This $299 Ibanez Is More Than It Seems... Budget Game Changer?! || Ibanez AZ Essentials 

One of my favorite Ibanez guitars would be the least Ibanez-y lol. Avocado.

Haha, that Les Paul dig cracked me up. xD

The Dyna switch makes a lot of sense to me. One of the things that beginner guitarists want to do is to sound like their favorite guitarists, not knowing that the way their guitar is wired makes that a lot harder. Now with more options people are maybe a bit less likely to give up because their strat doesn't sound like Dave Grohl or something. Plus they don't need to know what the switch is doing to the guitar, just to the sound.

That didn't sound like "boomer" bends in the intro tune!

Tomo Fujita helped design the AZ essentials. The output jack was his idea.

Hey it’s “Sunday… Monday? Maybe?” already? The weekend flys by.

For the price the best strat for the price along with the classic vibe prolly. So cool

goddamn that demo track had no business going that hard.

Oh yeah I was waiting for this.

Tomo Fujita helped design that output jack

Small points, the AZ models do have some 22 fret models. But for this guitar the SSS model comes in hardtail only, and HSS is trem only.

I love the fact that it has a 25" scale length I have medium size hands and this helps a lot.. Your video has helped me make up my mind to grab one. Thxs!!!

Beginner guitars are getting better and better.

Probably the most informative guitar gear channel in terms of regular content, information and variety. Also genuinely interesting. Keep going.

9:05 damn Hunter you sneaked the Squid Game theme in there and thought we wouldn’t notice 😂

Nissssssssssssssssssce 🍻 Definitely on my radar 📡

Mine is coming today. SSS model, I have extra tuners, hot rail and another Duncan pickup laying around. Love that it's a 25 inch scale! Great review and music!

I actually think the idea behind dyna-mix is a simple. When alter sw is off, 5-way switch works same as it would in basic stratocaster. When alter sw is on, 5 way switch kind of works like dual humbucker guitar. Positions 1,3 and 5 are the same as they would be if the guitar had 2 humbuckers (of course neck humbucker is in this case 2 series connected single coils). Position 2 is split coil bridge humbucker. Position 4 is the only weird one, probably because it wouldn't have made sense to make it like "split neck humbucker", because it would then be the same as alter sw off position 5. So basically what they have tried to do is to make one guitar that can be both HSS and HH. Which is a great idea for beginner instrument.

Ibanez has always been my favorite and I love their instantly recognizable sound but I’ve only ever had two cheap squier strats so was thinking about getting this and I now definitely am! Thank you sir

I got this guitar and I am so impressed with the fit and finish. I've been playing this more than my $1500 Tele for the past few months. It's now making me want to get the AZ Prestige!

It looks good. Might check them out.

Not just a beginner guitar, with the switching options, upper fret access, hardtail option its a modern inexpensive players inatrument

This is probably the best review on RU-vid of the AZES because you actually use the humbucker to play metal which is what most Ibanez fans are expecting from pretty much any Ibanez!

Loving the content man!

I like what Ibanez changed about the classic strat design. The lower knob, humbucker on the bridge, jack on the side. It's modern. I'd switch the tuners for locking ones, some rounding of the fret edges and you are good to go on a budget.

Thank you for sharing!

Great innovation at a lowee price. Beautifull range of tones. Can't wait to hear the mod.

The clean tones sound great

Can't wait to see you modd it!👍

Great tone in this opening jam

You’ve always been a good guitar player but seem to be getting better all the time too dude, well done

Ooooh fancy

I still have the Ibanez GRX 40 that came in the starter pack in the late 90’s. It plays ok still. This reminds me of that. And it was my first guitar

Ibanez makes great guitars. Every semi-hollow I've played from them has been excellent.

10 inch radius and a 25 inch scale? I can't think of anyone aside from PRS who uses that spec combo regularly. It's really comfortable, Ibanez might be on to something here for comfort and new players.

Tomo Fujita worked with ibanez to create these guitars so his students could afford to buy a guitar to bring to class. My daughter just graduated from Berklee College of Music where Tomo is a professor.

That opening solo was pretty rad. Also, kind of reminded me of a mars volta vocal melody

I'm really liking the leads that you are starting to put in the demo tracks! i've always liked your writing in the demo tracks, that's on of the things that keeps me watching this channel. And, I think the leads you are now adding are interesting and add to the overall demo track. God job Hunter!!

I love how you say Ibani instead of saying Ibanez's Never would have thought of that, but it makes so much sense.

That sonic blue with mint green pickguard is stupid good-looking. I would have never guessed that was an inexpensive instrument.

Totally agree about that alter switch, that has no business being on a beginner guitar. Beginners (at least the ones I know) won’t even know/hear the difference with a normal switch… But for the more experienced players it’s pretty cool indeed.

That model sells for $349, not $299. The single coil version without trem is $299.

Good review now that it's a year later, Tomo collaborated making the saddle and smoother neck joint. With the switch btwn the knobs it allows the player to have a humbucker sounds with 3 single coils.

We need all the demo tracks on spotify

RIP Jingle Bells

Perpetual beginner here. 😅 Ibanez i just want you all to know that switch is not confusing and the way you all wire most of your guitars for versatility have made you a go to for me! ❤

Great video man, thank you. Does the plastic nut hold up ok?

looks like the Ibanez's from the 80's that always wanted but never got. i pre ordered it :)

As a new electric guitar player 7 years ago my strat copy's output jack and nut gradually loosened. In trying to tighten the nut I twisted the jack and completely ruined the connection. Having no idea what the hell was going on I brought it to my local luthier and he re-soldered the connection for me. The unibody output jack is a killer feature for a beginners guitar.

Great and comprehensive review, ordering one soon. Just a Q: do you have / can you do any measurements on the trem ? Planning on upgrading it to a Wilkinson, but specs (post and string spacing) seem to be a well-kept secret…

I’d be all about this as a mod platform, the 25 inch scale really intrigues me, but the medium frets are a dealbreaker

Tried one of these the other day and really enjoyed it. Throwing something out there - that "high e string only" riff that you used to demo the alter switch really doesn't present it in the best light. The series re-wiring, particularly of the neck and middle pickup, really shine on lower notes and chords moreso than it does on high e riffing.

I hear your expanding musically. Very nice. Ive looked at those but also the some cheep kramers. I probly wont get one. I only sorta like my prs s2. Im more likely to get a epiphone dc pro/lp muse or save up for a prophecy

I love how they left the single coils as just the bobbin tips showing so they match the humbucker. Always hated how strat single coil pickups look next to an uncovered humbucker

I feel that this would be a much better project guitar if it had a 2 point trem, those old style 6 screw types have a real reputation for tuning instability. The wiring options are absolutely awesome though (I would need to keep a cheat sheet in my gig bag) and the heel carve is just so much more player friendly than those old style Fender breeze block joints.

HOW IS THIS BUDGET!?!? That demo sounded absolutely LEGENDARY I need a full version!! ✨🔥

My fav new release this year on price vs performance Would like to have an exact one on this demo

What sold me this guitar is the michelle branch playing. Great overview!

11:15 Is that... Mary had a Little Lamb?

The sss looks awesome

this may be what I want...I can see that switch doing its thing

I guess it's a good price for beginners to get a lot of different tones but I have an AZ premium and I can't imagine not having either the roasted maple neck or the Seymour Duncan Hyperions.

Great video! Question: with the alter switch on do the single coils then become noise cancelling? I would think so, but just checking from someone who knows. Thanks! 🎸☮️

oh fuck I'm SO glad you got back to the old video format

Mine will arrive in a few days

I remember in the very first days of the internet, when I was still using dial up and waiting 15 minutes for a single photo to load from the top to about half way down...yeah if you are old enough, you know exactly what I'm talking about. lol. But anyways I downloaded like this super complicated wiring setup to change my strat wiring to include flipped phase combinations of my single coils and also what was called on the message board I found it on at the time as Hollywood grounding, where I took aluminum foil, the high end stuff that you would use like gold foil to cover something, and coated the entire section where the electronics go to shield the electronics from outside interference and then couple this shielding to the bridge via a resistor and or capacitor combo that gave the guitar some legit electromagnetic/electronic isolation and that guitar played and sounded like a dream. One of these days I'm going to recreate that and this guitar is beckoning me to do just that. I would love to change it to either a hardtail or a high end floyd rose trem and put some top notch tuners on it and then maybe some super cool aftermarket pickups along with anything else I can think of. I mean you can't beat the price no matter what. This thing costs less then my first guitar which was a Chinese Fender Squire Strat, and I hated that guitar because it would never stay in tune no matter what. I spent as much time tuning it as I did playing it and I never really got the sound out of it I wanted, I upgraded that for a Japanese Strat and it made all the difference in the world. I loved that guitar. I wish I still had it. I can't even remember what or why I did with or don't have it. How sad is that. I have had Ibanez guitars since and honestly I am a huge fan of Ibanez. Their guitars always pack a lot of bang for the buck and always seem to be set up a lot better then any other brand right out of the gate. And that means a lot to me I think. I mean if I pay a grand for a guitar and then I just have to turn right around and put it back in the shop to get it set up well, that sucks. I never understood that, but a lot of guitars don't come set up very well, or at least the didn't back in the day, which was a wedensday by the way, but these days they seem to be getting better about that.

I will buy one and do modifications to it, I will put a gotoh 510 bridge/locking tuners, custom Pickguard and Dimarzio pickups with the alter switch wiring I'm a professional guitarist who plays in big or small gigs and a session musician too, I have an Ibanez RG modified to be more like an AZ with the gotoh 510 bridge/graphtech TUSQ nut, sperzel locking tuners, Dimarzio pickups and a Charvel/guthrie govan Wiring. That combination gives me everything I need with my 24 fret RG and this AZES will be my 22 fret guitar

One question I have: how did you make the trem arm stay in place? Those fender trem springs don't work as far as I know, so I'm quite curious

If you try one , you’ll be surprised how well the gio’s play. Not even joking!

i like these alot need the hardtail

Looks sick but idk I’m still thinking the Sterling Cutlass with roasted maple necks seem a bit better for the price

Ibanez should sell this guitar's wiring harness as a separate product. I'd LOVE to have this selection of sounds for my HSS guitars!

Nice. I noticed in parts of the video you had something on the head stock, behind the nut under the strings, can you tell us what that was? And why?

This remind me lot the roadstar RS440 from the 80's.

bought one LOVE IT awesome Ive been playing 35 yrs in clubs studio teacher,,,,, want to mod it with Bare Knuckle or seymours down the road,,,,,SO FUN TO PLAY,,,,, unreal made for a new bee for the price AAAAAAAAAA+ 9.4 on a scale of 1 to 10 just a fun freh vibe,,,,,, sounds good on my junk amp the line 6 spider 120 V

I almost pre ordered one as soon as I heard it's a thing, and I definitely would have if it had the same dimensions of the Premium instead of PRS dimensions. As an owner of a Premium AZ I was hesitant to get the Essentials because I didn't want my experience to feel watered down because I already own a higher end version

I wanted to get a 2nd guitar with a sway bar so I thought this one would be perfect. Had it at GC and I picked it up and ended up just trying to keep it in tune over the next 5 minutes. Put it back on the rack. Have to admit that every other guitar in that price range was the basically the same deal. Best was the Sire S3, but I wanted a humbucker in bridge position. Gave up.

Minor correction: $350 for the HSS version you're reviewing. The three single coils version is $300.

After over hauling this with stupid expensive parts and maybe a nice setup job from your luthier. (who fkn kills it, ALL THE TIME) I'd love to see how it holds up against a Premium or Prestige AZ. The whole buy expensive and keep stock VS buy cheap and mod the shit out of thing..

Omg. Omfg. Bound for the Hang 2! Omg I’ve been begging for this. Omfg thanks Hunter!

I don't know anything about wiring but I've been eyeing up the SSS version with a view to changing the pickups. Does anyone know how the alter switch would affect the process of switching the pickups out? I'm thinking either Hot Rails or Lace Sensors, if that matters.

Is there a specific amp I should pick up if I’m going to get this guitar?

Badass, but I think I'm still gonna hold out for the Nick Johnston schecter

Watching demos of this guitar, asking myself: will it be suited for punk rock and modern metal?… along comes your demo!🤯😂 Nice sound with that Revv and cool riffs🤘 What tuning do you play in this one?

I love the bog standard starter guitars from big brands. I always end up buying them cheap and upgrading them.

Wish they made either an HSS or an HH hardtail.

Avacado

now to decide on this, a pacifica, or an affinity.

The volume on Stratocaster guitars is why I don't own one ... my big ass hand turns it down when I play... that I can really appreciate.. the placement of the volume 👍🎸

Oh so you're gonna throw down that hard on a $300 guitar??? That was gigantic sounding!!

@agufish What tuning did you play the intro in ? Felt kinda dropped/downtuned ? That was quite an aggressive tone, the tone did not quite match the look of the guitar, a real sleeper

Would it be possible to mod this switch on another guitar?🤔

what if you change the pick up to a better one like seymours or dimarzios ?

Just got one for 199$ it was at a discount on a guitar center, probably the Best Buy I’ve done in a long time, I’ve played to try it at the store and several people came over to see WTF was I playing and when they saw the guitar I could see the surprised faces, same here I’m planing on putting some different pickups

You should try a Ibanez Roadstar! They started at around $400 in the 80s! I’ve sent Ibanez a couple messages trying to get them to reissue the Roadstars the Roadsters and the Blazers from the 70s and 80s but there not cooperating! I can lead a horse to water but I can’t make them drink!

Anyone else think at 9:24 he was gonna start playing jingle bells?? 😂😂😂

Okay, i thought you couldn’t beat last demo track, I was clearly wrong!

God I would love a 25" MIJ AZ...that would be so awesome. Don't think I would ever buy this though.

8:10 and 10:06 Michelle Branch is fan

This guitar is fantastic! Period. Yes i will swap out the tremolo and place locking tuners. But technically you need nothing. I wapped on the tremolo and it didn’t detune.