES specs and info 03:24 The Ibanez Alter Switch extra pickup options 06:21 Today’s rig and plan 07:00 Clean tone reference chords on all pickups/Alter Switch options 08:14 Clean tone samples 10:18 Classic rock tones 11:49 Indie rock tones 13:47 Hard rock tones 15:16 Punk rock tones 16:13 Modern alt rock tones 17:08 Metal tones 19:28 My thoughts 20:00 My view on the Ibanez AZES guitars 21:03 SSS or HSS discussion 22:51 The Alter Switch tones on the AZES guitars 23:42 Which pickup config is most versatile? 24:11 Hardtail or vibrato bridge? 25:11 My conclusions 26:12 Which of the two AZES guitars would I buy? 27:05 Thoughts and goodbye Enjoy :)

[@LookieChannel]

Wow, excellent job comparing the two! Really nice sounding guitars.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! These two are great competitors, and this was a lot of fun to make 😊

[@SeanAllocca]

Another great video Rich. I have HSS Squier and it is my #1 over my SSS MiM Strat. Keep making great videos like this and soon you will hit 5k subs. You are a natural on camera and the fact you include so many different styles of music is what will set you apart from the average guitar youtuber.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks Sean, I'm really happy you're enjoying my videos! Yes, 5k subs would be lovely... it'll happen at some point I hope. Interesting that you prefer the Squier over the Fender. I've had quite a few comments with people saying that recently. I've had a few great Squiers in my time too, actually! I'm sure yours has the extra versatility edge over the Fender, but I wonder if you'd prefer the MiM if that was the HSS one? Cheers and rock on :)

[@SeanAllocca]

@@RichWordsMusic No I love the Squier because it resonates to my body much better then the MiM and I love the tone of the Squires pickups over the Fender. The neck pickup has a really warm tone to it. The sales guy at my local Fender shop loves when I bring it in as he also thinks it's special and proving you can get a great guitar at an affordable price. I will always cherish my MiM as it was my first electric and I still play it just not as much as the HSS.

[@RichWordsMusic]

​@@SeanAllocca Oh wow, that's super cool. It's amazing to find guitars like that at any price! Funnily enough, I love my main MiM Tele, but it's not a traditional sounding Tele at all, and I have a cheap Harley Benton which does traditional Tele sounds way better. It's great when you find proof that you don't necessarily have to spend big money to get a great guitar :)

[@jackbraaten726]

Wow! Your vid is just packed with useful info. Looking for my first electric. Was quite shure I wanted the PAC112V until a comparison vid tipped slightly in favour of the AZES40. In your back to back comparison here, the 31 made me smile pretty much every time. Just a fun, pretty, light and clear sound. I think I have a new favourite. Thanks for making this vid. 😊 -Subscribing.

[@TomoFujitaMusic]

Thank you for sharing!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thank you Tomo! These are both excellent guitars :)

[@TomoFujitaMusic]

@@RichWordsMusic 🙏❤🙏

[@pistachiojud]

Love your videos! Thank you.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Cheers Justin, really glad you're enjoying them! Plenty more to come too :)

[@buddhamus]

Nice overview of both guitars. I'd go with AZES40, but I just wish it came in more color options. An AZES40 in Ivory would be my pick.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks! Yeah, I agree on the colors thing - I'm surprised they haven't made at least 4 or 5 for both models. Perhaps they're waiting to see the success of the range before expanding it. I'd like to see an HSS model with a hardtail bridge :) And in Lake Placid Blue ;)

[@antoniolopez6798]

Thank you very much for your job... (this video is very detailed and valuable) ... I just loaded the Azes 31 and I'm anxious... ... Greetings from Chile (At the south of this world)

[@RichWordsMusic]

No problem - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes, the AZES31 is a great guitar, and I really enjoy it. The Alter Switch gives you many different sounds, including a pretty good humbucker representation. I hope you enjoy the guitar when it arrives. Let me know your thoughts when you have played it too :) Greetings from Germany!

[@antoniolopez6798]

@@RichWordsMusic Hi, I received the Azes 31... I was 100% happy... ( *Yeahhh* )... The only thing is that I can't do metal (but I have another specialized guitar for that, so I don't care, since I didn't want it for that). The essential cartridges are good, not the best, but they sound great... With the alter, playing AC DC songs is no problem... (using pedal Friedman Small Box pedal or Marshall Jack Hammer pedal) I was happy... the design is minimalist, simple and beautiful... And it arrived calibrated, octave and a good capo... unlike several Squier that have turned out really bad... I haven't really tried the Yamaha Pacifica... But Azes 31 is a great alternative...it's hard to make anyone sad with this guitar...it's easy to feel like you paid little and got more than you bargained for. Greetings to the German brothers... from the Prat base (Chile, at the south of this world).

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@antoniolopez6798 Happy new guitar day! I'm very pleased to hear you are enjoying your AZES31. You're right, it's not really made for 100% metal, but everything else it excels at. And you also make a great point about the setup on arrival - this is something I have noted with all the Ibanez models I have had (all affordable, all great straight out of the box). With Squier, I have had some good ones, and some not so good ones straight out of the box ;) If you dig the AZES, I am sure you'd like the Pacifica too - they are great guitars as well, and the HSS models can do serious metal! Rock on and enjoy your new guitar!

[@Thomannfamily.]

I thought the HT sounded better in every configuration . I will be ordering one . Thanks for this video .

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yeah, there's something that just works for me about hardtail guitars too... enjoy yours! And thanks for watching :)

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

Both guitars sound really good. I prefer the HSS version, because of the warmer an rounder tones. The AZES40 is for me the better guitar, because I use the vibrator/tremolo system a lot. If it comes to tones, a floating tremolo system has a special character, but if you don't need it, just adjust this system in that way that you only can drop the strings down. The tuning stability will be very good. My recommendation is use other springs for the tremolo system. Some thicker and stronger springs and screw the spring claw far into the wood. For a floating system you need to find out the right composition between the string set what you want to use and the springs for your tremolo system. A combination of very hard and softer springs can help. I use 3 harder and 2 softer springs for my old Roadstar II and it stays very well in tune.

[@RichWordsMusic]

That's some really interesting advice Robert, cheers! I've not spent too much time with floating trems in my life at all, so it's interesting to hear about the different options I would have to increase the performance of the AZES40. I still think that a hardtail HSS model might be ideal for me, but I can totally see why players like you enjoy a trem... maybe I should try and learn to make more musical sounds with this one! Rock on!

[@davidvest7170]

Great guitars for the price, and absolutely good enough for a skilled player to gig with. The problem to me is that I'd highly recommend these for students, where I suggest HSS for versatility and fixed bridge for tuning stability, plus remove the "distraction" of a trem. And PLEASE Ibanez, move the volume knob from where it's in the way of palm-muting treble strings. Wonderful, affordable guitars you just want to pick up and play. Love mine!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, I agree exactly, and I think I said as much in the dedicated videos I did for each of these guitars. I think they're excellent, and a true competitor for the likes of Squier, and even Fender. And I totally agree with you that an HSS version with a hardtail bridge might be the best of both worlds! I hope Ibanez is reading this and considers that model for the future. Tuning stability is so important when you're just starting out, and I honestly don't think a classic trem system is used for that many contemporary music styles. But yes, these are great guitars, and I'm also super happy to have discovered them. Enjoy yours!

[@davidvest7170]

@@RichWordsMusic You definitely did a good job of making the point about the value of a fixed/HSS! Just adding my voice to the chorus in case anyone from Ibanez pops in to take the temperature from reactions. I deliberately take the AZES40 to sessions with youth now, so they don't think an $800+ guitar is a requirement to get good sound and playability. Please keep up the great reviews--I've purchased some guitars based primarily off them, and no regrets!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@davidvest7170 Great, let's hope Ibanez is reading this :) That's a great message you're putting out to those young people about not necessarily needing the most expensive guitar to get the best results - I wish more people would use that approach. And yes, plenty more videos like this to come from me. I'm happy they're useful for you! Cheers :)

[@stephanematis]

I think you and Henning both want a hard-tail HSS. :D I think the hard-tail with an inexpensive blade humbucker in the bridge position will be a good option. Heck, the two I've handled felt good enough to challenge PRS SE Silver Sky given the price delta. I will likely be giving the AZES31 as a birthday kid to a nephew, which is dangerous if I get to handle it first and then want to get one of my own. LOL

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, we do! And I'm sure the power of Henning can make it happen one day ;) I see a few others who want it in the comments too, so surely Ibanez can make one and see how it does. I would like to see one of these with a Blade humbucker. The AZES design is so good I also think they could expand on it a bit - try a P90 model, etc. Why not? Like you say, I think the quality/price ratio is so good, there will always be a market for these. I do worry for your nephew if you try the guitar first... maybe there'll be no present for him ;) Seriously though, what a great guitar for a kid to learn on! I would've loved something like this back when I was first starting out. Cheers!

[@petaralargic]

SSS wins IMHO..another great vid, Rich, as always! pros of SSS/hardtail: clarity, definition, more intricate spectrum (love it in the high gain range). hardtail is always a win, helping tuning stability and simplicity (string breakage in live situation, in example). regarding the hum in a live situation, alter-switch is i believe aimed for especially this (IBANEZ pickup switching is always clever and practical, and always aiming for hum free alternative pickup selections...to a point that i hate it in a way...take any 5-way rg/rga/s series switch, its 4th (strat neck-middle) is actually neck hb in parallel which does NOT have that nice cut-thru glass of a true split, BUT its hum-free..personally i would choose to have a SPLIT..but i am aware why the parallel is their choice..and ALTER switch in here is designed in the same spirit, of live performance practicability) Kind of a fun fact of my personal exploration of guitar world..while as by some kind of default, starting with heavy stuff, humbuckers has a default...however, once i tried the p90, realized teh beauty and nuance of it...and going further that road, i am now chasing for siingle coil hardtails...(and so few hardtail strats today..a pity) good point for hss AZES, i am surprised they haven't made it available already...curretly, because i am eyeing hardtail strat type guitars with a neck in the neck position (ad theres a super few) there is Ibanez s561, approx 430 euros... to sum up, aside of being a long time ibanez user, among others, so i was intrigued a lot when i saw teh anouncement of these, and a friend being happy with one, your awesome vids may just seal the deal fo me...very very possibly, and i hope soon will lay my hands on a 31 model..! Keep up teh super thorough and pragmatic approach..one of my fav channels..! \m/

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I'm with you. Out of these two, I pick the hardtail SSS version for the same reasons as you. But I do still think a hardtail HSS version would be a contender... it's funny that there are so few hardtail Strat types out there at the moment. I just checked out the S561 and it looks nice, but I do prefer the more vintage look of the AZES guitars. Come on Ibanez, do us a favor and make a hardtail HSS version please! Really interesting to read your comments about the Alter Switch tech too. I hadn't really approached it in that way (thinking ab out hum for live use), but I can totally see it! But this is one of the things that Ibanez does so well - they think about all those extra details. And hey, maybe one day they could also consider a version with a P90 at the bridge! I've tried a few guitars like this (mostly Vintage/Fret-King ones) and they are just awesome. The Fret-King Corona is a great guitar, and I guess they are cheap these days because of the name ;) I hope one day you manage to try these AZES guitars, and when you do, would love to hear your feedback on it! You're clearly well-versed in the Ibanez catalogue and it'd be cool to see what you think. Thanks for kind comments again, and rock on!

[@petaralargic]

@@RichWordsMusic Man, definitely compatible tastes...my biggest gripe with s561 is exactly that...while i actually love the seafoam green variation as a color (actually have one modded Squier strat in that color), i would be so much more for the strat style, yes! Also, a great catch on the Fretkings doing the p90-S-S..i was SO thrilled once i have discovered that... as it was me first time seeing the guitar in that config...i wish its more of the...but still it's not hardtail, (nor i am the fan of a funky guard cut (but that's minor cosmetics thing) I wish the p90-s-s is more often (it is a cool modd to SD PhatCat-S-S or Dimario Bluesbucker-S-S (both are cool p90 alternatives in HB casings)... Speaking of hardtails, there is a Yamaha Pacifica 311h, which i think might easily be among the best bangs for the buck on the market (aside from generic Yamaha pickups, all the hardware is top-notch all stock (Grover locking tuners, graph tech nut, splittable HB))...its "fault" is that it is H-p90, i truly do not understand why they do not make it in H-S or p90-S...that would be a blast fo sure... Also fun model, a bit away from the strat shape, but still a cool bolt-on, lightweight instrument, the G&L Fallout Tribute (but it goes above 500 mark these days, so maybe out of the range) With all that said, i am actually very well sorted to order the AZES31..that single-coil spank + stability of a hardtail is too tempting to be ignored!:) will actually let you know, most definitely regarding the impressions..! Looking forward to new uploads and discoveries! Rock on, Rich!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@petaralargic Yep, it sounds like we're after the same things when it comes to this kind of guitar for sure! I will need to try out an S561 if I ever see one in person! And actually the same goes for the Yamaha Pacifica... I've never tried that specific one, but I did play a 612 once which was amazing. That had Seymour Duncan pickups in it which sounded great... but it's not a hardtail, and also more expensive. Still, great value for money when you consider the pickups. Funnily enough, I was actually checking out the Fallout online the other day - Andertons has the Shell Pink one for 299 GBP, which looks like a sweet deal: www.andertons.co.uk/brands/gl-guitars/fallout-guitars/g-l-tribute-fallout-shell-pink-maple-fretboard That does look like an excellent and different option too! But yes, start with the AZES31 and I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it :)

[@petaralargic]

@@RichWordsMusic Hey, that Fallout seems liek a good opportunity..i am sure will be quite a bit bright with teh maple, but still, a nice and diffferent instrument, for sure..! Regarding our hardtail onsessions, aside above mentioned yamahas 311/611 (all teh 6xxx have full on stock hot rod parts..like, everything, including SD pickups///while 3xxx has teh same, minus only teh pickups, being generic Yamaha, which are ok actually)...Few interesting Hardtail models i found available today are aforementioned Squire Bullet HT, Ibanez S561, Squier Contemporary strat HT (VERY similar moment with PU switching to AZES (incorporating the series mode for faux bridge humbucker to be specific, but few more tricks as well), also there is Godin Session HT, actually seesm liek great and very serious choice...over 1k there is a sweet Robert Cray sig, some Charvel HT..not much overall actually...:) Will see what i manage to get, and will absolutely share the impression...! THank you for teh replies and keep up teh great video work!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@petaralargic Yeah, the Fallout is certainly a bit different! I will be trying one if I ever see one in person. If it was still easy to order guitars to the EU from the UK I may even have considered that specific one. It's super cool and quirky looking! Great info on the others too. I actually remember trying the Robert Cray Strat once and really liking it - and the price is not too bad either. The Godin is a great tip and I will try my best to find one of them to try soon! What a shame I only read this message today because Godin were at NAMM but I didn't check them in enough detail and didn't spot the Session HT :( Looking forward to hearing some more feedback from you after you try more hardtail options!

[@TheDestroyer42069]

I love that crunchy single coil sound.. getting tired of the humbucker thick sound.. I want something new...

[@ahmed_elnaggar]

Thanks for the detailed review really helpful, between the two I can imagine the hardtail allows low action easier than the trem one. which one you found more comfortable to play?

[@RichWordsMusic]

No problem - I'm glad you found it useful! Yes, I would certainly agree, and I found the AZES31 easier to play. Actually, the bridges on both guitars are really comfortable (they have these really smooth and round saddles, not rough on the skin at all!), but I simply found the hardtail easier to manage, and of course it stays in tune better! And yes, I didn't try it myself, but I think you could get the action lower, and you would also never have to worry about setting up the vibrato ;)

[@reyntalao6]

I would love the HSS! but i need a color recommendation! haha

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, for me I prefer the Mint Green, but the Purist Blue is also nice... and of course black is a good standard choice. I guess it also depends on what you want to look like onstage! If you play more metal, surely it's got to be the black one...

[@Chris_OConnor]

The amazing comparison here just made my decision clear, I want to get one of the azes. The last thing that's holding me back is that I've heard that the neck on the azes40 is just a little thicker..? Someone made that experience here (even when specs are the same) ? Or is it really exact the same? I have no shop near me to try out by myself..

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks Chris, glad you enjoyed the video! Hmm, to me the necks felt as good as identical. They're the same neck profile, I'm sure of it - and I've played a fair few of the AZES guitars now. Would a thicker neck put you off?

[@Chris_OConnor]

@@RichWordsMusic Hey Rich! First of all thank you for replying! You put a lot of effort into the videos thank you for that by the way! And the thing is that I used to Play an Ibanez grg121 with a very slim and a D-shaped neck.. So my struggle is that this neck feels absolutely not comfortable to me and my hand cramps quickly after the first half hour.. So once I've tryed a friend's squier strat it already felt better because of the more rounded C shape, and I've noticed that a rounder and thicker neck shape feels way more comfortable for me! And because I have very small fingers I assumed to pick one of these Azes after watching your videos over and over again, also because they have a shorter scale length as well. And that was the reason I've asked about the neck. So the Azes could be my Solution.

[@PooNinja]

22:39 mmm fat strat with high saturation , my vote is blue humbucker 👍🏽🤘🏽

[@RichWordsMusic]

Doesn't surprise me to hear you say that! Now please excuse me while I go purchase some silk travel PJs for my upcoming flight.

[@PooNinja]

May all your travel swift and hassle free, with joyful people full of glee, before wearing thrift store clothes you’ll see, it’s best to give them cleanings three! 🧺 🧺🧺👍🏽 Have fun with the x wing fighter premier at Summe…winter NAMM? When ever you are have fun.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@PooNinja Oh yes 😎 Nice freestyle! I'm really looking forward to the trip now, despite the misgivings about the current global situation. The industry needs this show though! I'll do my best to make it fun and fashionable!

[@DMSProduktions]

@@RichWordsMusic WHERE you off to?

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@DMSProduktions The NAMM Show!

[@dabster]

You said exactly what was on my mind: I wish the AZES40 had a hardtail bridge and not a vibrato!!!! I've been having second thoughts on buying the AZES40 because of its tendancy to detuning, but can I fix that problem by removing the bar or not using the bar at all? Or will it still tend to detune my guitar even if I don't use the tremolo? Thanks a lot for your video by the way! It's great! Hoping to get my first electric soon!

[@RichWordsMusic]

No problem, thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I really wish they did the AZES40 as a hardtail, and now I know I'm not the only one ;) You are right though - if you take out the bar it will stay more stable. You could even "block off" the bridge (a tech could do this if you don't fancy trying it yourself) to make it even more stable. Don't let it put you off too much though, especially if it's your first electric! If that's the guitar that inspires you and makes you want to play, you should go for it... I think that's a key consideration for any guitar, but particularly a first one! Let me know if you ever have any more questions about it, and good luck on your guitar journey :)

[@dabster]

@@RichWordsMusic Thank you for your help!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@dabster No worries, any time!

[@650thunderbird5]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@RichWordsMusic]

Cheers my friend!

[@DMSProduktions]

'Strat' erlicious! \m/

[@RichWordsMusic]

Oh baby! Which one do you like best, good sir? I'll bet you're an HSS man.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@RichWordsMusic Yeah, pretty much!

[@pr0newbie]

The 31 does the lively and brighter stuff better to my ears. The 40 is a jack of all trades and does the warmer tones better. As a beginner not knowing where I intend to branch to I think the 40 might be the better choice Edit: just watched your summary and concur. I'm clueless about tuning stability though. Is that a really big issue if I go with the 40? Any alternative models/brands you'd recommend?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Hey there! Well, as a beginner it's also important to trust your own ears as to what you think sounds good. We all hear tones differently... but I'm glad we agree here ;) The AZES40 will certainly offer you a little extra warmth with the fatness of the bridge humbucker, if that's what you want, whereas the AZES31 does that traditional glassy Strat tone perfectly. When it comes purely down to the tuning stability, I do think that the AZES31 is the better choice. Of course, that is something that's only really going to be relevant if you use the vibrato system - if you'd be buying the AZES40 and not using it, it'll be just fine. Also, getting a setup from the tech at the store where you buy a guitar will always help with the tuning stability, as well as the playability. So you could consider that. In terms of other guitars in a similar format, the Squier Classic Vibe series is great - but again, tuning stability could be a factor - and then there's the Harley Benton range that has some great Strat-type models at the cheapest prices around. If you wanted a more modern Strat type, their Fusion guitars are excellent - this type of thing: thmn.to/thoprod/501705?offid=1&affid=1250 I don't want to be too negative about the tuning stability thing, by the way... it doesn't bother some people at all! However, as I say in the video, particularly for beginners I find it extremely important that the guitar holds tune. It can be so off-putting if not... and that encourages people to stop playing. A guitar that stays in tune and inspires you to play more is the one you'll pick up every day and get better with! Hope this helps a bit, but let me know if you have any more questions - I'm always happy to help :)

[@pr0newbie]

​@@RichWordsMusic I would love to learn how to remove or stick the trem to 1 side if it helps with tuning stability. It takes me no more than a minute to check my acoustic guitar's tuning on the day I practice. If I don't use the trem at all, will the tuning hold for at least a 1-2hr practice session? Because yes that could be a deal-breaker. I've compared the guitars you've suggested and the AZES40 personally seems like the best in terms of price, availability and sound versatility. The Black one is USD325 where I am and the AZES31 is only $20 cheaper. I've ordered a Boss Katana amp in the meantime while I wait for your response before pulling the trigger. Going off tangent here - I started really learning the guitar (Yamaha FG700) last Christmas and a big reason I'm buying an electric guitar is to be able to practice longer daily without over-exerting my fretting hand. My finger joints are prone to locking/weakness due to a couple of old injuries. Hope this isn't an uncommon scenario for beginners lol. I took a week off recently and playing the guitar again made me smile. Of course, I would also be happy to learn other genres like punk, pop, rock, indie and (hopefully blues/jazz), together with the various techniques.

[@pr0newbie]

@@RichWordsMusic That Harley Benton you shared is gorgeous and looks like it has better pick-ups than the AZES40. Too bad shipping to the Far East will destroy its value proposition.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@pr0newbie Ah, well actually you can remove the bar no problem (or have it up to one side as I do in this video). It's really easy to do that - it simply screws in or out. There's a video I recommend you look at about this very topic by Henning Pauly - he explains it well with these two guitars: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoawiICGmZ6db7c So, if you were to get the AZES40, and not use the bar - either by having it turned away from where you play, or better yet, having it not attached at all - you'd have far more stable tuning. The issues occur when you use the bar itself, as that stretches the strings more, causes them to slip a bit, and eventually go out of tune. But I think you'll be fine! And with a Boss Katana (which is an excellent amp) you should have a lot of fun! When you're starting out, if you play a lot it might hurt the fingers. It's also important to warm up before you start, and warm down if you need too. Also, make sure you've got your hands in the correct positions - holding the guitar the wrong way can lead to more hand and joint pain as well. Plenty of online tutorials around that'll give you tips there. I wish you all the best in your guitar journey, and I hope the AZES40 really works out for you :)

[@pr0newbie]

@@RichWordsMusic Agreed. My issues were poor wrist posture, over-usage of the wrist instead of the fingers and over practising. Surprised the sprained sensation didn't come through till 1-2 days later. I've pulled the trigger on the azes40 and subbed to your channel. Looking forward to more of your content. Thank you for all that you do!

[@risingpower3658]

I'm going for the fat strat. I could do a lot more with this strat. Both of those guitars are hard rocin' tone champs. But you know what? In five years when I am really getting good, I will probably try playing in a band. Probably, the band will be a country and western band. That's because where I live, most people like country better. So, I might not get my own way. This guitar here can take care of that. What do you guys think about the acoustic peddle? Does it work well enough? If it doesn't, then I'll just get an acoustic guitar. Please tell me, I can't really afford to make many errors in judgments at this stage of the game.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, the HSS Strat will cover all of the bases you mention there! And actually as you could even hear, this guitar will do some pretty nice country sounds. The other type of guitar you could consider is a Telecaster... these are the classic choice for country, but they are also great for rock and more. When it comes to acoustic pedals, some are really good, and some are not so good! You would need to test which worked best for you. About the acoustic/electric thing, my advice is: if you only want to play acoustic guitar, get an acoustic. But, if you want to focus on electric and sometimes use it to simulate an acoustic, get the electric! I hope this helps :)

[@risingpower3658]

@@RichWordsMusic Thanks so much. This music thing is so deep. By that, I mean, it's something you never finish. I used to play E flat concert tuba. I am tempted to do that as well. Turns out they cost 10,000 dollars.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@risingpower3658 No problem! And yes, it's a never.ending quest :) Which is also part of the fun! I played trumpet for a bit when I was a kid... it's amazing how much a decent brass or woodwind instrument will set you back. Especially something like a tuba, I suppose, which is actually a pretty massive piece of equipment.

[@ethanchbt]

the only problem with the azes40 are the colors i just bought the black one cuz i didnt like the rest of the colors at all

[@RichWordsMusic]

I've got to agree there... the Mint Green was the best of the bunch for me but I'd also love it if Ibanez could give this AZES series a few fresher color options!

[@bobfurman2739]

Pickups seem darker ,in the 40.

[@RichWordsMusic]

I agree - the AZES40 is definitely slightly darker sounding. It is sometimes a nice thing to have!

[@frankhall7005]

Well here's my 2 cents. I just got the SSS model in Ivory I love the color I can't stop staring at it. The love ends their however the nut on mine is cut way to deep and I've got really bad fret buzz. I have to raise the saddles all the way up and the action is terrible. I've owned Squires and for the money their built better and you can upgrade the parts. The pickups on this are smaller than a standard single coil so no pick-up mod. Tuner's are cheap saddles are cheap the pickups are really Bass heavy I lowered them all the way and the Bass was still booming. Bottom line buy a Squire Affinity and you can upgrade till your heart's content.