“Ibanez has introduced an exciting new AZ series that promises an exceptional blend of performance and value. Featuring eye-catching flame-maple finishes and versatile dyna-MIX switching, the HSS and HH S-style guitars are now available at an attractive street price of only $549.”

Ibanez has started 2025 strong with the launch of the AZ Standard series, a pair of $549 S-styles stacked with premium specs that might well prove to be a serious contender for best-value electric guitar of the year.

The AZ Standard is available with a dual-humbucker or HSS electric guitar pickup configuration. Ibanez doesn’t forget its core demographic in its description of the AZ Standard, promising “all the staples the Ibanez brand is famous for, such as fast necks, floating trems, and high-octane distortion.” And it makes good on those claims.

The necks are crafted from a rich, caramel-hued roasted maple, securely fastened to the body, and meticulously shaped into a unique profile that boasts a depth of only 20.5mm at the 1st fret and 22.5mm at the 12th – you can be assured they will offer a silky-smooth playing experience.

The T106 tremolo bridge may not boast the same flashy features as a Floyd Rose – it's not designed for intense divebombs – but it offers complete adjustability and is a reliable piece of equipment. Additionally, it comes with locking tuners, ensuring that even with aggressive use of the whammy bar, your tuning remains stable.

The Ibanez Modern Custom humbuckers feature a powerful ceramic construction, specifically tailored for high-gain applications. The single-coil pickups utilize Alnico V magnets. However, there’s much more beneath the surface.

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These S-styles are anything but ordinary. The dual-humbucker version offers musicians 10 distinct core tones through its innovative dyna-MIX10 switching system and alter switch. Meanwhile, the HSS variant f