Ibanez Guitars, distributed by Headstock Distribution here in the UK, have announced a raft of new models for 2020, (too many to list) with new electric, bass and acoustic guitars to whet the appetite for the New Year.

Ibanez has decades of accumulated knowledge and has been at the forefront of the evolution of guitar-making for a long time. From A to Z, the AZ series carries with it all of the hallmarks of these tried and tested Ibanez qualities: the smooth oval neck grip, the well-balanced asymmetrical body shape and a neck heel that allows unrivaled playability.
The AZ series represents the future of guitar playing. With the Ibanez AZ Series, achieve your zenith.
AZ242PBG features a Poplar Burl top and an American Basswood body back. The AZ242’s ergonomic back body contour and big forearm contour lets the guitar’s body fit the player naturally, thus increasing playing comfort.
The AZ body has a deep waist and different radii on each body edge curve, making it easier to play in both standing or sitting positions.
The AZ Roasted Maple neck was heat-treated to increase the wood’s stability, durability, water resistance and tolerance of temperature changes.
The Roasted Maple fretboard was also heat-treated as well to help it provide a well-balanced note attack and tone with rich sustain.
In order to achieve the ultimate neck grip comfort, the fretboard edge was finished with a smooth curve.
The Super All Access Neck Joint increases playability and eases access to the highest frets.
Stainless steel frets boast excellent corrosion resistance and the wide and tall fret-type offers a quick response and good articulation when playing chords and a clear tone while playing single notes.
The AZ242PBG is equipped with luminescent side dot position marks, making it easy for players to see fretboard position marks while performing on dark stages.
Seymour Duncan® Hyperion™ pickups feature a moderate output through Alnico-5 magnets, which retain the clarity of the fundamental tone when using a distorted sound and deliver a clear pick attack.
The Dyna-MIX 10 offers ten sound variations. The Power Tap mode provides a realistic single coil sound despite its two humbucker pickup layout.
The T1502 tremolo bridge, developed in collaboration with GOTOH®, features steel saddles for a quick response and improved articulation.
The 10.5mm string spacing allows for easy picking across strings, enabling techniques such as string skipping and hybrid picking.
The AZ242PBG features Gotoh® MG-T locking machine heads,which have an established reputation for tuning stability. Gig bag included. SRP £1139

For low-end lovers, Ibanez have introduced a new for 2020, Gary Willis Fretless Signature model.
Bass virtuoso Gary Willis is revered by legions of fans worldwide. In addition to having a distinguished career as a solo artist and co-founding the legendary fusion band Tribal Tech, Willis has played and recorded with the biggest names in the business. As an artist who holds strong opinions about gear, he found deep kinship with the bass builders of Ibanez. Through the years, the release of each of his signature basses is a notable event among the bass gear press. Now, the GWB205E 5-string is introduced with similar fanfare.
The signature model features his secret weapon—the Willis ramp. The ramp prevents the right hand from digging in too hard, resulting in a lighter touch for lightning fast playing and better tone.
The GWB205E features an Ash body, GWB 3-piece Maple neck with ebony Fingerboard. Three strap buttons—one on the front horn and two located in different positions behind the bridge—allow the player to ergonomically fine tune the bass according to hand positioning. An endless array of tones can be accomplished via a pair of Bartolini® GWB pickups along with onboard Bartolini® NTBT 2-band equalization with an EQ bypass switch. Beyond its obvious playability, the Natural Flat finish contrasted with black hardware makes for a visual impression of mystery and power.
Gig Bag included. SRP £1389

The king of shredder gear, Ibanez proudly introduces the AEWC acoustic series specially designed for electric guitar players. Inspired by electric guitars’ playability and appearance, this is an acoustic guitar that shredders will have very little trouble adjusting to.
The AEWC11 features a compact yet deep enough body with a “soft” Florentine cutaway which enables both playability and amplification-friendly. A Spruce top with Sapele back-and-sides delivers player comfort and an enormous frequency range. A Nyatoh neck provides greater playing comfort and stability along with a Walnut fingerboard. A Fishman® Sonicore Pickup accurately translates that full sound to whatever amplification system you plug it into, while the Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp provides the extra punch of on-board EQ, and the convenience of an easy-to-read digital tuner located on the upper bout. The top loading bridge offers fast and easy string changing without bridge pins.
SRP £269
www.ibanez.com and www.headstockdistribution.com