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Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
64
Score
74
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
87
Value
75
Score
80
FIND IT ON:
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Show Full Spec Comparison
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS vs Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Specs Comparison
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
General
Brand: Fender Ibanez
Year: 2024 2021
Configuration: HSS HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: 70th Anniversary Stratocaster Collection AZ
Colors: Amethyst White, Black, Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm Gotoh T1702B
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) Gotoh Magnum Lock w/H.A.P. machine heads
Fretboard: Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Black Pearloid Dots Mother of Pearl dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern "D" AZ Oval C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 10" to 14" 9" to 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Quadra Tap Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Fortuna (H) (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Noiseless Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Fortuna (S) (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Noiseless Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Fortuna (S) (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Series Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS's switch options
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS over Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige

Release Year
2024 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Modern "D" vs AZ Oval C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige over Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
AZ Oval C vs Modern "D"
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Value Score
75 vs 64
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS vs Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Quadra Tap Humbucker vs Seymour Duncan Fortuna (H)
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Noiseless Strat vs Seymour Duncan Fortuna (S)
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Noiseless Strat vs Seymour Duncan Fortuna (S)
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS vs Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HSS
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Compound Radius
10" to 14" vs 9" to 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HSS. HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige comes with some kind of pickup modification: Series Split.

The Series Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in series. When wired in series, the resulting tone is similar to a Humbucker's. The pickups will work together and produce a fuller tone with more output than single-coils, but less than Humbuckers.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS compares to the Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS is built in United States while the Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige is made in Japan.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Series Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 56
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
Quality of materials 86
Features 85
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 87

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.8mm (0.031'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS and Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS's neck profile
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

The Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS's Compound Fretboard Radius
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Fretboard Compound Radius
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

Fret Size

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS Frets Size
Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS's Frets Size
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige Frets Size
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige's Frets Size

The Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Ibanez AZ2204N Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73