Ibanez AZ2204N-AWD — AZ Prestige Series Electric Guitar with Case

The Ibanez AZ2204N-AWD stands at the apex of the AZ Prestige Series—a synthesis of vintage tonal character, modern playability, and Japanese artisanal precision. Featuring a roasted maple neck and fretboard, a chambered alder body, a versatile Seymour Duncan Hyperion S/S/H pickup configuration with coil-splitting, premium Gotoh hardware, and an Atomic Waveburst finish, it ships in a deluxe molded hardshell case. The following 2 000-word deep dive explores every aspect—from materials and construction to electronics, ergonomics, finish, sustainability, care, and the storied heritage of the Prestige lineage—culminating in a clear white-and-gray specification table.

1 | Prestige Lineage & Japanese Craftsmanship

Crafted at Ibanez’s legendary Fujigen factory in Japan, the AZ Prestige Series reflects decades of fine-tuning and quality control. “Prestige” denotes a multi-stage production process combining high-precision CNC routing with hand-finishing by veteran luthiers. Each neck blank, body blank, and hardware component undergoes multiple inspections—neck relief adjustments, fret dressing, finish thickness checks, and hardware torque calibration—ensuring uniform playability, stability, and tonal consistency across the production run.

2 | Body Design — Chambered Alder Resonance

The AZ2204N-AWD’s body uses select North American alder for its balanced tonal spectrum—warm lows, pronounced mids, and clear highs. Ibanez’s Core Chamber routing removes non-structural wood, reducing weight by approximately 10 % and enhancing acoustic resonance. These cavities allow the top wood to vibrate freely, producing a richer, more organic tone, while preserving the sustain and feedback resistance of a solid-body design. The result is a guitar that feels light on the shoulder and sings both acoustically and through an amplifier.

3 | Neck Construction — S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple

The S-TECH WOOD roasting process subjects the maple neck and fretboard to controlled heat and humidity, expelling moisture and relieving internal stresses. The outcome is a neck with superior stability—resisting seasonal warping—and a smooth, satiny feel that evokes the comfort of a well-played instrument. The oval “C” profile measures 0.83″ (21 mm) at the 1st fret and 0.93″ (23.6 mm) at the 12th, balancing rhythm comfort and lead agility.

4 | Fretboard & Frets — Compound Radius & Stainless Steel

The roasted maple fretboard features a 10″–14″ compound radius: a tighter curve (10″) near the nut for chordal ease, flattening out (14″) toward the body for freer string bending. Ibanez fits 22 jumbo stainless-steel frets for superior durability and bright tonal attack. Each fret end is hand-filed and polished to remove sharp edges, ensuring smooth fretboard navigation and minimal finger fatigue during extended play.

5 | Super All Access Heel Joint

A signature of the AZ design, the Super All Access heel joint features a sculpted heel that removes excess wood beneath the 17th fret, offering unhindered reach to the 24th fret. Reinforced by a five-bolt pattern with brass inserts, this design blends strength with ergonomics, facilitating advanced lead techniques and tapping without hand strain.

Specifications