CORRECTION: Even after a year I hadn't figured out how the tuners actually work. Now that people have explained to me how they work they are actually pretty awesome. My mistake. Hope you can enjoy the video anyway. ;)

@jodyrowe8166

2 жыл бұрын

Never forgivennnnn

Great guitar!I agree on every aspect of this review. It's always a pleasure to pick my AZ up and play a few licks. Fun guitar, very well made and full of useable tones. Even the tuning stability has improved over the months

I would suggest a Dimarzio PAF PRO. I have one and it sounds great clean, over driven and with effects. It's a little bright, but just a little. I play metalz but I also play ballads and it works well. I think ibanez makes great guitars. I want stainless frets, and I'm curius if that guitar has them? I think I will buy a premium AZ, or a used Japanese S with a floyd made by gotoh, but I love old school 80s metal with Floyd's. So much fun and once you understand them and get them in t un e, you can't knock then out! I also love my LP special flattop I custom built though, and if has one humbucker. A Dumarzoo PAF pro. Great pickup. Good video my friend.

I recently upgraded the pickups in my Ibanez to Seymour Duncan Alpha & Omega pickups and have been super pleased with the results. There's a lot more clarity in the bridge pickup than there was before, and I've also noticed a huge change when I use the pickup selector.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah clarity is something I would like to have more of. There's a certain amount of 'fusioness' in the stock pickups that makes them versatile, but also a bit dull. Need to check those pickups!

I've started with Ibanez, have gone over a Stratocaster era and now I'm back full circle. I've bought AZ2204 and it immediately became my dream guitar. So light, versatile, and high-end. If you played Stratocaster for a while, please try this guitar. It does something to you.

Great review! I have the AZ2402 aswell! Couldn't agree more with the Machine heads! So much so a changed them to Gotah Magnum lock staggered set with one additional extra long one for perfect break angle on the nut, its a straight out swap with no additional drilling and its FAR better, if you want an image or the links ill send you it over! I have also been thinking of trying new pickups! If you find a new pair be sure to post a video!

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I would actually love to check those tuners out!

@ericsplittgerber5154

Жыл бұрын

Hey, would you mind linking these tuners? thanks!

I agree. I almost never use the tap switch either. My favorites are the full bridge humbucker, and both humbuckers together both for cleans and with loads of gain. I sometimes play with the two outer coils too.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Yep, those are my favourite sounds as well.

i have the same guitar, i needed a versatile superstrat and this ticked the boxes, i agree i dont like the tuners much but theyre ok, the neck heel could have been better but its ok, i can still get to the 24th fret no problem, the body is a bit ugly in places too but i can live with it my trem will be ok with mild use but an aggressive dive bomb will put it out of tune, i dont feel the need to change pickups they sound fine to me, i would like closed pickups though my acidic sweat seems to get into open pickups and kill them, i dotnt use many of the alternate sounds but i enjoy messing around with the single coil neck and bridge modes, i am glad they are there, all in all i like it

I know this is an "oldish" thread, but you guys do know that Gotoh make a thumbwheel replacement, right? I have a 2204 and now (just two days ago) a 2402 and for around 65 USD, I got the replacements for each. FAR SUPERIOR!!!!!! Not only are they much easier to change strings, but tuning stability is much improved. The new LM1 (which I'm first in line to get at Sweetwater) has Luca having them on straight away. They are just better. In the states, I got mine at Stumac, I think the model number is Gotoh SG381 MG-T. Anyways, it sucks to have to replace them but they are SUPER easy to replace and you'll likely enjoy them much more.

@CatPickStudios

Жыл бұрын

Great tips, thank you!

You could get PAF style pickups for lower output vintage clarity and change the single coil switch to a series/parallel switch that makes the lower output pickups go into each-other as an extra gain stage in case you want to boost the output

I absolutely love these guitars but trying to find one in shell pink is really difficult nowadays. They've discontinued the finish and used ones very rarely show up on market places. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

@CatPickStudios

10 ай бұрын

Oh I didn't even know there was a shell pink version of the guitar. I might have gotten that one!

I have that exact guitar and tuning has been perfect. I can grab it after days on the wall and it's still perfect. Can almost dive bomb with that trem and still stays in tune. I love it

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! I’m secretly intrigued about the new T-style range they have...

The wood shrunk temporarily giving you ˋfret sprout‘. Thanks for the demos of this guitar

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah you have a good point. Finnish climate makes sure you'll find out after a while whether your guitar is good or not.

Great video thanks. Was just wondering, if you have the guitar on your left left, does the jack socket get in the way? This is important for me as I get shoulder pain if if have the guitar on my right knee so not an option to change position.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! To me personally the jack hasn't been in the way and I think it's really out of the way even if you place the guitar on your left knee. I'm pretty sure I've seen people play it in a classical position as well without issues.

It’s niiiiice❤️❤️😍😍

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

It's very nice!

Great review. I’m also considering switching out the bridge humbucker. Did you switch it out? If so what did you go with and did it fit? Im considering Suhr or an EVH.

@CatPickStudios

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I actually ended up selling the guitar to a friend few months ago because I just wasn't using it over the months after shooting this video. I still think it's a great guitar, but I have very limited space to store them and had to move on. :)

Pro tip on the az tuning stability, have your bridge set a little micro amount forward, leaning forward ever so slightly, not dead level. This solved my tuning stability.

@CatPickStudios

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, this is a really good point.

@cristianramos4225

2 жыл бұрын

Wow that works on my mm1. Recently got one and down tuned to D standard and made some action adjustment. After that i got issue with tuning stability using the trem. Then i read this and it solve it. Do u have more tips sir? Tnx

@Eric-dd8bk

2 жыл бұрын

I know I'm late but one more tip. Loosen the screw holding down the string tree on the headstock so it doesn't hold strings so tightly. Now I can do dive bomb with no worries about tuning. And if you find it's atta tune, just give the bar an upward yank once

Hi! Loved the video and the guitar! Just one question... can you easily tune from standard to drop d? Its just the 6th string that goes to d? Or does the bridge suffer and the strings go out of tune? Thanks!

@CatPickStudios

11 ай бұрын

I had no issues going for Drop D on this guitar. I guess if you set up your string really low in E Standard, then you might have issues when going for Drop D, but in most cases it should work great.

thx, mate

Very nice guitar with great specs. I've been looking at and considering adding this to my arsenal. A question I have...being that it has a flat finish, in high friction areas on the body like where you rest your arm, and from your fingers under the strings, etc. does the finish buff shiny spots from your sweat and friction? I've seen on a strandberg with a flat finish, that after a short time, you get shiny spots where areas are getting buffed from arm and hand. I would really like to know this prior to pulling the trigger to understand what to expect. Thanks!!

@CatPickStudios

Жыл бұрын

Yeah the guitar did get a bit shiny where my forearm rested. I’m guessing this is something you can’t really avoid besides maybe using high grit sandpaper haha.

@johnhahn1877

Жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios thanks for your response. That was my concern and appears to be a trait of flat finish guitars.

Nice video! I have the AZ 2204 Prestige and I have some light tuning issues. I use 9-42 strings. How many springs do you use on your tremolo?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear you're having tuning issues. Mine has 3 that it came with and I'm using 10-48's. I would try do a session of using the tremolo a lot, tuning it back to pitch and repeat this some times. If it doesn't make the tuning more stable I'd suggest checking the nut (or take it to luthier for a nut checkup).

@Eric-dd8bk

2 жыл бұрын

I know I'm late but one more tip. Loosen the screw holding down the string tree on the headstock so it doesn't hold strings so tightly. Now I can do dive bomb with no worries about tuning. And if you find it's atta tune, just give the bar an upward yank once

@cobravinci

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you dude! I'll defenitely try that. BTW, my AZ is more stable now, after 18 months of playing.

Hello! Nice video! I have a question: i saw photos where the paint peeled off in the "guitar in" area. Do these guitars have this problem?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

I'm guessing the "peeled off" look is something that happens over time when the player misses the input jack and scratches the guitar with the instrument cable. You probably need to do that hundreds if not thousands of times on this guitar to get the finish damaged.

@igromanowproject

3 жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios got it. thanks for answer!

@wisnupermana3295

3 жыл бұрын

⁰

Hello there. What if I’m in the market for a new guitar. I am looking for Ibanez with a trem bridge, but don’t like the AZ neck and don’t want a Floyd Rose. What ibanez options exists?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Their catalogue is pretty massive and I'd be lying if I would claim to know all the models. They have a series called SA Standard that might be the thing you're looking for. And if those guitars don't do it for you I'd check out Charvel DK24 series. Very similar specs as the AZ but the neck profile is much thinner. I liked them a lot but preferred the AZ neck profile.

Still love my Miller AZ and have a Charvel Pro Mod 24 HSS. But wish I’d have another AZ HSS instead. Love the neck. Also no issues with tuning or the tuners. I play 3mm or 2 mm big stubbies and they fit nicely.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

I’d love to compare the Miller one to mine since they have different body woods.

@bruunm1975

3 жыл бұрын

CatPick Studios one of the main reasons I went with Martin’s. Mahogany has always had something special for me.

Hey man, great stuff! I have an Ibanez az2402 TFF myself, and I love it. However, I have been noticing that the roasted maple in the neck is kind of soft-ish. I discovered this when I started playing with my thumb behind the neck (instead of wrapped around the neck) that the nail of my thumb on my fretting hand could make indents (or 'lines' rather) in the neck, even when really (!) softly moved across the back of the neck, which is a movement that is kind of unavoidable when playing in a somewhat more excited fasion. Have you found that your maple neck also damages or dents easily in general, and if so, do you know how or if I can avoid further damage (apart from being extra carefull obviously haha)? To my recollection the maple neck was slightly 'harder' when i first bought the guitar, but this could be my imagination. I’ve theorized a little bit myself, and maybe it has something to do with the roasted maple sucking up moisture, and thereby getting softer, but this did not seem logical to me, because the neck has only been played inside and Ibanez seems to be really proud of their 'humidity defying' necks. Thanks in advance! All the best. 🙂 p.s. since yesterday i started putting silicon packets in the hardcase, to see if that solved anything, but obviously i haven't seen any results from that yet haha

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Wow that sounds weird, I usually think of maple necks as a harder wood that's more difficult to dent. I have several guitars with maple necks and none of them dent easy, unlike my mahogany neck ES-335 type. It could be a weird humidity thing, that's for sure. Finnish air is generally very dry and most of guitars actually end having a bit of fret sprout during their first year here because of that. Do you know a local luthier that could check you guitar? Is the neck stable even though it dents? I'd probably have a professional take a look at it just in case. :)

@hugowasalreadytaken

3 жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios @@CatPickStudios hey man thanks for the response :) yeah i thought it was weird too, because most maple necks in guitar stores always felt so sturdy safe, but with the ibanez neck it started "feeling" kind off soft, if that makes any sense? If it is a humidity thing i will keep it in its case from now on with a couple of extra silicon packets, to see if that could remove any moisture from the neck. The neck is still really stable (compared to 'normal' guitars), but i have noticed that i do have to tune it more often than a year ago (which was like once a week or sth, and now like 3 times a week haha). But i will definitely take it to a luthier to have it checked out, because it seems like maple necks aren't supposed to damage this easily. Cheers

@ryanm862

Жыл бұрын

@@hugowasalreadytaken Did you ever get an update on your situation Hugo?

@hugowasalreadytaken

Жыл бұрын

@@ryanm862 not really, just put it in the case every now and then with silicon packages (not all the time), keep ur nails trimmed (which i recommend regardlesly) and be a bit careful when playing and it will be fine. I guess after all, after playing the guitar for awhile it is an object of use, and is meant to be banged around a bit. Cheers, goodluck :)

You're not supposed to insert a pick into the tuners to tighten them. Just slide the string through and turn the tuning pegs, it tightens them as you turn the peg.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

I wonder if mine are broken then, because they definitely don't work that way on my guitar. I've swapped the strings on the guitar at least 4 times during the year I've had it and I've never managed to make them work the way you described.

@davor6966

3 жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios m.kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZKmHqKSEkaSoaJs.html Go to 4:15. This is how you're supposed to do it.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting, I need to give this a try. Thanks for sharing!

Might wanna give the SD Nazgul in the bidge position a try. Not too hot and great note separation.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Yep that's a great suggestion, thanks!

does it stay in tune still? looking to get an AZ maybe but only thing holding me back is floating trem, i prefer decked out trems like strats etc

@CatPickStudios

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah mine stayed in tune just fine after the the initial slight issues. If you don't really use the trem you could also block it. :)

@Eric-dd8bk

2 жыл бұрын

Loosen the screw holding down the string tree on the headstock so it doesn't hold strings so tightly. Now I can do dive bomb with no worries about tuning. And if you find it's atta tune, just give the bar an upward yank once

❤❤❤

what are those tunera anyway if they are so complicated????

does this finish scratch easily ?? because i’m hesitant to buy it since i don’t wanna accidentally scratch it, i want the bkf version

@CatPickStudios

Ай бұрын

My definitely didn't scratch, it was more that few spots (like where your right arm touches the body) those matt surfaces started to polish over time. That isn't a problem either because you can get rid of that polis with a very fine sandpaper.

thank you

@CatPickStudios

3 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

have you considered Seymour Duncan P-Rails?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

I'm familiar with the name but don't really know much about them. Time to do some research, thanks for the suggestion!

@olafburgermann806

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. Good shout. I have thought about building a project guitar with P Rails. Single coil, P90 and humbucker all in one. What's not to like!

What's that black thing near the nut?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Just a cable tie to mute the strings behind the nut. Especially when playing high gain there's some ringing going on over there that you can hear on the recording. I've added a similar cable tie to the tremolo springs as well.

Throw some bare knuckle silos in there. You wont need to switch out your input jack (for charging) like you would with fishmans.

@CatPickStudios

2 жыл бұрын

Yep great point, thanks!

@jcarh

10 ай бұрын

Lol … i have been mulling over putting Silos in my AZ as well but thought they would be too hot. I have felt like the Hyperions are a little thin sounding. Do either of you know if the output levels of the Silos are much different?

Id say try out the tosin fishman set!

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Didn't know he had a signature set. I'll take a look, thanks!

More differenter him In the bridge and a sustainiac and a hot rail in the neck . That way the switch could be used for the sustainiac options. That neck is gorgeous btw.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Now that's a fantastic idea as well! I somehow forgot about the sustaniac, but that could actually be a really cool thing to have.

@PooNinja

3 жыл бұрын

Hope ya had lots of fun at hennings sleep over/ forced labor summer camp. It looked like a super awesome happy fun only guitar show of 2020. 2020 the year the Spanish Inquisition called “a real downer”. No body expects the 2020 In hind sight 2020 looked even more crazy than 452 when Attila sacked Italy . Continued 2020 mems for days. Hope ya had a fun safe time Sir

@PooNinja

3 жыл бұрын

sustainiac the Spanish Inquisition of gear... wait what that sounds wrong.?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the well wishes but I actually wasn’t at the event, so one might say I stayed even safer! And yeah if you’d put 2020 into a movie script everyone would say it’s not believable... :D

@PooNinja

3 жыл бұрын

yea and we thought 2016 with its exploding phones was crazy boi that was just the beginning 😂

Suhr thornbuckers would be great in that guitar.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Completely forgot about those pickups, that's a great suggestion!

@mountainman8775

3 жыл бұрын

This is a good call, the SSH+ and SSV would also definitely work well imo

@Bombtrack411

3 жыл бұрын

@@mountainman8775 Yeah I have the SSH+ and SSV in my main guitar and I love them

Fish man fluency are the best no debate

Lovely guitar. I think I too would just stick to the basic sounds rather than using the switch. Just an idea for the switch when you change the pickup, you can use it as a "straight to output" switch, basically giving an increase in volume and treble by bypassing the volume and tone knobs: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iWypuJOCg9Hekrw.html

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea as well! I used to have a LP 2012 model and that guitar had the "true bypass" switch. The difference was pretty drastic!

@AlexisGuitars

3 жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios yes it's a nice feature to have! I've installed it on a couple guitars now. With a push pull splittable Humbucker it should be a pretty versatile instrument

Can you lock the tremolo?

@CatPickStudios

Жыл бұрын

I think there's a thing you can buy to do that, but there's nothing the guitar comes witht that would allow you to do it.

@bc454irocz89

Жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios i meant like can you make it dive only or deck it like a strat?

sorry but the TUNERS are one of the best on the Market, you just used them WRONG!!!! you pull the string through, turn until it locks, which should be one or two short turns and then tune it up. Now put your pick in and give it a little turn. that's it! I've switched all my guitars from the Schaller or back knob ones to the HAPM top locking Gotohs. They are way lighter and staggered too.

@CatPickStudios

2 жыл бұрын

Yes I know I know, I messed that part up haha. I thought I had already pinned a comment about my mistake in the video, but I guess I didn't. Gotta do it now.

Bare knuckles!?

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

What would be the set you’d recommend that is not too modern?

@bluepencil99

3 жыл бұрын

Mules

omfg its cheaper tuners..... :D

@MrLaurizio

Ай бұрын

:(

You don't need to insert a pick into the tuners to lock and unlock.. It's automatic noob.

@CatPickStudios

3 жыл бұрын

Do people still call other people noobs? Did I teleport back to 2007?

@cdnpunk2270

3 жыл бұрын

@@CatPickStudios MEOW!

@mountainman8775

3 жыл бұрын

I‘m sorry I‘m new to the internet...what‘s a noob?

@cdnpunk2270

3 жыл бұрын

@@mountainman8775 it's like when someone says "put em on the glass"... That kind of thing.

@mountainman8775

3 жыл бұрын

@@cdnpunk2270 hehe thanks, I speak English but don‘t know ˋput them on the glass‘ either. Is it May be referring to sitting on a photocopier with your bare ass cheeks?