Folks, we've seen these before; the Ibanez AZ2402. The tri-fade & ice metallic blue versions are the initial models. The white & two other pastel hues came later. I had been assuming that they were all the same less the colour differences. However, be informed that there's a difference in neck feel. No, it's not about the neck profiles but the finish treatment. The three later models sport a satin finished neck while the initial two releases has a raw treatment, something close to that unfinished IKEA chair.
This isn't a unique interpretation when it comes to neck finishes. The Yamaha Mike Stern model had been about that raw treatment all along. Rest assured that this type of neck finish preserves the playability of the instrument, there's nothing to worry about. After years of playing, the raw treatment would eventually satin out giving you the smoother feel. From a production perspective, it's only prudent to engage in the satin treatment at the start. The thing about letting time & repeated handling do its job is that of consistency; the more handled surfaces of the neck would be smoother than the rest which are not.
I only realized this difference after trying the newer AZ2402 models (before deciding to buy one). I have no idea if the manufacturer omitted this detail intentionally or they might have decided to observe this finish migration entirely. On that note, the newer tri-fade & ice metallic blue finishes might have the answer but in the mean time, the ones in the stores are still sporting that raw treatment. I might give the serial number a cursory glance the next time I'm there to check things out.
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