From it's classic aesthetics to its excellent playability and deluxe appointments, the Ibanez AZ226 is a sophisticated entry into the Ibanez AZ lineup. It features a comfortable roasted maple neck and fingerboard for a hearty tone with plenty of snap, along with a sonically balanced basswood body capped in a gorgeously figured poplar burl. Three Seymour Duncan pickups in an HSS configuration have a vintage vibe with modern clarity, perfect for chunky powerchords, slowhand leads, or virtuosic soloing. Guitarists at Music Experience enjoy the AZ226 for its versatility; its a true Swiss Army knife guitar that excels in any genre or playing style. Once you pick up this guitar, you'll never want to set it down!

Roasted maple neck offers stability and durability

The AZ226’s roasted maple neck was subjected to Ibanez’s S-TECH WOOD nitrogen-heating treatment, which increases its stability, durability, water resistance, and tolerance to temperature changes. The neck is then sealed with oil, resulting in a well-played feel. And it’s supremely comfortable — its fingerboard edge was finished with a smooth curve that extends through the border between the fingerboard and the neck to the fingerboard itself. Beyond that, this guitar’s AZ oval C-shaped neck fills your hand nicely at the lower frets, while providing a more modern feel when playing up high.

Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups yield an endless array of tones

The Ibanez AZ226’s Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups are among the most balanced-sounding we’ve heard here at Music Experience. Laid out in an HSS configuration, these pickups yield a moderate output and sport Alnico V magnets, which preserve the clarity of your fundamental tone in high-gain situations. You’ll also benefit from a dynamic and clear pick attack. Beyond that, Ibanez’s dyna-MIX9 switching system provides nine different pickup combinations via a mini-toggle and 5-way blade switch. Whatever tone you’re hearing in your head, the AZ226 can achieve it.

Gotoh T1502 tremolo provides excellent tuning stability

Developed in collaboration with Gotoh, the AZ226’s T1502 allows for effortless string skipping and hybrid picking thanks to narrow string spacing. Loading the guitar’s tremolo arm is a breeze by virtue of the T1502’s snap-and-hold socket, and its arm torque adjuster allows for fine adjustments without any tools. The T1502’s stud lock screws lock the stud bolts in place, enhancing the instrument’s resonance and providing excellent tuning stability. Beyond that, the T1502’s 2-point floating tremolo system achieves an astoundingly smooth tremolo motion in either direction.

What Ibanez Says...

Even though Ibanez is thought of as a modern guitar brand, we have decades of accumulated knowledge and a history of pushing the boundaries. The AZ series carries with it all of the hallmarks of these tried and tested Ibanez qualities: the smooth oval neck grip, the well balanced asymmetrical body shape, and the neck heel allowing unrivaled playability.

AZ Roasted Maple neck

Heat-treatment increases the wood's stability, durability, water resistance and tolerance of temperature changes.

Roasted Maple fretboard w/Black dot inlay

Heat-treatment treatment provides a well-balanced attack and tone and a rich sustain. In order to achieve supreme neck grip comfort, the fretboard edge is finished with a smooth curve.

Super All Access Neck Joint

The Super All Access Neck Joint offers superior playability with its 8mm concave curve from the body top to the spherical surface of the joint area. By maximizing the joint area between the body and the neck, sustain and resonance are increased as well.

Luminlay side dot inlay

The Luminlay side dot position marks make it easy for players to see fretboard position marks when performing on dark stages.

Gotoh® Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P.(Height Adjustable Post)

The AZ comes with GOTOH® MAGNUM LOCK® machine heads, which have an established reputation for tuning stability. Its H. A. P® (Height Adjustable Post). system allows for the adjustment of string posts for the appropriate tension of each string.

Graphtech® TUSQ XL nut/Stainless Frets

The super smooth Graph Tech® nut increases tuning stability, sustain and clarity of sound. Stainless steel frets boast excellent corrosion resistance. The wide and tall fret-type offers a quick response, good articulation when playing chords and clear tone when playing single notes.

An ergonomic body back contour

A shallow body back contour and a big forearm contour make the guitar body fit the player naturally, thus increasing playing comfort. The AZ body has a deep waist and different radii on each body edge curve, making it easier to play in both standing or sitting positions.

Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ Pickups

Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ Pickups feature a moderate output through Alnico-5 magnets to keep the clarity of the fundamental tone when using a distortion sound, and to deliver a clear pick attack. From treble to bass, the overall tonal balance is evenly adjusted., and works well with various effect pedals.

dyna-MIX 9 switching system w/Alter switch

dyna-MIX 9 offers nine sound variations, and can easily switch between humbucker and single coil modes with just the mini switch. One mode is even able to simulate a humbucker sound from the combination of the 2 single coil pickups.

Ibanez T1502 synchronized bridge (Made by Gotoh®)

T1502 tremolo bridge features steel saddles and a die-cast zinc tremolo block for a quick response and improved articulation. The 10.5mm string spacing allows for easy picking across strings. Its snap-in construction makes it easy to load a tremolo arm.