Ibanez AZES40 Standard Electric Guitar, Left Handed - Purist Blue
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The AZES40 is distinguished from the AZES31 by the additions of a tremolo system and an Accord Passive/Ceramic humbucker bridge pickup, lending the AZES40 to even more unique tonal assortments.
AZES guitars feature a 25" scale length, which makes for an easier playing instrument for children and players of smaller stature. Additionally, the 25" medium scale is also large enough that a player can continue to grow with the instrument as they mature as a guitarist. The 250mm fretboard radius is not too flat, not too round, and makes for an excellent choice for the first-time player. This radius is a great middle ground that allows for learning to play each note correctly, while still maintaining a high degree of comfort
AZES40 Features
• Maple neck provides stability and bright tonal character
• Jatoba fretboard produces a rich mid range with a crisp high end
• Medium sized frets enhance the accuracy of your notes
• Poplar body delivers a well-balanced tone with incredible thickness
• Ibanez machine heads feature die-cast housings and split-shaft
• Mono-unit output jack
• All Access Neck Joint offers superior playability at the high frets
• Essentials and Accord S-S-H pickups provide well-balanced tone and as well as versatility
• T106 tremolo with comfort round Steel saddles provides wider range of height adjustment and ease of setting up
• dyna-MIX 9 switching system with Alter Switch - The dyna-MIX 9 offers nine sound variations and can switch between humbucker and single coil modes with just a flick of the mini switch. One mode even simulates a humbucking sound from the combination of two single coil pickups.
AZES40 Specs
neck type: AZES Maple neck
top/back/body: Poplar body
fretboard: Jatoba fretboard w/White dot inlay
frets: 22 Medium frets
bridge: T106 bridge with Comfort round Steel saddles
string space: 10.5mm
neck pickup: Essentials (S) neck pickup (Passive/Ceramic)
middle pickup: Essentials (S) middle pickup (Passive/Ceramic)
bridge pickup: Accord (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Ceramic)
pickup switching: dyna-MIX 9 switching system with Alter Switch
controls: volume and tone
scale: 635mm/25"
strings: D'Addario® EXL110 (.010 - .046)
hardware colour: Chrome
Specifications
Active EQ: | No |
Body Colour: | Purist Blue |
Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
Body Material: | Poplar |
Body Shape: | AZES Standard |
Body Type: | Solid |
Bridge Design: | Ibanez T106 w/ Comfort round Steel saddles |
Bridge Type: | Tremolo |
Case/Gigbag: | Purchased Separately |
Controls: | 1 Volume + 1 Tone |
Country of Origin: | Indonesia |
Features: | Mono-unit output jack, All access neck joint, Dual wing string trees |
Fingerboard: | Jatoba |
Fingerboard Inlay: | Dots - White |
Fret Profile: | Medium |
Fretboard Radius: | 9.84" / 250 mm |
Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
Instrument Size: | Full |
Neck Body Join: | Bolt-on |
Neck Body Join-Fret: | 18th |
Neck Finish: | Satin Polyurethane |
Neck Material: | Maple |
Neck Shape: | AZES |
Number of Frets: | 22 |
Number of Pickups: | 3 |
Number of Strings: | 6 |
Nut Material: | Plastic |
Nut Width: | 1.65" / 42 mm |
Orientation: | Left |
Pickup Brand: | Essentials 2x Ceramic S + 1x Accord Ceramic H |
Pickup Configuration: | HSS |
Pickup Type: | Single Coil(s) & Humbucker |
Scale Length: | 25" / 635 mm |
String Gauge: | .010 - .046 |
String Type: | Steel |
Switching: | 5-Way Blade Switch + 1 Alter switch for dyna-MIX9 system |
Tailpiece: | String-Through-Body |
Tuning Machines: | Ibanez Machine Heads w/ Split shaft |
Q & A
Reviews
The mind blowing thing about this guitar is the alternate pickup wiring switch which gives you so many different and usable sounds, that it's hard to believe. You can even get a neck humbucker sound, a middle tele position sound, etc. However, the big surprise to me was that this guitar does NOT really sound like a Strat, even in regular positions. It sounds very Ibanez-y. For some songs that's a good thing, but for others where you want the crystal chime or quack of the Strat, you won't find it here.
The classic 6-screw bridge is plenty stable and is by default floating on standard E tuning. I had no issue here, and the affordable tuners were ok as well.
My biggest disappointment in this guitar is the overall size of it, and yes as I play I am getting more used to it but the guitar is 25" scale length (as opposed to Fender's or Ibanez's standard 25.5") and critically more importantly, the body is slightly smaller than a typical Strat. For me this makes the guitar a bit less comfortable playing in a sitting position. I prefer the full size of a Strat where I can lean over the body a bit at times, making myself more connected. I also didn't like the size of the frets as much (they're ok though, they're not that small), I prefer jumbo frets.
Sound wise I would say it's a hit and miss depending on your presets and pickup selection switch. Overall I would say if you prefer Ibanez sounds and playability you may like this but if you are looking for a Strat, I would say that a Squier would be a better choice. It will sound more "Stratty" and play more like it as well so if you ever upgrade to a Fender you will feel right at home. I wouldn't say this is a bad guitar, it's very good but for me PERSONALLY I would rather go for a Squier classic vibe or modern series (I own a modern HH Squier Strat Floyd Rose and I prefer it to this, but it's a close call).
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