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

The Ibanez AZ2204-MGR represents the pinnacle of Ibanez’s AZ Prestige Series, blending cutting-edge materials, meticulous Japanese craftsmanship, and versatile electronics. Equipped with an S-TECH WOOD roasted maple neck and fretboard, a chambered alder body, Seymour Duncan Hyperion S/S/H pickup configuration with coil-splitting, premium Gotoh MG-T locking tuners and T1802 tremolo, and a striking Matte Galaxy Red finish, it ships complete with a custom-fitted deluxe molded hardshell case. This 2 000-word exploration examines every aspect—from tonewood selection, construction methods, and hardware performance to electronics voicings, ergonomic design, finish application, sustainability initiatives, care recommendations, and the storied Prestige lineage—culminating in a concise white-and-gray specification table.

1 | Prestige Lineage & Japanese Craftsmanship

Born in Ibanez's renowned Fujigen factory, the AZ Prestige Series embodies decades of precision guitar building. Each AZ2204-MGR begins with SL-Grade North American alder bodies and premium maple neck blanks. Sophisticated CNC machining ensures exact body contours and Core Chamber routs; subsequent hand-finishing by veteran luthiers guarantees flawless fret-end filing, fret leveling, and cavity shielding. Necks receive meticulous relief adjustments; hardware mounting bolts are torqued to exact factory standards. Final play-through setups—covering action, intonation, and pickup height—ensure each guitar meets stringent performance benchmarks, reflecting the union of automated consistency and human artistry.

2 | Body Architecture — Chambered Alder Resonance

The AZ2204-MGR’s body, carved from select North American alder, delivers a balanced tonal spectrum: warm, rounded lows; pronounced, singing mids; and transparent, detailed highs. Ibanez’s Core Chamber design strategically removes roughly 10 % of non-structural wood, reducing weight and enhancing acoustic resonance. These internal cavities allow the top wood to breathe, resulting in a more organic tonal response unplugged and richer harmonic content when amplified. The weight relief also reduces shoulder fatigue during long sets, making it ideal for marathon studio sessions and demanding live performances alike.

3 | Neck Construction — S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple

Ibanez’s S-TECH WOOD roasting process thermally stabilizes the maple neck and fretboard under precisely controlled heat and humidity. This treatment expels moisture, relieves internal stresses, and increases wood hardness, yielding a neck that resists seasonal warping and boasts enhanced sustain. The roasted maple develops a silky smooth, “broken-in” feel from day one, with a subtle amber hue. The comfortable Oval “C” profile measures 0.83″ (21 mm) at the 1st fret and 0.93″ (23.6 mm) at the 12th, striking an ideal balance between chord-playing comfort and lead-style speed.

4 | Fretboard & Frets — Compound Radius & Stainless Steel

The roasted maple fretboard features a 10″–14″ compound radius: 10″ at the nut for effortless open chords, graduating to 14″ at the body end for bend-free soloing. Ibanez installs 22 jumbo stainless-steel frets, prized for their hardness, corrosion resistance, and bright tonal attack. Each fret end is hand-filed and polished to eliminate sharp tangs, ensuring smooth hand transitions and reducing finger fatigue during intense performances. Luminlay side-dot markers provide glow-in-the-dark guidance under low-light conditions.

5 | Super All Access Heel Joint

The signature Super All Access heel joint removes excess wood beneath the 17th fret, granting unobstructed reach to all 24 frets. Reinforced by a five-bolt pattern with brass inserts, this design achieves structural rigidity while maintaining ergonomic contours. The sculpted heel blends seamlessly into the body, enabling fluid upper-register runs, tapping techniques, and wide bends without hand obstruction or pressure hotspots.

Specifications