Don't Buy the Ibanez AZ Premium Until You Watch This

Which one would you buy??? Let me know below and check the description box for links to all my gear!

I'm obsessed with the prestige because it to me sounds a lot smoother and less spanky without the alter switch. Plus the trifade colour reminds me of my first guitar which was an old squire bass 😊

The 1802 has titanium saddles compared to the 1502 having steel saddles at least according to internet specs, the reason that difference is important is because titanium doesn't rust, and its extremely durable.

The prestige guitar is a little tighter in the low end and smoother in the top end. The premium guitar has a little more sizzle in the very top end. I can hear the differences clearly back to back but hearing one on its own, I would never be able to tell you which one you were playing.

I own an AZ42 (Like the one you're demoing) and an AZ47. Love them both! so far...

What string gauge you use on you az prestige now ？

Just a heads up, you don't need a screwdriver for the gotoh locking tuners. They loosen the lock as you loosen the string, and they lock themselves as you tighten the string. I have a prestige AZ2204, and have never had an issue with the locking tuners. They are a unique design, but they work really well for how they're designed.

I own a HSS Prestige AZ2204, and I fell in love with it the moment I played it. I've played a few premium models, and maybe I got some bad ones, but to me the difference in neck/fretboard feel and finish was very obvious. The premium felt a little more rough around the edges, and the fretwork wasn't nearly as flawless as the Prestige. (There were also some minor finish issues on the premiums).
All that being said, the premiums are still great guitars, especially for the price. Is the prestige worth that much more? I dont know, but I will say that of all the guitars I own, none really compare in my opinion, even ones of the same price as the prestige.

AZ 2402 Prestige is fine

I wonder why they are not giving up the titanium saddles on the new $2500 model?

Am not a tone wood believer but i am a finger tone believer

I hoped for a topnotch sound quality even better like a LP

Great overview!!
That prestige looks like my Charvel DK24 HH 2PT pro mod sunburst. Not a satin finish though but plays amazingly well and sounds great for various tone ranges when I bought it, I was looking at the prestige line when I came across the charvel which was half the price, I played both the prestige and Charvel and playability wise they were excellent. The Charvel came in at half the price, for me it was a no brainer. The ibanez Andy timmons model AT100 (big fan of Andy) was overpriced and didnt play as well as the 2402 or charvel and was the most expensive. Not trashing Ibanez but they have to get their pricing model down if Im seeing other manufacturers that can output stuff at near the same quality for half the price you tend to be just paying for the label on the guitar at that point.

Can we put a vegatrem on those without drilling the wood?

I think the locking tuners on the Prestige is lighter which makes the guitar less front heavy that some picky people may prefer. Also I think you're supposed to use a coin of some sort instead of a screwdriver. At least that's what you use on PRS locking tuners.
The reason the premium guitar sounds fatter is because the humbucker covers removes some of the treble i guess.

Hi Jimmy, bought a AZ premium the 226 model with HSS setup. The thing is it came with a really bad fret job and i had to do a leveling and as its SS it was considerably longer to do :))). Now it plays as it should have out of the factory with perfect frets! I advise all, if you buy a new Ibz guitar these days check the frets really well because a fret leveling & crowning will probably cost you in the region of 100 eur or more because of the SS frets! Ibz quality got worse with time in my opinion :(

Love your energy bro! great review. highly considering one of these bad boys :D

The prestige 1802 bridge has titanium bridge saddles. The premium 1502 bridge saddles are not.

Look wise I’ll get the premium and slap on some gold hardware to give the tuxedo look

Does the Gotoh 1502 bridge come with a locking stud? Thanks

I have the same az prestige as you. I also play it every single day and you'd have to kill me to get it from me. In my eyes the perfect guitar! :)

i have the same prestige, overall its very good, was my main gigging guitar for 3 years, zero fret wear good sound, but the trem doesnt stay in tune worth a damn,taking the string tree off helps a little bit but its still not satisfactory, i recently replaced the guitar with a PRS custom 24 which is better in almost every way except it doesnt have ss frets and its trem although stays in tune better is nowhere near as responsive as the AZ, i will keep the AZ as a back up though, i do like it

It was a great video, then you busted out the Polyphia and elevated this video to a new level. 🤣

The old premiums were way better. They had way better tops(actually had a real flamed maple top), Low mass locking tuners, better build quality in general and Roasted maple fretboard. I just sold an AZ242F(tequila sunrise gradation) for $1130. Lol and I used it to buy an RG5320 prestige! Hmm hmm hmmmm... Mwu-hahahahahaha!
And I bought the AZ for 800.
I am the GuitarGremlin.

Those original locking tuners is an example of tech for tech's sake. It didn't make anything better. In fact, it made things more annoying. I'm glad they recently went for traditional lockers. That said, I have a 2019 Prestige HSS. It hangs with my two Suhrs amazingly well. The Suhrs ultimately win, but not by nearly as much as you might think. The baseline moderns and standards (depending on HH or HSS, I believe those two guitars were factored in when the AZ was figuring itself out) are 4K new these days. Literally twice as much as the PRESTIGE. Great great guitar by Ibanez.

I think the sunburst sounds a little brighter But both Def sound almost the same! They sound great

If you want to pay 2000 for a guitar that looks like it costs 150 or less get the old triburst. I'm not a toanwewd believer but basswood is literally asswood. Legit will avoid any guitar made from that wood just for maintenance in the long term, my basswood RG has puked out it's bridge twice now. That black thang is a really cool axe tho, and for the money it's almost as if they're hunting in their own yard.

can you send me one of guitar... please

Great review! Would love to see you review the TOD10 and KRYS10 if you can get your hands on them! Can't wait to watch your review of the Scott LePage pickups!

Which is your choice: Ibanez or headless ash-body Kiesel? Imagine that you have to choose only one)

I wish Ibanez bring satin finishes back to the Premium range. I'm sorry, but gloss black is just the worst option possible, when it comes to the finish.