Ibanez has expanded the acclaimed AZ series once again with the AZES Standard 6 String Electric Guitar, a new "Essentials" line that provides aspiring rockers a tool to guide the start of their musical journey. This line also lets seasoned shredders obtain a more affordable option to diversify their tonal spectrum.

Musicians eager to learn need an instrument that inspires them, and each choice made for the AZES will make playing feel more natural and comfortable without the sacrifice of tone. First, the poplar solidbody, finished in a sleek black gloss polyurethane finish, provides a well-rounded sound that will cater to musicians dabbling in multiple genres. The maple neck, in the new 9.84" radius AZES profile, will allow players to find their fingering easier with the adjusted slimmer shape. A jatoba fingerboard is affixed to pronounce the mid-range, and lets the high end sing. Players will find that 22 medium sized frets across the 25" scale length is a perfect start to stardom.

But rock can't roll without the right electronics. Ibanez has installed their Essentials single-coil pickups in the neck and middle position, while an Accord humbucker sits in the bridge. This configuration will give beginners the option to survey which tonal suite they prefer, harnessing the best of clean and bright with the blend of high-power drive. These pickups are controlled by master volume and tone knobs, and a 5-way pickup selector. Additionally, a dyna-MIX9 switching system with Alter switch gives even more variety to the pickup suite, allowing nine total voices for soaring solos and legendary leads. Humbuckers become single coils, and single coils can group to become humbuckers; learn while playing—trust the ears!

For improved playability, the T106 bridge has been upgraded with comfort round steel saddles, subduing screw height to allow for a more natural and less strenuous strum. And for those who are inclined to strum a bit harder than the rest, Ibanez machine head tuners will make sure tunings are never faltering, a mechanism that is also simple enough to operate when learning how to maintain an instrument.

Start a new rock legacy with the Ibanez AZES40BBK AZES Standard 6 String Electric Guitar, Black.

• Double cutaway poplar solidbody
• Maple neck in AZES profile
• Jatoba fingerboard with 22 Medium frets
• Ibanez single coil and humbucker pickups
• dyna-MIX9 switching system with Alter switch
• T106 bridge with comfort round steel saddles
• Ibanez machine head tuners
• Black gloss polyurethane finish