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Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster
Ibanez AZ226 Premium
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Playability
67
Sound
79
Build
64
Value
70
Score
70
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
77
Value
77
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster vs Ibanez AZ226 Premium Specs Comparison
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster Ibanez AZ226 Premium
General
Brand: Fender Ibanez
Year: 2015 2020
Configuration: HHH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Indonesia
Series: Artist AZ
Colors: Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder American Basswood
Bridge: Floyd Rose FRT-O1000 Double Locking 2-Point Tremolo Gotoh T1502 tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Rosewood Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: White Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Dave Murray C AZ Oval C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.86'' (21.8mm) 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm)
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" to 14" 12"
Nut: Locking Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat SHR-1B (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB Jr. SJBJ-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat SHR-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
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 Dave Murray Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster's switch options
Ibanez AZ226 Premium pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ226 Premium's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster over Ibanez AZ226 Premium

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
9.5" to 14" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HHH vs HSS
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.81'' (20.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.86'' (21.8mm) vs 0.89'' (22.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ226 Premium over Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
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
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Pickups
HSS vs HHH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.81'' (20.6mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.89'' (22.6mm) vs 0.86'' (21.8mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
77 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster vs Ibanez AZ226 Premium

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat SHR-1B vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Seymour Duncan JB Jr. SJBJ-1N vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat SHR-1N vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster vs Ibanez AZ226 Premium

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume 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

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez AZ226 Premium Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Ibanez AZ226 Premium. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Ibanez AZ226 Premium meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster meets only 4. 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.

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners
    • Easy-to-use bridge

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez AZ226 Premium
    • 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 Dave Murray Stratocaster

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

    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.

    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.

    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 Ibanez AZ226 Premium

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

    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.

    Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

    Winner: Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster has an HHH configuration while the Ibanez AZ226 Premium has HSS pickups.

    A triple Humbucker (HHH) can be intimidating at first, but it's one of the combinations that offer the most tone versatility. You'll be able to have from a lot of output for Hard Rock genres, to warm and clean sounds that are more common in Jazz.

    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 Dave Murray Stratocaster'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

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

    Only the Ibanez AZ226 Premium 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 AZ226 Premium.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 72
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 79
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium
    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 Dave Murray Stratocaster compares to the Ibanez AZ226 Premium.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster is built in Mexico while the Ibanez AZ226 Premium is made in Indonesia.

    Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

    Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

    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.

    The Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ226 Premium comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

    Winner: Tie.

    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 AZ226 Premium 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 AZ226 Premium.

    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 Dave Murray Stratocaster's brige is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ226 Premium'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: Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster.

    Tuners

    The Ibanez AZ226 Premium has the best tuners of the two because they are 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.

    Nevertheless, the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

    Winner: Ibanez AZ226 Premium.

    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 Dave Murray Stratocaster
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Retainer Bar
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Mexico
    • 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 AZ226 Premium
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Locking Tuners
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Series Split Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Tremolo
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 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 Dave Murray Stratocaster
    Quality of materials 41
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 64
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium
    Quality of materials 81
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 77

    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 Dave Murray Stratocaster Nut Width
    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster Nut Width
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium Nut Width
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster, 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 Dave Murray Stratocaster and Ibanez AZ226 Premium'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 Dave Murray Stratocaster Neck Profile
    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster's neck profile
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium Neck Profile
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium'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 Dave Murray Stratocaster and the Ibanez AZ226 Premium 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 Dave Murray Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster's Compound Fretboard Radius
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium'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 Dave Murray Stratocaster is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

    Fret Size

    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster Frets Size
    Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster's Frets Size
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium Frets Size
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium's Frets Size

    The Ibanez AZ226 Premium has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster'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 Dave Murray Stratocaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 70
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 67
    Ibanez AZ226 Premium
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 73