Ibby AZ or Suhr Modern Satin?

[Zwicky]

Hello everyone,
I'm primarily a metal guy, I own 4 metal-ish guitars, but I've recently found myself wanting to expand my musical horizons.
I've always enjoyed loads of different genres, but for some reason I've always gone metal first when playing guitar for a couple years.

I'm an amateur, but I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, so I usually figure out gear acquisition on my own, but this is a bit different.
So, I want to start playing Jazz, Blues, Hip-hop-ish stuff, so basically I'd need something pretty versatile, but that still has its personality.
After wandering around guitar stores in the last few months, I've basically nailed the choice down to 2 models:
the Suhr Modern Satin, and the Ibanez AZ 2204 (prestige).

Here's my "problem": I don't really know which is more suited for the genres I'd like to play.
I have tested and love both, but there are 2 (or 3) major differences that makes the choice difficult.

1. I'd like a floating trem if possible, which the Suhr doesn't have,
2. I'd like a humbucker in the neck, which the AZ doesn't have (I know some az's have 2 humbuckers but I also like having the middle pickup a lot),
3. The Suhr is unlike anything I've ever played (much more expensive too), and I feel like it's reaching out to me, but I'm afraid of the non-floating trem thing ending up being less suited to my needs and preferences (I love the flutter thing with floating trems, for example).

Some of these things might sound 'gimmicky' more than anything else, that's why I'm asking players with more experience in those genres and those guitars to help me out.
You may also, of course, suggest other instruments, although I don't live in an area where it's easy for me to try out guitars, especially 'non-mainstream brands'.

Thanks, and stay safe!

 

[Hsb]

Im partial to Ibbys, so thats my choice. If yiu go that route, you could always put a stacked hb in the neck ala Andy Timmons, think one of his models comes with a humbucker and two stacked hbs in the neck and middle position

 

[Mincer]

I think that if you take your time to explore some more options, you can find everything you want in one guitar. You don't have to make decisions right away, so it is a good time to let the picture you have in your head get more clear.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

What do you have at the moment?

 

[Zwicky]

I didn't think of the stacked humbuckers, that could be a great idea indeed, thank you!

I had a pretty good impression of the Charvel DK24s, which possess both floating trems and the right pickups configuration, but ultimately it didn't feel right for some reason. I'm sure there are models I don't know about, but as I said, lesser-known brands are extremely hard to come by in my area, and I don't really like buying gear (especially when it's expensive) without getting a hands-on experience, although I'm not particularly demanding on guitars (I can work with pretty much every neck shape, woods, fretboard radius, scale length etc if it feels right).
Plus, I really loved both the Ibby and the Suhr, that's why I selected only those two!

At the moment I have a Kiesel, an EVH and a Schecter (plus a cheap GIO Ibby which was my first guitar, but I don't really like that one anymore haha). The EVH has a non-floating Floyd, but it's hardly made for anything but metal haha

 

[JB_From_Hell]

The Suhr has a Fender style 2 point bridge, right? Those can float by setting them up with the bridge leaning up off the body. Check out Scott Henderson, Carl Verheyen, Jeff Beck, and a bunch of others.

 

[Top-L]

Get the AZ and learn to love the SC in the neck. With the right boost it can be pretty HB-like.

 

[ICTGoober]

Hey, the AZ is a great series of guitars from Ibanez.... I think Andy Timmons rocks one, doesn't he?

 

[ehdwuld]

I am sorry
but how did you get from "I want to play Jazz"
to Ibanez and Suhr

dont get me wrong, I'm an Ibanez fanboy
but jazz is more of a semihollow thing aint it
with the big Jazz boxes?

 

[GuitarStv]

I am sorry
but how did you get from "I want to play Jazz"
to Ibanez and Suhr

dont get me wrong, I'm an Ibanez fanboy
but jazz is more of a semihollow thing aint it
with the big Jazz boxes?

I'm guessing some sort of modernish jazz fusion, where the types of guitar listed are a lot more common.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I'd pick a Suhr over any Ibanez I can think of. A Suhr will also be likely to hold its value better.
There is absolutely no reason why a Suhr could not be set up to float.
Their customer service is legendary - if you call them I bet you can order your guitar set up that way.

 

[Mr. B]

If you want a floating trem and a neck humbucker, why would you force yourself to pick between two guitars that do not have both those features? Ibanez makes some really nice guitars that have both of those features (Like the Martin Miller, and a dozen RG or RGA models with locking trems).

 

[playas]

Whatever about blues (and I've no idea about hip-hop), but for jazz basing your choices on trems seems odd to me. Wouldn't it be worth your while going for a hard tail as you're going to be changing style anyway?...just a thought.

(I reckon for my No. 1, I will always want something with a trem but there is something to be said for having a hard tail.)

 

[Mincer]

To be fair, I play a lot of jazz and love my trem.

 

[Zwicky]

Hello everyone, I agree with some of you on that my first post is a bit misleading. I don't want a trem or these guitars specifically for Jazz (although, as GuitarStv said, those are, to my knowledge, commonly used by Jazz-fusion players). It's more about having a somewhat versatile instrument (that could handle those genres nicely) that isn't just another one of my metal guitars.

For some other comments, I understand where you're coming from, but as I explained earlier, I don't get much choice where I live, and I don't like buying witout trying, so that unfortunately means that better-suited instruments (at least on paper) are off the table. Regarding Ibanez RGs, while I have access to some of them in the local shops, I definitely won't go with a locking trem. I have a dive-only Floyd Rose on my EVH, and it's enough of a pain as it is without having to add the whole floating dimension.
Now again I technically don't HAVE to chose one right now, but those two really tickled my fancy, to the point where I would buy either one without much regret (and I've been on this for a long time so I'm starting to get pretty impatient now haha).

Regarding Suhr, clecticsynergy: Do Ibanez really lose their value unlike Suhr? I'm not buying with the intent to sell back anyway, but assuming it happens, how true is this statement? I've seen Ibanez guitars going up in price or at least not going down, ut that might only be true for a few models. Thanks!
And are "true" floating trems and suhr-type ones set up to feel like one really the same?

 

[ehdwuld]

I do like the roasted maple necks offered on the AX series

wonder if you couldnt just get a warmoth build in around the same price point with your set of specs
a Zwicky signature if you will

 

[Bogner]

I am a BIG fan of anything Suhr. Suhr makes a Standard that is partially hollow with and without f-holes.

Ernie Ball Music Man is worth a look. The Steve Morse guitar can get just about any sound possible.

Versatility in a single guitar would also lead me to PRS. Get yourself a thick body, custom 24 with a partial hollow body chamber up top and all your needs are easily covered. Possibly a DGT? Possibly an HBII?

 

[Synapsys]

I think you might like the Charvel Guthrie Govan, if it fits your budget.