AZS2209B-BK (Black) Prestige. Made in Japan
Much is recognizable from the previous versions, the same fantastic "oval C" neck profile with a 12" radius, the same perfectly mounted steel frets, etc. If you've played AZ, you'll feel right at home here.
All that said, it's not a regular AZ with a different body shape. Here is the completely different sound ideal that served as a model in the design work. Sonically, they are exactly where guitars of this design should be but with all the modern playability you could want from a high-end Prestige Ibanez.
The AZS2209 version is the one of the 2 AZS versions that is closest to a traditional T-style guitar. Or closest is probably the wrong word, it is a traditional T-style guitar with some modern features without giving a damn about what a classic T-style is and how it sounds. Traditional 3-saddle T-style saddle, volume, tone and switch mounted on a control plate, etc., all features are there. They have made a magical feature on the control plate by making it in an arc, volume and tone are exactly where they usually are, but the mic switch is angled so that you can easily access it. A completely ingenious solution to an annoying problem that has come with the design since day one.
Neck profile:
Ibanez calls the neck AZ oval C, which describes it quite accurately. C with a little more shoulders would also fit well. It is noticeably thicker than how Ibanez usually have their necks, but for that reason not fat or clumsy. 20.5mm at first band and 22.5 at band 12. It feels modern and accessible at the same time as it feels traditional and familiar. The radius of the fingerboard is a perfect compromise to be perfect for both chords and soloing. Transition between fingerboard and neck is softly rounded called "rolled fretboard edges", which gives a very smooth and recorded feeling.
The body:
The body is made of light ash as it should be and is designed to be comfortable to play whether you are sitting or standing and playing. Classic single-cut shape but with a discreet, comfortable, arm-cut that gives a soft and welcoming playing feel. The neck is attached to the body with Ibanez's new Super All Access Neck Joint, which is a further development of their well-proven All Access Neck Joint. This means that the entire neck is extremely accessible without having to cut too much wood and begin to have a negative effect on the tone.
Seymour Duncan® Magic Touch-mini (neck) and Alnico II Pro Custom (Bridge) pickups.
The Magic Touch-mini is a pure mini humbucker neck pickup that offers all the sounds you normally associate with guitars of this design but with a little extra body. Output in the mic is perfectly calibrated to work well with the stall mic for that magical midrange sound. The Alnico II Pro Custom is exactly all the twang, clarity and bite you want in a T-style stall mic and with a lovely singing mid-range. The stand mic is mounted in a steel plate so as not to lose the sound difference a T-style stand provides. A unique feature to have it combined with a swing.
Gotoh® T1803 Stand:
The T1803 is a traditional T-style stall but where the stall itself and the plate the stall mic sits in have been separated. That construction makes the guitar a little less sensitive to rounding, which is a common problem with regular T-style stands. The saddles are a Gotoh and Ibanez collaboration and a further development of Gotoh's fantastic "In-Tune" saddles, the market's best tele saddles.
In-Tune saddles have pre-made grooves for the strings that are offset with where the string leaves the saddle for maximum intonation with a straight saddle (which increases string pressure and provides better tone and resonance). What has been further developed are rounded edges for a smoother playing feel for the plectrum hand. That the string grooves have been made deeper on string 1 and 6 to prevent the saddles needing to be adjusted at an angle for optimal string height. Ingenious! The saddles are made of titanium for durability, weight and tonal clarity.
GOTOH HAP®-M machine heads:
The tuning screws are GOTOH® MAGNUM LOCK® which are top of the line lockable tuning screws with height adjustable string posts (so you can get perfect string pressure over the saddle for optimal sustain and tone).
dyna-MIX5 switching system with Alter Switch gives access to many useful sounds that you don't normally associate with a T-style guitar. But of course all the sounds you expect are also there. But Alter switch off (down) you have the long you expect on the 3-position switch.
- Mode 1: Stallmicken alone.
- Position 2: The stand mic and the coil closest to the stand on the neck mic are parallel to each other.
- Mode 3: Necklace in series.
With Alter switch on (up) you get these combinations.
- Mode 1: Stall mick together with the coil closest to the stall on the neck mick.
- Mode 2: Stall mick in series together with neck mick in parallel, parallel to each other.
- Mode 3: Necklace in series.
Common tone and volume for both pickups.
Specs:
- AZ Oval C S-Tech roasted Maple neck.
- Ash body.
- S-Tech roasted Maple fretboard w/Abalone dot inlay.
- Oil-impregnated Bone nut
- Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Prestige fret edge treatment.
- 22 frets.
- Gotoh® Magnum Lock w/HAP machine heads
- Seymour Duncan® Magic Touch-mini™ neck pickup.
- Seymour Duncan® Alnico II Pro™ Custom bridge pickup.
- Steel pickup plate.
- dyna-MIX5 switching system with Alter Switch.
- Gotoh®/Ibanez F1803 bridge.
- Chrome hardware.
- Super All Access Neck Joint
- Hardshell case included.
The neck:
- 648mm/25.5" scale.
- Width at saddle: 42mm.
- Width at 22 bands: 56.4mm.
- Thickness at first strap: 20.5mm.
- Thickness at 12 bands: 22.5mm.
- Radius: 305mmR.