Ibanez AZ2204-ICM — AZ Prestige Series Electric Guitar with Case

The Ibanez AZ2204-ICM embodies the pinnacle of Ibanez’s AZ Prestige Series: a masterclass in modern electric guitar design that seamlessly blends vintage-inspired versatility, cutting-edge materials, and Japanese “Prestige” craftsmanship. Featuring a roasted maple neck and fretboard, chambered alder body, Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups, Gotoh hardware, and an elegant Indigo Clay Matte finish, this instrument ships complete with a deluxe molded hardshell case. The following sections provide a comprehensive 2 000-word deep dive—covering every aspect from wood selection and construction techniques to electronics, ergonomics, finish processes, sustainability measures, care recommendations, and the storied legacy of the Prestige line—culminating in a concise white–gray specification table for quick reference.

1 | Prestige Craftsmanship & Japanese Heritage

Built at Ibanez’s renowned Fujigen factory in Japan, the AZ2204-ICM carries the “Prestige” badge, denoting meticulous QC and hand-finishing at every production stage. From selecting SL-Grade alder blanks to multi-point fret leveling and finish inspections, each guitar undergoes a series of rigorous checks. The neck profiles, fret ends, and cavity shielding are fine-tuned by expert luthiers, ensuring that every instrument leaves the bench with perfect playability and reliability. This marriage of advanced CNC machining with hands-on artistry embodies the best of Japanese tradition and modern engineering, delivering an instrument that performs consistently, whether in a humid rehearsal space or a temperature-controlled studio.

2 | Body Design — Chambered Alder Resonance

The AZ2204-ICM’s body is crafted from premium North American alder, prized for its balanced tonal spectrum—clear highs, pronounced midrange, and solid lows. Ibanez’s patented Core Chamber design strategically removes wood in non-critical areas, reducing overall weight by approximately 10 % while enhancing acoustic resonance. These internal cavities allow the top wood to vibrate more freely, resulting in a warmer, more organic tone when played unplugged, and richer heterodyne complexity when amplified. The chambered design also improves shoulder comfort during long sessions, making this guitar equally suited for extended studio work and rigorous live performances.

3 | Neck Construction — S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple

Ibanez’s S-TECH WOOD process involves roasting the maple neck and fretboard at controlled temperatures and humidity levels, reducing internal tensions and moisture content. This treatment produces a neck that is highly stable against environmental changes and exhibits a smoother, more resonant tonal character. The roasted maple develops a subtle amber hue and a satin-smooth feel that mimics years of play from day one. Precision carving yields an “oval C” profile measuring 0.83″ at the first fret and 0.93″ at the twelfth, optimized for both rhythm comfort and lead-line agility.

4 | Fretboard & Frets — Compound Radius & Stainless Steel

The roast-treated maple fretboard features a compound radius—from 10″ at the nut to 14″ at the body end—allowing effortless chord work near the nut and flat, drama-free bends up high. Ibanez fits 22 stainless-steel jumbo frets, which resist wear and ensure crisp attack. The fret ends are hand-filed and polished to eliminate sharp edges, providing a slick, snag-free feel as your hand slides along the neck. Glow-in-the-dark Luminlay side dots on the neck side offer clear fret position visibility in low-light settings.

5 | Super All Access Heel Joint

A signature feature of the AZ series is the Super All Access heel joint: a sculpted, contoured heel that removes mass beneath the 17th fret, granting unhindered reach to the 24th fret. This ergonomic innovation, reinforced by a five-bolt neck joint with two brass inserts, combines structural integrity with seamless upper-register access. Players benefit from fluid transitions across the full length of the fingerboard, enabling advanced techniques without hand obstruction.

Specifications