The Ibanez AZ first launched in 2018 and I picked up one of the early production models – the AZ2402-TFF. After spending quite a bit of time with this guitar and buying a second AZ recently AZ2204B-BK, I thought it was about time I shared a real “hands on” customer review with you.
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The neck is from a Starcaster, costing $15.00 with the tuners. I found a set of Ibanez pickups for $9.50. The pots are new 500k numbers with a new cap and the switch is from a Les Paul. The guy I got them from gave me four pots, two switches, two caps and four different color switch caps all for around $20.00. A fter weeks of research and firsthand testing, we’ve concluded that the Taylor – Academy 12 is the best acoustic guitar for beginners. While it may be a step up in price, the Academy 12 makes up for it with unparalleled playability, superior construction and beautiful sound. With a ½' template bit, rout the cavities 20mm deep, in two or three passes. If you don’t have a plunge router, drill a starter hole to full routing depth with a forstner bit to allow the bit to plunge to full depth before routing. Rout the Neck Pocket Pin the neck pocket template to the body. 1981 Ibanez Electric Guitars 2. 1981 IBZ GX Series. 1982 Ibanez Full. 1982 Acoustic Guitars. 1982 Banjos & Mandolins. 1982 Cimar Classic Fork. 1982 Guitar Amplifiers & Mixers. 1982 Ibanez AM Leaflet. 1982 Ibanez AR & MC. 1982 Ibanez Basses. 1982 Ibanez Blazer Series. 1982 Ibanez Classic.
We have used Auxilliary ('Aux') circuit boards for years for our guitar manufacturer customers such as Jackson, Schecter and Ibanez. These boards hold the Sustainiac controls. The Aux boards connect to our main circuit boards by pre-wired harnesses. This eliminates much installation labor. It also makes the end product more consistent, and greatly reduces the chance that uncontrolled squealing (oscillation) or 'grunge' in the guitar signal due to crosstalk from certain Sustainiac wires to the guitar signal wires. In fact we think this will make the typical Sustainiac installation so much easier and less expensive for our customers that this will become the most popular installation option. Scroll down to see the photos below.
Ibanez Cavity Depth Scale
![Cavity Cavity](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117734238/642226315.jpg)
We have decided to make this an option in order to reduce the complexity of installing the Sustainiac, and also to reduce the chance of installation errors which sometimes causes frustration with customers and even skilled technicians. As our company Maniac Music Inc. grows with the increasing popularity of the Sustainiac, we have less and less time to answer hundreds of customer calls for help with their Sustainiac installations. Our new 'Aux-TT' board with toggle controls sits vertically in the control cavity as shown in the photo of a Jackson DK-2 guitar cavity below. It needs 1.35 inches (35mm) of cavity depth. Or, you can eaily modify the cavity depth as shown with the Jackson DK-2 installation below.The new (May 2018) optional Aux boards (Aux-TT, Aux-JS, Aux-2) each add $10 to the Stealth PRO kit price IF you order one INSTEAD of the normal controls and wire harness. Add $25.00 if you want BOTH the Aux board AND normal controls.
AT THE PRESENT TIME (2019) WE HAVE NO GOOD AUX BOARD OPTION FOR STRATOCASTERS AND STRAT COPIES, UNLESS YOU REMOVE THE MIDDLE POT. In this case it becomes much like the Ibanez RG, Jem etc.
IBANEZ JEM AND SIMILAR RG MODELS: The best Aux board option for this is the Aux-2 board.
Sustainiac Aux-2 board mounted to Ibanez RG cavity. Note how the volume and tone potentiometers have been rotated to make room for the Aux-2 board. | Ibanez RG cavity showing the Stealth PRO circuit board sitting on top of Aux-2 board. There is just barely enough room for everything to fit. But it does! |
AUX-TT circuit board.This is a good $10 option for end users to save much time and potential frustration by greatly simplifying the Sustainiac installation. The Aux-TT board is 1.8 in. (46mm) wide x 1.35 in. (35mm) tall. (Requires 1.35 in. (35mm) cavity depth). The two toggle switches are spaced 1.00 inches (25.4mm) apart.
Jackson DK-2 guitar cavity prep for Aux-TT board, Using a Forstner bit (shown at left in photo) and chisel to make the cavity wall thinner in the switch region. Forstner bits are very easy to control and make a neat cut. | Jackson DK-2 guitar installation using Sustainiac Aux-TT board. Click below to see the following hookup diagram. Compare this to our normal hookup diagrams on our Installation Page to see how much soldering is eliminated with the Aux-TT board. Hookup diagram showing the Aux-TT board in a Jackson DK-2 guitar |
Sustainiac Aux-JS board. This board is installed into all the Ibanez JS2480 guitars. It is a good $20.00 option for end users to install into their own JS model guitar. It has a toggle switch for Sustainiac Harmonic Mode, and push-pull tone control for ON/OFF. A tone capacitor is mounted to the board. The Aux-JS board is 2.2 in. (56mm) wide x 1.35 in. (35mm) tall. (Requires 1.35 in. (35mm) cavity depth) | Ibanez JS-2480 guitar control cavity photo. Note that the cavity wall at the top of the photo has to be shaved a little to make room for the Sustainiac circuit board. This can be done in a few minutes with a good hand chisel. Hookup diagram showing the Aux-JS board in the Ibanez JS2 480 guitar |
Sustainiac Aux-2 board The Aux 2 board is mounted horizontally to the cavity wall. It takes up more room in the cavity than our Aux-TT board. It has been used for years in various Schecter models but we offer it for guitars with roomier cavities. The Aux-2 board also 'just fits' into the Ibanez Jem and similar RG models. SEE IMMEDIATELY BELOW. | Hookup diagram showing the Aux-2 board in a production Schecter C1 guitar |
Expect to see other AUX boards in the near future.
These same links are provided at the bottom of each page. SUSTAINIACâ SUSTAIN-MAN electroacoustic sustainer ABOUT FEEDBACK SUSTAIN what it is, why it is good FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions, WHO USES SUSTAINIAC, etc. SUSTAINIACâ SOUND SAMPLES PERFORMING/PLAYING with the SUSTAINIACâ JACKSON DK-2S, production guitar with Stealth PRO installed GA-1-2, Our original 1988 Sustainiacs, in Hamer and ASI guitars, now OBSOLETE SUSTAINIACâ STEALTH PLUS ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSTAINER INSTALLATION INFO Obsolete model. This page contains printable installation drawings, installation manual, etc. for people who have this model, and who might want to transfer it to another guitar, have bought it used, etc. EMAIL ORDER FORM Copy and paste this page into an email addressed to us. |
Ibanez Cavity Depth Chart
email: [email protected]
Sustainiac is a registered trademark of Maniac Music, Inc.
5348 N. Tacoma Ave, Indianapolis Indiana, USA, 46220; PHONE: 317-340-1161
5348 N. Tacoma Ave, Indianapolis Indiana, USA, 46220; PHONE: 317-340-1161
Ibanez Cavity Depth Bass
3 PC American Basswood Body Jem/RG style Body 44.5mm thick. No Edge round over.
Routed for Top mount Dimarzio Direct mount pickup or Ibanez V series pickups routed and drilled exactly at 74mm for Edge or Lo-pro, Stud hole is 10.14mm with a depth of 24mm for IBZ Stud Insert.
Tremolo rout front is 6mm, 95mm wide Lions Claw is 19mm deep unless noted.
Neck will fit any Japanese made 24 fret 25.5” all access neck.
One volume, one tone. Holes are 9.5mm for Dimarzio or IBZ pots
Neck pocket depth is 18.5mm
Neck pickup rout is 16mm
Middle pickup rout is 16.5 mm
Bridge pickup rout is 15.5mm
5 way switch slot for standard 5 way slide switch
Monkey Grip as 2000 version (Y2K) Body
Back tremolo rout is 19mm deep with 3 mm cavity plate cover rout
Routed for Top mount Dimarzio Direct mount pickup or Ibanez V series pickups routed and drilled exactly at 74mm for Edge or Lo-pro, Stud hole is 10.14mm with a depth of 24mm for IBZ Stud Insert.
Tremolo rout front is 6mm, 95mm wide Lions Claw is 19mm deep unless noted.
Neck will fit any Japanese made 24 fret 25.5” all access neck.
One volume, one tone. Holes are 9.5mm for Dimarzio or IBZ pots
Neck pocket depth is 18.5mm
Neck pickup rout is 16mm
Middle pickup rout is 16.5 mm
Bridge pickup rout is 15.5mm
5 way switch slot for standard 5 way slide switch
Monkey Grip as 2000 version (Y2K) Body
Back tremolo rout is 19mm deep with 3 mm cavity plate cover rout
Ibanez Cavity Depth Definition
Jack is routed for tilt jack, depth is 37.5mm with 3 mm cavity plate, Tilt Jack is drilled at 3.4'
Monkey grip on back has 15mm depth for straight slot area.
Control cavity is 39.75mm deep with 3 mm cavity plate
Neck mounting style is all access 13.25mm Grommets,
Each set to same depth as 2000 version body. So the depth for each grommet is as follows
3mm, 3mm, 5mm, 6mm (this is standard IBZ Depths).
Monkey grip on back has 15mm depth for straight slot area.
Control cavity is 39.75mm deep with 3 mm cavity plate
Neck mounting style is all access 13.25mm Grommets,
Each set to same depth as 2000 version body. So the depth for each grommet is as follows
3mm, 3mm, 5mm, 6mm (this is standard IBZ Depths).