Ibanez AZ42P1-PBE

Ibanez AZ42P1-PBE: specification-based review

The Ibanez AZ42P1-PBE is an AZ Series electric guitar listed at $1,222. Its published specifications describe a 25.5-inch scale, a bolt-on maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, two Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers, and a Gotoh T1502 tremolo. The stated finish color is Prussian Blue Metallic. Those details suggest a guitar built around familiar modern electric-guitar hardware and a two-humbucker layout.

There is an important limitation in the available information: several specifications conflict within the supplied listings. One section identifies the body as alder, while another calls it American basswood. The fret count is listed as both 22 and 24, and the finish is described as both satin and high-gloss polyurethane. The included accessories also conflict: one entry says no gig bag and a case included, while another says a gig bag is included. These points cannot be confirmed from the provided data, so buyers should verify them with the seller before ordering.

Body, neck, and dimensions

The body material is unclear because of the alder and American basswood entries. Both are commonly used guitar woods, but they are not interchangeable specifications, and the supplied information does not establish which one applies to this instrument. No separate top is listed.

The neck is described as roasted maple with a bolt-on joint and an AZ Oval C profile. The fingerboard is rosewood, with mother-of-pearl dot inlays and fluorescent dot markers along its edge. The listed fingerboard radius is 12 inches, and the nut width is 42 mm, or about 1.65 inches. A Graph Tech nut is specified. Together, these measurements provide a useful outline of the neck, though they do not establish how an individual instrument will feel or play.

The scale length is consistently given as 648 mm, or 25.5 inches. That is a full-length electric-guitar scale. The number of frets is not consistent: a general listing says 22, while the detailed specifications say 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets. This discrepancy matters for players choosing by upper-register access or fret count, and should be checked against the exact instrument being sold.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

The detailed electronics specification lists two Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers in an HSS configuration. These statements do not agree: HSS normally denotes a humbucker and two single-coil pickups, whereas two humbuckers indicate a different pickup arrangement. The supplied information does not explain whether a third pickup is present or whether the HSS label is incorrect.

Controls are listed as one volume control and one tone control, with a five-way selector. The electronics are passive, so there is no onboard active preamp specified. The five-way switch indicates multiple selectable pickup combinations, but the exact switching positions are not described. Without a wiring diagram, it would be speculative to say which coils or pickups are active in each position.

The tremolo is identified as a Gotoh T1502, and the machine heads are Gotoh MG-T locking tuners. Chrome hardware is specified. Locking tuners secure the strings at the tuning posts, while the tremolo is the listed bridge system. No additional setup details, such as factory string height or tremolo spring configuration, are provided. The listed strings are D'Addario EXL110, with gauges.010,.013,.017,.026,.036, and.046.

Finish, accessories, and buying considerations

Prussian Blue Metallic is the stated color. The finish type is disputed, with one entry specifying satin polyurethane and another high-gloss polyurethane. Since sheen is visible and can affect a buyer's preference, this is worth confirming rather than assuming either description is definitive.

Accessory information is also inconsistent. One listing says a case is included and no bag is supplied; another says the guitar includes a gig bag. The data does not establish whether a hard case, a gig bag, or either accessory comes with the specific sale. Confirm the package contents and whether the case entry refers to a separate item.

Verdict

On paper, the AZ42P1-PBE combines a roasted maple bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, passive electronics, Gotoh tremolo and locking tuners, and Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers. However, the conflicting body wood, pickup layout, fret count, finish sheen, and accessory entries prevent a fully reliable specification assessment. There are no customer reviews available, and no hands-on observations have been supplied, so this review does not make claims about sound, comfort, tuning stability, or build quality. At the listed $1,222 price, confirm the exact configuration and included accessories with the retailer before purchase.