Ibanez dominated the 80s hard rock scene. Well, along with Jackson and Kramer, I suppose, but still: Satriani and Vai both rocked their Ibanezes, as did Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden, and Phil Collen from Def Leppard, who were two of the hugest bands of the decade. Add in Paul Stanley rocking his Iceman and you’ve got a veritable era of hard rockin’ Ibanez guitars.
Of course, Ibanez have continued to rock hard, and to keep a visual and stylistic link to the decade of neon and denim.
Today, I want to look at a modern Ibanez range that is very much for guitarists of now, but which also honours that gilded 80s legacy at the same time. This is all about the Ibanez AZ. Let’s jump in!
What Is The Ibanez AZ Range?
The Ibanez AZ range is a series of modern Superstrat-type guitars. The overall aesthetic is of a streamlined, modern ‘performance’ guitar, but with less of the overtly aggressive sharp end you see in ranges such as the RG.
The Ibanez AZ series contains a number of guitars, with a variety of finishes, pickup configurations and switching options. AZ and AZES models have double cutaway Superstrat bodies (with and without pickguards), whereas the AZS style is a single cutaway model more akin to a souped-up T-style guitar.
What Sort of Features do The Ibanez AZ Range Have?
As mentioned, there is a wide range of AZ guitars available. Whilst many of the features are not shared by the entire range, many of them have the following:
- Oval neck profile
- Asymmetric double cut body
- Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups (available only on Ibanez AZ guitars, Ibanez alnico models on more affordable AZ guitars)
- Stainless steel frets (on most models except the most affordable)
Lots of the models also have roasted maple necks, figured maple tops on the bodies and hardware from Gotoh. It’s an impressive range of instruments, and true to Ibanez style, even the lower priced models impress.
Who Plays Ibanez AZ Guitars?
Ibanez AZ guitars have been quickly accepted by the newer generation of technical guitarists who perhaps don’t want to lean on a design directly from the past. They want the 80s legacy in there, and they want a top performance instrument, but with lines and contours that perhaps sit more comfortably in 2026. Modern prog players, Djent guitarists and fans of instrumental rock and fusion seem to be the main proponents of the Ibanez AZ range. Alternative and metal guitarists like them too.
In terms of big name artists, you’ll see both players from Polyphia - Tim Henson and Scott LePage - using signature models that certainly lean heavily on the AZ range. YouTuber Tom Quayle’s signature model is an AZE, as is Lari Basilio's. Luco Mantovanelli is another, and Josh Smith’s T-style signature model is very AZ-adjecent.
What is the 80s Connection to the AZ Range?
Apart from a headstock that hints strongly at 80s Ibanez Roadstar models, there’s a real performance legacy at play here. The overall vibe is a sort of sophisticated ‘session player’s superstrat’, but there are other strong links to the 80s shred era here, too. Custom-made Seymour Duncan pickups, flat radius fingerboards (albeit on slightly chunkier necks this time round!) and slab bodies with extra switching all recall those gunslinger years well.
It’s true that Ibanez still make lots of overtly 80s-facing models with the RG and S series - as do Charvel, Jackson and the rest of them - but the AZ range is interesting because it blends those 80s influences with those of today’s boutique brands such as Suhr and Tom Anderson. The result is a blend of influences that harks back to a few notable eras but still feels contemporary and with its own identity.
Basically, if you love the performance and functionality of 80s ‘shredsticks’ - as Dave Navarro once described them to me - but you require an instrument whose looks will allow it to fit in at most any gig, then the Ibanez AZ range should be one of your top choices, regardless of your budget.
Click to View our Ibanez AZ Guitars
