Ibanez AZ22S2-MGR

Ibanez AZ22S2-MGR review

The Ibanez AZ22S2-MGR is a solid-body electric guitar with an alder body, a bolt-on roasted maple neck, and a jatoba fingerboard. Its HSS pickup layout combines a bridge humbucker with single-coil pickups in the neck and middle positions. Ibanez adds its dyna-MIX9 switching system, a T106 tremolo, and locking machine heads. The listed price is $462, placing the guitar in a range where fit, setup, and usable sounds matter as much as the feature list.

Buyer feedback is notably positive about playability, finish, and tonal range, though the tremolo and factory setup drew criticism from other owners. That split is worth keeping in view: the AZ22S2-MGR may arrive ready to play, but not every buyer reports the same experience.

Neck, feel, and construction

The neck uses roasted maple, with an AZ profile measuring 21 mm at the first fret and 23 mm at the 12th. One owner described it as a comfortable middle ground, less slim than the necks on their RG guitars but not bulky. The 305 mm fingerboard radius, 42 mm nut, white dot inlays, and 22 jumbo frets round out the playing surface. Scale length is 648 mm, or 25.51 inches.

Owners praised the neck joint and access to the upper frets. Reports also describe clean fret ends, smooth fret polishing, no noticeable dead spots, and an adjustable truss rod that worked in both directions. One buyer found the jatoba board a little dry, but treated that as a maintenance issue rather than a flaw. These are individual observations, not a guarantee that every example will have identical fretwork or setup.

The alder body has generous cutaways, which owners found comfortable both seated and standing. Feedback also describes good balance on a strap, with no tendency to dive at the headstock. The Mint Green high-gloss finish received favorable comments for its appearance and clean application. No bag or case is included.

Pickups and switching

The pickup set consists of an Ibanez Classic Custom humbucker at the bridge and two Ibanez Classic Custom single-coil pickups at the neck and middle. A five-way selector works alongside the dyna-MIX9 system and its Alter Switch. The controls are volume and tone. In practice, owners found the combination more versatile than they expected at this price, with sounds suited to pop, punk, and rock, as well as older-school metal.

One player who usually prefers higher-output humbuckers was satisfied enough with the bridge pickup to abandon plans to replace it. The single coils were described as modern rather than vintage-voiced. Owners also reported that volume differences between pickup settings were manageable, although the humbucker and some series combinations were louder. The volume control can help even out those changes. For players seeking a very high-output sound for modern metal, the stock pickups may not be the first choice.

Feedback on the dyna-MIX9 system emphasized the range of available tones and consistent levels between settings, a useful trait for live playing. Reports also describe the pots as smooth and the switches as positive in operation. The reviews do not establish that every possible switching combination will suit every player, so it is worth trying the controls in person if the alternate sounds are central to your decision.

Tremolo and tuning stability

The T106 tremolo is a point of disagreement. Some owners found it simple and effective, while another said the arm felt loose and the unit was too stiff to use comfortably, leading them to return the guitar. One reviewer preferred to use the instrument as a fixed bridge and noted that the tremolo was set up for downward movement on arrival. The system's feel and setup may therefore be decisive for players who expect frequent, expressive bar use.

Locking machine heads were well regarded for quick string changes and stable tuning. One owner replaced the string tree with a roller type, but made clear that this was a personal preference. The tremolo's adjustment and the guitar's setup can affect tuning behavior, so buyers who plan to use the bar should check its operation and stability after tuning.

Factory setup and value

Setup reports differ. One guitar arrived close to the owner's preferred action, with only a small adjustment needed and no fret buzz afterward. Another buyer described the action as poor enough to require professional setup. Intonation was reported as accurate on one example apart from a minor deviation on the low E string. These accounts suggest that buyers should inspect action, relief, and intonation when the guitar arrives rather than assume a uniform factory setup.

At $462, the AZ22S2-MGR offers a roasted maple neck, locking tuners, a flexible switching system, and a three-pickup configuration. The strongest case for it is its comfortable neck and broad range of practical sounds. The main cautions are inconsistent setup reports and mixed impressions of the tremolo arm. Players who want an adaptable HSS guitar should put it on their shortlist, then check the individual instrument's setup and tremolo feel before settling on it.