It’s hard to be all things to all people but this guitar ticks a lot of boxes! This is 100% a player’s guitar that can take you all the way from A to Z . . . ! Ibanez pulled out all the stops with the AZ242BC electric guitar and as part of the Premium series, it’s affordable too.
For starters, there is the roasted Maple neck. This neck has undergone special heat-treatment enhancing the wood’s stability, durability, resistance to sweat and tolerance of temperature changes. Tonally, it contributes to a well-balanced attack and rich sustain. We believe that Ibanez have also achieved supreme neck grip comfort with the fretboard edges finished with a smooth curve.
The solid Basswood body is an ergonomic dream. 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 also has a deep waist and different radii on each body edge curve, making it easier to play in both standing or sitting positions. The weight is light and balanced – not neck or body heavy and the guitar sits well in a strap. The Bocote top is some serious eye candy too.
The control layout has been designed to put everything within easy reach. The location of the controls allows for tonal adjustments without having to look down and the scope of those tonal adjustments are what elevate the AZ242BC to ‘super-strat’ status. Many modern amps feature a high gain preamp whereby the challenge is not to drive the front end of the amp too hard but to control it.
The pair of Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ Pickups have a moderate output through Alnico-V magnets that preserve the clarity of the fundamental tone when using high gain distorted sounds and to deliver a clear pick attack. From treble to bass, the overall tonal is evenly balanced which means that you will cut through the mix with clarity and authority.
Ibanez have fitted the AZ242BC with dyna-MIX 10 switching. This simple switching setup adds a mini toggle switch that when used in conjunction with the 5-way selector switch and master volume and tone controls – offers ten sound variations! It’s easy to switch from humbucker and single coil modes with the mini switch and the power Tap mode provides a realistic single coil sound despite its two humbucker pickup layout.
The range of sounds are incredible going from clean, bell-like Strat tones to ‘balls to the wall’ metal tones.
There is so much more we could say but hey – this is the last one of these beauties we have – brand new and unplayed . . . make it yours today!
More photos available by request.
Features:
- Model Number: AZ242BC
- Series: Premium
- Number of Strings: 6
- Orientation: Right-handed
- Body Type: Solid body
- Body Shape: Ibanez Premium AZ
- Body Material: American Basswood
- Top Material: Bocote
- Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
- Color: Deep Espresso Burst
- Neck Material: Roasted Maple
- Neck Shape: AZ Oval C
- Fingerboard Radius: 305mmR (R12″)
- Fingerboard Material: Roasted Maple
- Fingerboard Position Markers: Black Dot Inlays and Luminescent Side Position Inlays
- Number of Frets: 24
- Fret Size: Jumbo
- Fret Material: Stainless Steel
- Scale Length: 648mm (25.5″)
- Nut Width: 42mm (1.653″)
- String Spacing 10.5mm
- Nut Material: GraphTech
- Bridge/Tailpiece: Gotoh T1502 Tremolo
- Tuners: Gotoh MG-T Locking Machine Heads
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion Humbucker
- Controls: 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone, 1 x dyna-MIX10 switch, 5-way blade pickup switch
- Strings: .010 -.046″
- Case: Yes
- Setup: Pro-SCM
Our Pro-SCM setup includes:
- Check that the action meets factory or your specifications
- Check and rectify any buzzing, intonation or playability issues
- Check and adjust the nut and bridge string heights
- Hand roll the fret ends to deburr the sharp edges and polish the frets
- Test electronics, pots and switches for correct function
- Inspect instrument construction and condition of the strings
- Tune to pitch
As a paid service this setup can easily cost $250 or more – it’s included in our price.
