The Ibbi for the Fender guy? Ibanez AZ2204N-PBM Review

Ibanez has a bunch of new guitars for 2021 and I had the pleasure of taking a good look at many of them. So let's see what they did right and what isn't to my liking... we'll find out in this video series!
#AZ2204 #Ibanez2021 #IbanezAZ
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0:00 Slideshow
2:12 Some noodling
7:22 Intro and Specs
14:16 Clean Sounds with a Fender Deluxe Reverb
19:42 plus Overdrive
23:13 with a JTM Style Amp
25:16 with Revv Generator 7-40
26:56 with ENGL Fireball 25
29:02 some Leads
29:53 with Revv 100p
31:10 MY2CENTS
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[@PooNinja]

Prestige worldwide!! How beautiful is that neck joint? More beautiful than the Catalina friggen wine mixer!!

[@polyrhythmicbug]

I just ordered this guitar because of this very video. Thank you for such a great demo!

[@robertdearden3434]

Henning , you guys do great informative videos but I want to also say I love your playing. Thanks for all the hard work.

[@Smart-Alex]

Really good job showing the full range of possibilities. Ibanez is now on my radar...

[@UkiMalefu]

*actually clicks link and finds out about all the other much betterer color combinations* oh good. By the way, that graphic showing the active pickups in the intro track: genius, and much appreciated.

[@52goldtop]

Thank you so much for such a thorough demo of this lovely guitar brother.

[@richgrothaus3537]

That’s a beauty Clark and some impressive playing.

[@jazzcat1056]

Quickly become my favorite channel. Awesome playing. Top notch.

[@pault8697]

Great playing with the intro and what a beautiful sounding guitar sounds so like a strat

[@Groovepocket80]

Love the pickup animation on the bottom right. Brilliant!

[@Neadlemeyer]

Always super entertaining! Thank you

[@MatthewFant]

So, it looks amazing. And the playing was and presentation is awesome as always. There were a lot of portions that seemed to bright and tinny though. Try occasionally rolling back the tone a little, damn. Lol. Loving the second studio look bro! 🤘

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Love where they place the output jack. That neck joint!!! Great vid as always brother. Happy New Year 😊🙏👍

[@EytschPi42]

Miss you Mike!

[@DamianS1893]

I'm definitely interested in this AZ. And a couple of other 2021 Ibanez Guitars

[@misticformula1485]

Awesome blues playing and great tones!

[@sooparticular]

btw been watching u for years,,,I had no idea u played guitar!!!!! like this!!! awesomeness...

[@MikelBluni]

Schönes Demo, Henning 👍 Unterhaltsam und vor allem...man hört, wie die Gitarre klingt. Danke auch, dass du immer Chords und Rhythmus mit einfließen läßt 👍 Alles Gute für 2021!

[@EytschPi42]

iss doch klar! wir spielen doch 95% des Songs Rhythmus

[@groshretro]

Great demo! You rock...thanks so much Brother!!!

[@olafburgermann806]

Great review thanks. I am looking for an all-round guitar that does most things well and AZ and Charvel DK are high on my list.

[@bruunm1975]

Just made my Premium HSS (topaz burst) into a Vintage sounding S-type ;) Added Highwood bent saddles and Suhr V60s & Thornbucker, really happy with that sound and alongside my AZ Miller I know cover the entire range ;)

[@AnonymousBosch3158]

These pickups are gorgeous in my opinion.

[@DamianS1893]

Excellent playing and review

[@Eventual420]

I’ll agree, my Ibanez has almost never gone out of tune, and the Low Pro Edge 7 trem is indestructible. I love this guitar. Man, Rafa’s voice is so pleasant.

[@sidvicioux]

the mix on the strat demo at the front is great!!

[@andrewmorgan1640]

These 21 models are quite sweet HP, lovin the vids.

[@DamianS1893]

Holy smoke's... Love this AZ Clean and with Gain

[@thorggernaut3081]

a side - by - side comparison with a hss strat would be killer, great vid again henning and happy new years

[@EytschPi42]

i have that video but with the 2204 TAB

[@edwincrain986]

I dig that strat vibe.

[@gavinmowat8528]

thats one beautiful guitar!

[@RickRomanelli]

Thank you for all of your hard work. Please ask Ibanez to remake the Roadstar II.

[@GM-gv1hq]

Well I pre ordered the blue one. Can’t wait to get it in April-may!

[@matthewchunk3689]

did you get your guitar? how you like it?

[@fraenkiboii]

28:10 like a boss Henning! Like a boss!!!

[@slythespacecat]

i rarely click like on videos. im lazy. Henning's playing get me every time, chill as it can be. I'm at 5:30 and there's still a full video of humor after this, knowing the channel. Best wishes, it's a good Sunday afternoon

[@bearmadden1776]

too lazy to perform one click? That's low.

[@slythespacecat]

@@bearmadden1776 less about lazyness and more about incentive. Also, 6 months ago i posted that wholesome comment and 6 months later i wake up with your bum ass calling me out. kindly go eat some spiders or whatever you do in your free time

[@taildragger53]

I was in two minds about this AZ guitar and nearly cancelled the order id made but when it arrived i was totally blown away! The most comfortable instrument i have amongst 16 others, some very expensive included. But it beats them all. It can be tweaked to play any genre I was worried about the neck as i have quite small hands but it fits any hand size and even corrected skme hand pain i was getting. The neck feels superb!

[@SergiOrtiz]

This was incredible

[@jimkiousis]

Great new guitar! The older az you played on your channel had a stratier sound to my ears! This sounds thin, not quacky and the tele combination with the pickups sounds like an acoustic. But I thought the new azN had less output pickups... What's your opinion on this? Thanks

[@DamianS1893]

I'm definitely interested in this Guitar

[@frankzappa951]

Yeah I want one of these.

[@georgecrawford4721]

Would be a great idea to make a comparison video on this guitar vs the American ultra hss !

[@hyperplayability6290]

6:33 I thought the same as well lol thanks for the vid!

[@AlbusBand]

The graphics alone were worth watching this at 4:55AM (as I am). “They dip it in, I dunno, camel poop”? 👏👏👏

[@5urg3x]

11:05 -- You can of course still go up if you tilt or float the trem, just like a strat. Has to be set up for that.

[@firetherock]

Excellent review!!! HAs the tone know totally open? What about treble and presence on the amp? Do you think the pickups are brighter? I like a fat 60's fender sound. Thanks!!!!!!!

[@thomascampbell2128]

This is a great demo also you are funny as hell

[@joelortiz2281]

The neck and mid pickups in series still sound very “stratty”… I say that in a good way. Love the switching system.

[@johncodner9596]

nice guitar you are a joy to watch

[@guitarandotherthings6090]

I still wonder if Ibanez is behind the Martin Miller session band, I didnt know about their prestige line except through watching the guys with Martin Miller. Kinda weird coincidence that many legendary musicians come together from different parts of the world, unless they were brought together by a big company for branding? Hmm. And everytime Ibanez makes a signature, they brand someone no one has ever heard of (ie Andy Timmons, etc) until suddenly they have a signature model. Are all of them corporate brand ambassador employees? Excellent noodling btw!

[@tperry5839]

About fricken time Ibanez yes!

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

I am totally a Strat guy and i like this but what would make me think twice would be it’s price against a Fender Strat 🤔 Love you uploads very amusing and more animals at the end please 😬 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@onlyguitars]

I''ve had Usa Pro Strats Fenders. This I think for 2K and being Japanese quality that I consider it on par with the good USA guitars, it's actually a great price. I Also had 3 suhrs before, fantastic instruments, and those retail for 3k now. And the upside of these is the roasted neck and the 9 tones options. And you have SS frets that you dont get on Fender USA. And Suhrs are fantastic, and would say this AZ is maybe not as perfect but is still very very good and IMO superior to the 2 Fender USa I had, no doubt. I currently have this model and I'm very very happy. Wanted to have an HSS again and was thinking of Suhr, but when I saw this one, was a no brainer to go for it. I had the premium HSS before, but the hyperion are not my thing, and also wanted rosewood.

[@daiganzen7794]

With the spec sheet it’s more like a Fender American Ultra Strat. I own one and love it. I would love this but don’t have room (or Money) for this.

[@frankardos4211]

Truly............this is a serious guitar. Not just my fav setup......but what CAN'T you do with it? It's got everything you could want a guitar to do! And,......if you don't dig the trem,........(which is missing out)..........don't use it!! Very very nice guitar and also it's without a doubt running the race with all the "big" guys.

[@Millo1868]

Any chance we can hear it compared to the Fender we see in the background? Also, The guy at Elevated Tracks has thousands of tracks. Got a link to this particular one? Thanks.

[@DasOrakelspricht]

In my opinion, the image for "Full humbucker engaged" could be more white. I had to do a few rewinds to see the difference between position 1 and 3, if this modify-switch is in second position. Again, thank you for the great video. Your explanation of how the neck is treated, is extreme plausible! 🤪👍

[@swanneez5246]

i agree that de stringlocking system is inconvenient, i use a 10 eurocents coin to hold the string cap in one steady position while tuning with the tuningpeg. On the other hand it is indeed a guitar that stays in tune and i can keep it out of the case when humidity drops considerably

[@valebliz]

I don’t understand why they don’t use the wheel screwing locking tuners. These self locking ones are extremely dumb and finnicky imo.

[@philporlier4031]

Can you please share the link to the jam track you used at the start? Cheers!

[@stephanematis]

You know, I would enjoy 15min a day of you playing along with backing-tracks. Just saying :)

[@perrar1na]

Ho, nice guitar sound like a right mix between 60’ and 50’ sound, but the real deal was that intro song: liked even the wrong notes 😊 Great

[@adamfstewart81]

Can't you set up that kind of "classic S-type" bridge to float so that you can do up wiggle wiggle? I don't think it has to be routed out (like on the Vai models) to up wiggle wiggle?

[@keepscent]

Wow... I think the new pickup sounds better than Hyperion. When will they show up on retail market?

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

They've done a 7string version of the AZ2204, which would be awesome for me, but I really hate floating trems, and it appears to only have a floating trem option. I am the big disappoint

[@medabroud9855]

Funny reviews lol ! Good job ! Compare it with a fenderrrr pleaaaaaaase !

[@vasotoe]

Camel poop?? is that a thing now? lol I'm not really a Strat gal but I definetly enjoyed this video! Looking forward to more Ibanezezezes videos!

[@threndor9017]

Are you gonna cover bass guitars? The new SR models look cool.

[@australier263]

Eine Ibanez ist immer eine tolle Klampfe!!! Hab seit 1965 welche! 😘

[@DamianS1893]

I bet you could play some RUSH on this AZ... It would sound Epic for RUSH Song's

[@emcg.9655]

Anyone else noticed that the whole roasted maple thing just seems to give some manufacturers an excuse to use a piece of maple with shitty grain run out that you really don't want on a high end guitar?

[@MattsGAP]

Ibanez need to stop releasing new awesome guitars I can't afford to own them all and it's p#*^ing me off!!!!!

[@MattsGAP]

Yes #iss&^g!

[@metalhammes6731]

How does this model sound in comparison with the previous AZ2204?

[@barryarsenault9796]

Liked what I saw online and by you. I bought the same guitar three days ago. Love the blue color. Was going to get the cobra blue Fender Ultra. But went with the Ibanez AZ. Don’t like the setup from the factory. Action is too high and the saddles are up too high. I am going to get it professionally set up within the next two weeks. Thanks!

[@henrod27]

Yes definitely get a set up let the tech know you a nice mid to low action and your good, I have a fender strat American ultra amazing guitar as well when I got a set up but not a fan of the modern D neck for shoulder on the edge even with the wonderful fretboard edges rolled off the neck still feels on uncomfortable to me, I prefer this Ibanez az neck profile 100x more the neck profile feeling amazing on my hands

[@robsthedon]

Nice review, do you know if the body is 1 piece?

[@sboy1955]

Mint Green on the way.. you broke the tie 👌🏽

[@jan_07]

Thanks for the demo. Question, is it possible to raise the bridge through the back springs so that a 2-way tremolo can be achieved just like in traditional strats? Does Ibanez have guidance or recommendations if the player decides to float the bridge? Thanks!

[@EytschPi42]

if you wanted a floating bridge, why not get the regular AZ?

[@jan_07]

@@EytschPi42 oh it’s because this new one is rosewood, been waiting for a long time for an AZ in rosewood haha. But I wonder if they can be floated up like what some people do with their fenders and surhrs by just reducing the springs and adjusting the cavity screws. Haven’t tried that yet with this new AZ, right? Thanks!

[@garyhundsrucker7771]

Next they should copy evh/Kramer frankie strat ! I need one of those!

[@DirkRadloff]

Sounds like a Strat for sure, would be cool, if you would compare it side by side with a Fender AM Pro with HSS configuration.

[@robzydread1090]

Try ultra luxe

[@robzydread1090]

Cuz that's what Fender made to try and compete with this

[@5urg3x]

You can use a pick or a coin (anything with ROUND edges) to unlock the tuners. I wouldn't go near the headstock with any screwdriver unless it's a soft plastic one...The reason for those tuners is not only does it lessen the weight of the headstock, but the ones with the screws in the back tend to unlock themselves when you put them on wall hangers. These are literally my favorite tuners in the world, btw. Gotoh are geniuses. I've had the AZ2402 since it came out and I am for sure getting one of these, whenever they become available. I wish they had 24 fret versions with the decked trem option. Recessed vintage non-locking trems are not my thing, I'd rather just have a floyd with a locking nut.

[@matthewchunk3689]

I'm glad they're using those necks on the azs2209h i'm getting. do you have any tips for taking care of my new Ibanez?

[@0000song0000]

11:08 😂 interestingly, Fender has started adding Floyd Rose on their Strats... I think the cheapest one is the Squier Contemporary HH with Active pickups, then on the Player series.

[@andrewsantos3283]

This vs the hss ultra will be a great comparison . More power henning !

[@EytschPi42]

I have a video showing the 2204TAB vs the HSS Ultra

[@sooparticular]

this blows away the crappy ultra....

[@GS-uy4xo]

I think this has more playable sounds compared to the Hyperion pups, especially with the boost 👍🏼👍🏼

[@phenixreturns]

can we have a paf sound for the neck pickup ? something fat like a humbucker? no boost ?

[@monkeypawism]

shredding

[@DaipayanKarmakar]

Can you do a comparison between 2018 and 2021..... 2204 vs 2204n

[@mika-hp5ch]

The single coils seem far more glassy than the Hyperions. Good call from Ibanez Nice too that the bridge is not a floating one anymore. They had a lot of issues with the previous models because of it. The only thing I'm sad for is this rosewood fretboard. Why didn't they keep the maple fretboard ? T.T I assume that they wanted to darken a bit the sound because of these bright new pickups

[@sirkey6405]

LOVE the PJ!

[@PhiLikeFlying]

I have a strat that sounds like a strat, so i dont want an Ibanez to sound like one - its has to have its own unique tone, and i think it has to some degree.

[@vince8081]

Ibanez has done a great job on his take to the modern strat. I'm asking what's the best deal between this and a most expensive Suhr in terms of quality and feel.

[@Runark79]

Ibanez

[@patmillen9162]

Nash makes a great vintage strat

[@onlyguitars]

@@patmillen9162 I justo got a nash S57 and for the vintage sound and vibe the Nash i excellent in every way. The lollar pickups are amazing, and overall playing the nash I really enjoy it. And Im about to get this exact Ibane AZ because is a more modern take on a start, with a modern sounding single coils (like more clarity, but lacks that glassiness or character a mor soudning strat has), plus the humbucker that takes me from classic rock to 80s rock very well. Im not into extreme metal so don't looking for that tone, but Im sure the AZ could also handle farily well that tone if I wanted. Both dfferent animals, great for their own thing, and complement each other very well.

[@patmillen9162]

@@onlyguitars Nice, the AZ seems pretty dang cool... I just ordered a Novo so excited to have that here in the next few months

[@onlyguitars]

@@patmillen9162 Yeah, I used to have one of the Premium back in 2019. Very good, and the Prestige should be even better, especially this one more vintage spec'd. Congrats on your Novo! Those look really cool!

[@danielb.4373]

Beautiful playing 😍 Which guitar do you prefer, the AZN or your AZ2204? Are the Fortuna pickups really that different from the Hyperion? Actually prefer the maple version 😅

[@tzwicker1377]

Ibanez needs more/better colour options and a maple fingerboard option, which would do it for me alone!!

[@matthewchunk3689]

prussian blue is gorgeous

[@gojero732]

I was saving money for a Fender strat, the guitar I always wanted.Then the AZ2204 came. I am saving money for the AZ2204. And now there is this awesome looking Blue Purssian N version... I am confused ;-) What's the difference in the pickups? AZ2204 high output? Fortuna pickups have medium output?

[@onlyguitars]

Fortuna lower output. I had the premium with Hyperion before. For me these are very good, the yperion to much output, not my thing. These are like in the same ball park of output as the pickups that come in the Suhr Classic S.

[@gojero732]

@@onlyguitars Thank you!

[@gojero732]

Yes, finally I have the monay for getting me one, next saturday will be the day! AZ2204N-AWD it iss, I like how the structure of wood is visible through the white (-wash) paint.

[@macbruce7562]

How would you compare this to a musicman cutlass hss? They are around the same price ballpark, I don’t have many store around me.

[@EytschPi42]

neck feel is very different. AZ will be brighter and have more sound options... they are both great... the Cutlass will feel like a MusicMan and that isn’t a bad thing at all!

[@macbruce7562]

@@EytschPi42 is the ibby neck fatter and wider? thank you, I bought a charvel dk 24 and ended up returning it. Bad QC on the one I received, the neck was also incredibly slim, the tone was a bit too hot, the guitar felt lifeless with a nut that was blown out. Figured I’d save for another month or so and get something better made.

[@norbertbereczky517]

Great video as always! Thanks. As a Strat guy I’m really thinkin’ of having an axe which has more of a kinda hair-rock vibe but keeping sonehow the strat-like characteristics too. However, AZ’s overall sound seems to be thinner than I imagined. Is that so, or just your settings make it like that? Thx

[@EytschPi42]

It is a bit thinner than a standard strat, that is right.

[@jorgpetermann1525]

Wondering why there are no premium models any more for 2021 with this configuration?

[@ardemis3917]

Arent they going to announce them somewhere this year, or is everything announced already?

[@gibful8671]

It looks like a FGN guitar to me lol...is it much better ? Maybe, that's for another video^^

[@chatter7653]

It does doesn’t it...good idea too

[@kungfuseadog]

Lovely guitar, I am really considering getting one. I want to be able to jam in a variety of styles in one guitar. Sounds like a master of all to me tbh. Can't get as creamy as a LP or an SG - owing to the scale length I guess. But I don't like gibson and no way I am paying 5k for a Mccarty or 2,6k for a S2 mccarty with that sad tone compared to the core. This could replace my SE custom 24 AND my mexican strat I reckon. Really good that Ibanez has brought a low output guitar to the table.

[@kungfuseadog]

Update: I have it for 3 months now and it's incredible. Does everything. I put it through mild compression into a JHS Morning Glory into my ENGL Ironball and goddamn that humbucker does metal just fine.

[@eeervin3]

At 11:01 he mentions that the tremolo cannot go up - seem like a big unnecessary limitation? Am I not getting something? Why would they do that on the updated model? Is that the same with the Premium line?

[@EytschPi42]

The normal AZ has a floating trem... this one is meant to be more traditional

[@eeervin3]

@@EytschPi42 Many thanks for clarifying! Thinking of getting a AZ224BCG, but I know you hated on the tremolo of the premium models so need to look into that..

[@gcvrsa]

The most important thing I want to know first about any guitar is, "what's under the pickguard", so I know what I can modify without re-routing the body.

[@YesuAiNimen]

I was about to give you MASSIVE amounts of Schmidt (stuck with it at birth. I just roll with it now) about the fact that there was no dog in this video. The kitty at the end earned you a pass! Thanks for the cool review! Glad to see a rosewood board on the guitar now...even though I just bought a 2202A and a 2206S... (sigh)

[@abcrx32j]

Ibanez showing Fender how to do the alt wiring switch right instead of just adding a pickup to every position

[@matthewchunk3689]

the tonal variation is good: all usable

[@jeffhershberger]

Is it a typical thin Ibanez neck? That is what has always held me back from getting one, I prefer them a little bigger like the Fender Ultra or American Pro.

[@EytschPi42]

very close to the ultra

[@jeffhershberger]

@@EytschPi42 Sehr gut! Danke!!!

[@jeffhershberger]

@@EytschPi42 They finally hit my local shop here in Dallas last week and I got one of them in Prussian Blue.... Fender who??? LOL Damn I love this thing.

[@Eitner100]

I'll take an in Japan made Ibanez any single time over any Fender. It is a matter of quality versus Fender greed.

[@kristiansterjovski6309]

Fenders are also made in Japan but I too prefer Ibanez because I love metal.

[@MrBuion]

I wonder why not every guitar uses the Brian May switching system and gives you at least 13 sounds, which in case of coil splitting is even more. With that switching system you always see which pickups are engaged and don't have to remember and check what switch does what in the case of AZ models.

[@muaddib667]

Because it's not necessary, I have an ibanez rgt42dxfmtlf(edge 2 version- cheap but kicks ass) that I upgraded with a 5 way superswitch, push pull coil tap and killswitch(series/parallel to be swapped in when I get "a round tuit") and it's great but my prestige 5120m has a 3 way with fishmans and voicing switch and it's plenty for that guitar.

[@saarangnarayan123]

Nobody needs 13 sounds on stage. If they do, they can have their guitars mod'ed for that. 90% folks hardly ever use more than 3 pickups combinations in a set.

[@MrBuion]

@@saarangnarayan123 But people have their Teles, Starts and Les Pauls and use 3 different guitars on a set, having the switches for 5 bucks is much cheaper option.

[@muaddib667]

@@MrBuion well I can tell you that even with my many positions on the rgt none of them sound like the prestige. So it can make a big difference to the tone but not as much as changing guitars.

[@muaddib667]

@@MrBuion also, the fun is in doing it yourself. That and companies with a bottom line need to sell multiple guitars and rarely outfit one with as much functionality as you could do yourself. Plus my cavity is now stuffed with wires and was a pain in the arse to get finished, it's probably not cost effective for them to do it on off the shelf guitars, I'm sure if you ordered a custom 3k+ guitar they would wire it however you like.