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Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
Ibanez AZ226PB Premium
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Playability
78
Sound
70
Build
59
Value
79
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
78
Value
77
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang vs Ibanez AZ226PB Premium Specs Comparison
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Ibanez AZ226PB Premium
General
Brand: Fender Squier Ibanez
Year: 2018 2020
Configuration: SS HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Classic Vibe AZ
Colors: White, Blue Blue Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar American Basswood
Bridge: Floating Bridge with Dynamic Vibrato Tailpiece Gotoh T1502 tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: White Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 24" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C AZ Oval C
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: Phase Out Series Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's switch options
Ibanez AZ226PB Premium pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ226PB Premium's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang over Ibanez AZ226PB Premium

Pickup Mods
Phase Out vs Series Split
Interesting thin tone when combining pickups
Pickups
SS vs HSS
Beautiful cleans
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
79 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ226PB Premium over Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs Phase Out
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs SS
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang vs Ibanez AZ226PB Premium

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang vs Ibanez AZ226PB Premium

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
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
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang favors large hands more than the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium meets only 6. 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
    Laurel
    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    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.

    There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

    Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

    Woods Used in the Ibanez AZ226PB 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: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang has an SS configuration while the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium has HSS pickups.

    SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

    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

    The Ibanez AZ226PB Premium pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

    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: Ibanez AZ226PB Premium.

    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 AZ226PB Premium gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang offers Phase Out.

    When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium 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 AZ226PB Premium.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
    Pickups 70
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 74
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 70
    Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang compares to the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

    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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang has a Bone nut. 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.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ226PB 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 AZ226PB 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 AZ226PB 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.

    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

    The Ibanez AZ226PB 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.

    Winner: Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
    • Bone Nut
    • Phase Out Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
    Quality of materials 51
    Features 60
    Quality Control 65
    Build Quality 59
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium
    Quality of materials 85
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 78

    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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Nut Width
    Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

    This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

    If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

    Scale Length

    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's Scale Length
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium's Scale Length
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium's 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.

    The Ibanez AZ226PB Premium has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang is only 24" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's neck profile
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium Neck Profile
    Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang and the Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's Fingerboard radius
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez AZ226PB 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 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez AZ226PB Premium'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 AZ226PB Premium.

    Fret Size

    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang and Ibanez AZ226PB Premium Frets Size
    Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

    Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 78
    Ibanez AZ226PB Premium
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 73