Ibanez: July 2025 (5) DFS

New for July as well, but a China exclusive, is this RG550DFS. It's made in Japan & judging by the specs, it's a Genesis with gold hardware appointments & that exclusive pickguard. DFS stands for Die from Sorrow, a Chinese metal band.

The DFS affiliation is documented at the rear of the headstock. Will this be available here? Your guess is as good as mine.

Pic: Ibanez China

Ibanez 2025 (6)

This is the other non-instrument product churned out by Ibanez this year - PWRS6. We wonder which camp of players this was aimed at because at a single glance, it's just too bulky & would take up precious real estate on your pedal board. Certainly not one to appease the minimalist. The package comes with velcro & rubber feet.

Pic: Ibanez

AZ 2025 @ Swee Lee

The 'new' Ibanez AZ models are now available at Swee Lee (AZ2204 / AZ2402). New here refers to the new colours offered for this year as these two models were already available in Ibanez's catalog last year (2024). It's good to note that list prices for these models remain unchanged. We notice how manufacturers would take every opportunity to revise prices upwards with every 'new' offering but not in this case. Why would they do so if it's merely a different colour offered, yes?

Pics: Ibanez

Jackson 2025 (2): Singles

A trio of single pickup guitars from the Jackson camp this 2025. L-R: Dinky Pro Plus Pure Metal Limited Edition Kelly KE1A / DK1A / Pro Plus Pure Metal Limited Edition Soloist SL1A. Not an easy appeal when it comes to single pickup guitars but there will be fans (especially when the price is right). Wish there was a fixed bridge offering...

Pics: Jackson

Ibanez 2025

Today is the big reveal day by Ibanez. The initial models to be released to distributors world-wide are finally announced. I've seen what's on offer but Ibanez is confusing the masses by actually including some of 2024's late models in this 2025 platter. Whatever the case, I will begin by noting the debut of the AZ Standard range. With this, the entry level AZES are removed from the catalog & the Standard models are currently the most affordable AZ guitars.

There are currently two models in this range, the AZ22S1F (HSS pickup combo) & the AZ24S1F (HH pickup combo, sans pickguard). In view of the price bracket these are in, pickups are in-house models (Ibanez Modern Custom) & I sincerely hope these would be on par with what the AZES were equipped with which were definitely above expectations. Steel frets & alder body to match the Premium & Prestige specs but fretboards are jatoba for both models. Scale length is 25.5" unlike the AZES' 25.1" with the T106 bridge being the only AZES feature to be retained.

With the specs for these instruments in mind, we can expect prices to be hovering around the $1K mark. It's a pity the AZES models were entirely removed because those were absolute value for money. Looks like Ibanez is still trying to cash in on the AZ line by raising standards up a notch & pricing these guitars expectedly more. We note that virtually all the guitar brands are doing likewise, Fender especially.

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Pics: Ibanez