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Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
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Playability
72
Sound
78
Build
75
Value
65
Score
75
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
84
Value
74
Score
79
FIND IT ON:
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Show Full Spec Comparison
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster vs Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Specs Comparison
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
General
Brand: Fender Ibanez
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: SSH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: Artist AZ
Colors: Gray Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Telecaster Bridge with Glaser Bender System Gotoh T1802 Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sperzel Locking Gotoh Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P.
Fretboard: Maple Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Black Pearloid Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Late 60s C AZ Oval C
Frets: 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack Tele STK-T3B (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Stack Strat STK-S2 (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Vintage Mini HB (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Series Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Gold Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's switch options
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster over Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Vintage Tall vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Series Split
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
SSH vs HSS
Bright cleans with a high-output warm neck pickup
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige over Fender Brent Mason Telecaster

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 Vintage Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs Coil Split
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs SSH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster vs Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack Tele STK-T3B vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Stack Strat STK-S2 vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Vintage Mini HB vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster vs Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster favors large hands more than the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Brent Mason Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 6 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 Brent Mason Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige

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.

Winner: Fender Brent Mason Telecaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Brent Mason Telecaster has an SSH configuration while the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige has HSS pickups.

SSH is a two single-coils and one humbucker combination that's great for players who like bright, clean tones, but that also like to use warmer jazzy tones. It's recommended mainly for playing clean, but the neck humbucker can also deliver fuller tones that work great with overdrive.

On the other hand, 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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's and use them on any guitar:

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

The Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Fender Brent Mason Telecaster offers Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige comes with the following: 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 AZ2204B Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Ibanez AZ2204B 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 Brent Mason Telecaster compares to the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Brent Mason Telecaster is built in United States while the Ibanez AZ2204B 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 AZ2204B 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 AZ2204B 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.

The Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige's is a 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 Brent Mason Telecaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Series Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 84

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 Brent Mason Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster Nut Width
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.7mm (0.029'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige, 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 Brent Mason Telecaster and Ibanez AZ2204B 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 Brent Mason Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's neck profile
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez AZ2204B 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.

Both the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster and the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige have a C-shaped 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 Brent Mason Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige's Fingerboard 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.

In this case, the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige.

Fret Size

Fender Brent Mason Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's Frets Size
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige Frets Size
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige's Frets Size

The Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Brent Mason Telecaster's Vintage Tall 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 Brent Mason Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Ibanez AZ2204B Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73