Bensalem, PA – January 1, 2021: Ibanez has announced the latest editions to their vast selection of electric guitars. New for 2021, the exceptional AZ-N Series electric guitars and three new Prestige Hollow Body models are sure to help guitarists ring in the new year.
Ibanez Introduces Its New AZ-N Series Electric Guitars
Taking adaptability to new extremes, the AZ series has established itself and carved out a place that spans everything from the warmest blues licks, to the most intense, shred-heavy metal riffs. The AZ line also embodies time-tested Ibanez innovation and player-focused features like a smooth, oval neck grip, a well-balanced asymmetrical body shape, and the neck heel allowing for unrivaled playability.
New for 2021, the AZ line is adding a new offshoot called the AZ-N series. This new breed of AZ is built around three principal differences from the originals. The first, are newly designed Seymour Duncan® Fortuna™ pickups. They are slightly underwood relative to the original Hyperion pickups. They also speak with a more scooped mid-range, giving them a classic, organic, and open voice. As a result, the guitar is extremely natural sounding which is what the “N” in AZ-N represents. This design also features a Rosewood fingerboard, a first for AZ. Finally, the fingerboard utilizes a compound radius; 9” towards the nut and 12” towards the bridge. This creates a neck that strikes the perfect ergonomic balance for clean melodies and chordal playing along with searing fast solo work higher up on the neck. The AZ-N still retains the musically flexible nature of the originals, while offering specifically tailored elements aimed at the player whose sound centers on a more traditional tone.
Finishes from Top to Bottom: Antique White Blonde, Black, Prussian Blue Metallic
Features:
- AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck
- 22 frets
- Alder body
- Rosewood fretboard 9" - 12" Compound Radius
- Jumbo Stainless Steel frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- Bone nut
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna (S) neck pickup
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna (S) middle pickup
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna (H) bridge pickup
- dyna-MIX9 switching system w/Alter Switch
- Gotoh® T1702 tremolo bridge
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh® Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P.
- Luminlay side dots
- Hardshell case included
- Finishes: Antique White Blonde, Black, Prussian Blue Metallic
LIST: TBA
ESTIMATED STREET PRICE: TBA
Ibanez Announces Three New Prestige Hollow Body Models
The parallel histories of Jazz music and the hollow-body electric guitar are inextricably linked and manifest in the professional-grade Artstar series. The influences of these legendary instruments are immediately apparent with a bone nut, ebony fretboard, and Ibanez's signature Super 58 custom pickups. The critical eye will appreciate the attention to detail poured into these instruments like the smoothness of the fretboard and the skill applied to the fretwork, generally found on instruments costing twice as much. The Artstar embodies the pure jazz-box and the continual evolution the genre represents.
For 2021, Ibanez is introducing three revamped made-in-Japan Artstar models: the AF2000, AS2000, and AM2000. The AF2000 represents the quintessential Jazz Box and is the most traditional design among the three. It’s full-hollow body construction produces a rich, complex tone, expressed with a pure voice and full body, the tonal characteristics most highly desired among the discerning Jazz player. The AS2000 utilizes a semi-hollow body construction and is built to tackle just about any genre of music you throw at it, with the pickups mounted directly to the center block for increased sustain and feedback elimination. The AM2000H Is smaller in size than other two models, but this guitar provides warm, punchy tone and abundant sustain. It offers the added benefit being compact enough that players more accustomed to a solid body electric will feel right at home on this new Artstar guitar.
Features:
AF2000
- AF Artstar 3pc African Mahogany/S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple set-in neck
- 20 frets
- Spruce top/Figured Anigre back & sides
- Bound Ebony fretboard w/Acrylic & Abalone block inlay
- Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- Bone nut
- Max body thickness: 3 3/4"/Width at lower bout: 16 1/2"
- Super 58 (H) neck pickup
- Super 58 (H) bridge pickup
- Ebony bridge
- AF Special tailpiece
- Gold hardware
- Hardshell case included
- Finish: Brown Sunburst
AF2000
LIST: $3,466.65
ESTIMATED STREET PRICE: $2,599.99
AS2000
- AS Artstar 3pc African Mahogany/S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple set-in neck
- 22 frets
- Figured Anigre top/back/sides
- Bound Ebony fretboard w/Acrylic & Abalone block inlay
- Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- Bone nut
- Max body thickness: 2 5/8"/Width at lower bout: 15 3/4"
- Super 58 (H) neck pickup
- Super 58 (H) bridge pickup
- Tri-sound switch
- Gotoh® 510BN bridge
- Gotoh® GE101A tailpiece
- Gold hardware
- Hardshell case included
- Finish: Brown Sunburst
AS2000
LIST: $3,466.65
ESTIMATED STREET PRICE: $2,599.99
AM2000H
- AM Artstar 3pc African Mahogany/S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple set-in neck
- 22 frets
- Figured Anigre top/back/sides
- Bound Ebony fretboard w/Acrylic & Abalone block inlay
- Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- Bone nut
- Max body thickness: 2 5/8"/Width at lower bout: 13 3/4"
- Super 58 (H) neck pickup
- Super 58 (H) bridge pickup
- Gotoh® 510BN bridge
- AM-H Special tailpiece
- Gold hardware
- Hardshell case included
- Finish: Brown Sunburst
AM2000H
LIST: $3,466.65
ESTIMATED STREET PRICE: $2,599.99
For more information: https://www.ibanez.com/usa/
