I dont know what that says about the Ultra or about the Player. I didnt try the real HSS ultra but based on the SSS and AP2 HSS. And for guitars with locking tremolos, differences in bridge quality have more practical importance than for non-locking ones, and there are considerations about whether the guitar is a candidate for a drop-in bridge replacement. Inner-shredder feeling: both guitars are perfectly valid for shredding/fast playing IMHO. It means the endorsement is genuinely about the gear and not a pay check. i don't feel too bad for them, i'm sure their bank acct has several more commas than mine so they must be doing something right. I had a Charvel DK24 on my hit list, too, as a high-quality more affordable 24-fret guitar. Mar 27, 2019. Mine has SS frets. Both felt like a shreddier improvement. I could just grab the Ibanez and mod my MIM strat (notwithstanding access to higher frets and radius), or save to then buy the Ultra in the future (and have both haha! Arguably, not as much as I expected. I'm not at all surprised to hear the MIJ Prestige compares favorably to the Suhr. do you feel bad for fender because suhr exists? I think heel joint concerns sometimes get blown out of proportion, but if its something that matters to you, youll probably like the Ibanez better. Really cool sound, though. The Suhr page below about replacement arms summarizes the 510 variants Suhr uses (a 2-post solid saddle version, a 2-post bent-saddle version, and a 6-screw bent-saddle version). At $2,000 new, they enter the same market as the Suhr Modern style, but as more of a production guitar at around $1k cheaper. I think Id love the whole set with one of their medium output bridge pickups. But, how much of an upgrade does it feel from a Player HSS MIM? Great stuff for versatility but something I will probably only use twice as a gimmick. I really like the AZ2204 in Prussian Blue. I tried to cover "Home" guitar rendition by Vinai T. So thats a serious consideration. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Can we see a pic of your suhr you speak so highly of? If youre an experienced player who can inspect a guitar before you buy it, its not hard to find a Squier Bullet that can be made into a beast with a nut replacement, a setup, and a small amount of fretwork. Kinda dig the 5120 - maple board and flip flop paint instant cyberpunk. DESCRIPTION. The new Ibanez AZ series looks like they had Suhr in their sights, and the new Ultra Strats (which I recently acquired, and dearly love!) I cant make out whether youre being sarcastic here. My first REAL guitar I bought in high school, an Ibanez AS-200 and I've been hooked since. #1. To acknowledge this. The noiseless pickups sort of make up for this. For what its worth, I can only speak to how these guitars act in my experience as primarily a fusion and jazz-rock player. You are using an out of date browser. You are using an out of date browser. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. AZ2402 COLOR VARIATION TFF : Tri-fade Burst Flat SHARE AZ SPEC SPECS neck type AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck top/back/body Alder body fretboard S-TECH WOOD Roasted MapleBlack dot inlay fret Jumbo Stainless Steel fretsPrestige fret edge treatment bridge Gotoh T1802 tremolo bridge string space 10.5mm . Yea, the strings all flex out to the treble side on dives so you have to roll off straight but it's more important to roll the back side to the treble side or that's where it will bind. Carrying this ethos forward, the AZ line embodies time-tested Ibanez innovation and player-focused features like a smooth, oval neck grip, a well-balanced asymmetrical body shape, and the neck heel allowing for unrivaled playability. I don't care what it is, there will always be more $1000 guitars sold than $3000 to $4000 guitars. 430mmR. It still felt great, but I left the shop convinced it had a dual radius. I love the inlays, some others don't. IMO you should go with the Prestige AZ but that's me. Based on other sound demos on the internet, it sounds Strat-y with a lot of mojo. Final thought. Special Financing - Ends Jan 1, 2024. For pots, look for something as close to true log taper as possible and with a high rotational life. DESCRIPTION. Its really the lax labour laws and wages in the countries used that allow the lower retail price. All times are GMT-7. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Guitars: 2016 Ibanez RG6003FM (JB/'59nJ) 2018 G&L Tribute Legacy (Hot Rails/stock/stock) 2019 Squier Affinity Telecaster HH (Esquire'd w/ JB) Applause/Ovation AE28 Acoustic/Electric. July 2021. It will not. But way more different than I thought. If theres any way you can play one, youll probably come close to doubling the cost, but if nothing else itll help you put the AZ into context. AZS2209H. As somebody who owns Ibanezes from many decadesI am not surprised by this at all. The Ultra sounds like a strat: dynamic, transparent, sparky? Both are made incredibly well, but the one thing the Suhr has that none of the Ibanez is that I had a moment when I first got my Suhr when I realized I had just been playing for an hour without realizing. The Custom 24 is its own thing, its more unique and the Suhr is more like an expensive Ibanez so it depends on what you want/need. Check me out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGuitarPitAnd Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/theguitarpit/ b: Width of the neck at the first fret. This requires a little explanation. You can do great things with either one. . IMHO i'd choose this but the ibanez is a really nice guitar. Most everything built these days is cnc machined, with polyester finishes. Inspired. Players get their 'cheap Suhr,' Ibanez gets their business, and folks that may not have been in the market for a Suhr in the first place might now want. settled on Ibanez AZ2402 but now many people are saying if I'm willing to pay that much I might as well go for the Suhr modern satin which is like 400 pounds more. I would swear they were at the same height. #37. Copyright 2023 Ibanez guitars. There are quite a few differences between the two inc the scale length and fretboard radius which can change the way it feels to play as well. Im not 100% on the Suhr, I know theyre Suhr branded pickups and the bridge pickup is the super hot one rated at something like 17k. The difference between my 600 MIM strat and a fancy 1500 American pro II with a similar build is more negligeable than it should (its certainly not even twice better, despite the price gap). Let's hear the 22 fret against the Suhr Classic and AT100. I used to have a Japanese S a long while ago and the wizard necks are fast and easy to play. Interesting comparison, for a couple reasons. Speaking of electronics, the Suhr volume pot is somehow defective, crackling like crazy while adjusting it. On the Tom Quayle, I used 4 out of 10 positions. I know a lot of you have been wanting me to take a look at a Suhr, so here you go. The two guitars are very different. But in terms of direct competition, basically the only guitar I could find was this Ibanez AZ. So, I finally tried both today (huge caveat below). Youre just looking for that mass. I sent back the Suhr and got a J. I used to have an RG in pearl white. 1 Wisdom. I've yet to find a tangible answer as to why the suhr is better. S. I havent played the Ultra but own the AZ and it is my go-to guitar. would suggest you wait and get your hands on them to compare though. I never use the middle pickup on its own. Suhr all day long. As an Ibanez Prestige owner and a Suhr Modern owner I love both but lean Suhr, b/c the neck shape of the Suhr is a little more filled out and is perfect for my average size for 6' guy hand. I am not an expert but I would say it was down to the pickups. select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Its a serious caveat but not one I am overly worried about. Your question about me playing this for 20+ years has prompted me to think about roasted maple maintenance. With that said, I think Suhr has caused a couple companies, like Ibanez and Fender, to up their game. There are three principles behind the Ibanez Prestige line: Precision, Performance, and Playability. I know a lot of you have been wanting me to take a look at a Suhr, so here you go. Electric Guitar Body: Alder, Bolt-on neck: Maple, Fretboard: Maple, White pearloid dot fretboard inlays, Neck profile: Modern D, Compound Fretboard Radius: 254 - 355.6 mm (10"- 14"), Scale: 648 mm (25.51"), Nut width: 42,8 mm (1.69"), Bone nut, Electric Guitar Body: Alder, S-Tech Wood neck: Maple, Neck profile: Oval C, S-Tech Wood Fretboard: Maple, Nut width: 42 mm, Scale: 648 mm, Jumbo Stainless Steel frets with Prestige fret edge treatment, Pickups: 1 Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbucker Colours are irrelevant but I am looking for an HSS version and maple fretboard. I wish it came in pearl white. Ibanez AZSuhrTom Anderson 24 So I've been doing research on buying a new guitar for a while now, and basically what I'm looking for is: I was finally settled on Ibanez AZ2402 but now many people are saying if I'm willing to pay that much I might as well go for the Suhr modern satin which is like 400 pounds more. But you're right that a Suhr would be a few hundred more. 400 Ft 490 Ft Ibanez GSD50-P6 gitrheveder Minden Ibanez Design gitrszj egyedi motvummal rendelkezik, amelyet specilis technikval nyomtatnak a szjra. The heel joint on the Ibanez looks very nice. - Neck type AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD roasted maple 1pc eck- Body Alder body- Fretboard S-TECH WOOD roasted maple fretboard w . ibanez saitosuhribanez Tuners are only an issue if the stock ones are really bad, and if they have to be replaced youre talking another $100 for Sperzel or equivalent. Sure. Players of other genres may not be as interested in the Ibanezs ability to make fusion legato playing so smooth. It will have a thicker-than-typical neck for an Ibanez, but probably still thinner than average and I wouldnt be surprised if its a hair thinner than that Fender. I have a Suhr Custom Modern in H-S-H. Kudos to Fender. Fretwork isn't always great on a Prestige either but generally better than Premium, yes. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ShEIwznLGI. Taking adaptability to new extremes, the AZ series has established itself and carved out a place that spans everything from the warmest blues licks, to the most intense, shred-heavy metal riffs. I have yet to buy one with perfect fretwork, which is an area where companies like Suhr and Anderson excel. While the spec, for example, on the Super Wizard HP - "the neck for shredders," states Ibanez - offers a 17mm depth at the first fret, 19mm by the 12th with a nut with of 43mm and a 'board radius of 430mm (16.9"), the AZ's neck is much more conventional measuring between 41.84mm to 42.38mm at the nut, 20.5 to 21mm at the 1st fret and . Mouser is fine so long as you know what to look for. Nice write up. AJ Ibanez's full-fat AZ series is one of Ibanez's most popular new models, thanks to its slick looks, versatility and fantastic playability. 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. Minden rintkezsi ponton puha gumibevonata van a karcolsok elkerlse rdekben. Welcoming yet another expansion to the highly successful AZ series, Ibanez is proud to introduce the AZES or AZ Essentials line. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I feel the J.Custom's rounded fret edges and softer neck back (velvetouch, lol) as well as Edge Pro (vs Floyd), on top of the wood binded neck and absolutely 0 neck pocket set it above the Suhr. IBANEZ AZS!. Since you just posted an NGD, I assume you just got this guitar and are still in the honeymoon phase. Just the fact everyone instantly thinks "Suhr" when any company makes a pickguard-less super Strat with a two point trem is enough to cement how "not bothered" they are with endorsement drama. On the other hand, ibanez az has a similar thickness, but because of the cross-section it seems to be much thicker and fuller, which suits me very well. Daniel Defense firearms, parts and accessories, https://www.kieselguitars.com/catalog/guitars/t6, Ibanez JEM, UV, JS & Other Signature Models. Now, I wouldnt buy a toaster unless it had a pull-out tray for dumping the crumbs, and not all of them do, but thats about the only dealbreaker I can think of, apart from it being literally defective. Some boutiques just want to be boutiques. Plugged into our clean Suhr Badger, we select the neck position to find that it packs a pleasing punch. As for floyd guitars, a lot of it is indeed with the materials (metal alloy) and mass of the bridge itself. The middle and bridge SS on the SSS model are different to the HSS pickups, so its not even the same sound. They just released a model called the Theos which is aimed right at the AZ line /Suhr . Im being extremely picky here - these are good pickups, but Im trying to critique it as an extremely expensive guitar. I imagine the bridge used by Suhr that's closest to the bridge on the Ibanez AZ2402 is the 2-post solid-saddle 510: the Gotoh 510TS-FE1. 0 LOL 0 Wow! Solidbody Electric Guitar with African Mahogany Body, Flamed Maple Top, Roasted Maple Neck and Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Transparent Aqua Blue. Playability and tones are stellar. It shows you have to try as many guitars as possible and that general opinion is just general. Like I said, the AZ is basically Ibanezs take on a Suhr Modern. Press J to jump to the feed. JavaScript is disabled. the forum rules you agreed to follow when you signed up. Hes owned it for less than a year I have a few other friends who own Suhrs and none of them have had that issue. 2023: The Year Epiphone Became Unaffordable, Don't store picks in zip bags for too long. Seeing the new Ibanez headless models got me thinking about how in the past couple of years Ibanez and Charvel have managed to grab quite a few "2nd wave shredders" (basically the fusion-inspired shred players that came on the scene in the mid-late 00s and gained prominence in the 10s) who previously either endorsed or frequently played Suhr by coming out with the AZ and DK lines respectively. I think this was a dealer specd model and they mismatched the pickup output very hard. Having checked out the AZ line, and getting a Kiesel Delos I'd go with the Kiesel 100% of the time. What's your favorite 335 style guitar for under $1000 used? You could get a sweet amp or pedals or something fun with that. However, a little time with my trusted luthier/repairman, and $160 later the guitar will have the silkiest playability I can imagine. I am a terrible guitar player so a better guitar will not make me better, but I can feel a difference between a 200 guitar and a 1000 axe, quality of build, pickups, electronics, hardware, etc. John C said: The Fiore is $2,450; depending on the finish the EB Cutlass will be $50 less or $50 more so it's a wash with that. volume knob position. Solidbody Electric Guitar with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, 1 Humbucking Pickup, 2 Single-coil Pickups, dyna-MIX9 System, and Gotoh Tremolo - Prussian Blue Metallic. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ibanez - way more compressed (higher output). 11R . In Bangladesh, guitar players in smaller villages know about Suhr guitars. Balancing a neck and middle singlecoil with comparable, much less identical, output should be pretty easy. I think they also make Telecaster variants, I meannot very original if you ask me. Let's take a look and see if this high-end custom shop guitar. Dirtier and higher gain tones felt more compressed. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Let's hear the 22 fret against the . The Ibanez craftsmanship in Japan is very good. The humbucker is ok, but it seems a bit mushy for me with heavier distortion. fretboard radius. I'm not crazy with the whammy though. I think both guitars are overpriced for what they are, but if youre choosing between these two, those are my main thoughts beyond the simple matter of which one feels and sounds better to you? If it were me, Id get a Squier and replace the nut and (if necessary) the pickups. But that does not mean there is no difference. Great for the base models, a little too much for the sigs, like the ATZ100. A friend of mine has warned me it is C-type and very chunky -yada,yada- not for fast-playing (the myth again). Deoxit usually works magic. Its another example of the law of diminishing returns/marginal gains. Prestige combines high-tech manufacturing techniques with old-world Japanese craftsmanship, in order to achieve true innovation in design and construction. Downside is that stainless frets, while awesome, will be a lot harder and more expensive to have dressed, if you have any high frets to deal with. https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/comments/8gwnnl/gear_discussion_ibanez_az_hss/?utm_source=reddit-android. Yea but isn't everything you've said also applies to the AZ prestige? , 10208 125 157 37 60 64, , bilibiliUPFender StratTeleIbanez AZ At the first frets, the neck seems very thin. And, Ive moved on a bit since, but I was an Ibanez player almost exclusively for more than a decade. Super short answer to what is not overpriced in my view? Well, I think solid body guitars are overpriced in general, but you can often find differences that I could find justifiable up to around USD$700. That's probably the most commonly used bridge pickup for Suhr. I think the Ibanez has a few quality-of-life features for comfort that Fender will never consider as these may affect the final Strat design (certain contours). Today its basically like buying a toaster. Hes tried quite a few things to fix it and is likely to just get a new pot entirely. Guitar Neck Diagram. The pricing isn't so simple either though, That blue Ibanez AZ costs 200 more than a Suhr Modern Satin does, they are expensive to such a degree that even in the case of more expensive Suhrs, if . The richness of sound, stunning appearance and unrivalled playability of the Ibanez Premium series will open the gate of your reservoir of inspiration. Suhr ClassicIbanez AZNFender MB 60s, 29327 178 876 392 206 106, , "" The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. The amazing bit to me is doing the trem swell at the beginning of Satch Boogie. a: Width of the neck at the nut. I had an RG3120 many years ago, it was a fine guitar. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The neck on the AZ is just phenomenal. Ibanez also build great guitars. The Ibanez website mentioned a flat 12" radius - if its actually a 12-16", and if thew stainless fretwork was good enough not to be a concern, then Id be strongly considering that and a pickup swap in your shoes. This in practice isnt a huge deal, but youll have slightly lower action before choking on the multi-radius, all else equal. For an acoustic or a hollow-body electric, were talking about a whole different ballgame. Players, Bands, Sounds, Tours, Lessons & Theory! I still haven't tried any of them and in order to do so I would have to pay a deposit for the store to get them in, so any info would be helpful. I'd agree, the pickups are certainly different. In some way, these are all Fender-style guitars. Yea on paper the Ibanez looks so good, it has everything I was looking for in a guitar, especially knowing that great guitarists like Martin Miller and Tom Quayle were behind the design decisions. To each his own I suppose. . FWIW my second most played guitar (after a Suhr modern) is my Ibanez JS, not my other Suhr. Mouser in recent years has tapped into the guitar market by offering musical specific items from distributors. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. Didn't vibe with the stock pups in the Ibby's, my Suhr is amazing. Are some toasters nicer than others. It gets long. This is so true and reinforced after actually trying them. In the case of these guitars, this combined with the pickups, pretty much makes up the whole sonic signature of the instrument. Weve tried spraying it although I cant remember with what. Probably that or something comparable. You can get decent dives and float and remain n really good relative tune, but you have to cut the back side of the nut in the direction the strings flex out in dives to stop binding. Or a Suhr Antique Modern. Be prepared your wallet is in danger. Nemzetkzi hasznlt ra 40-50 14.990 HUF Bayus Heveder br gitrpnt Elad a kpen lthat, j llapot, profi brheveder - a bolti rnak 62 %-rt: https://arkadiahangsze Foxpost is mehet! The craftsmanship is also incredibly high all round. There are no Ibanez non locking systems that you could expect stability like a double locker. The bridge pickup screams - much more than I like as mainly a fusion player. I dont strongly dislike it as its own pickup but I feel like it doesnt match the middle or neck particularly well. So they're not going to hold artists like the mainstream production companies that pay out for artists, which is exactly what Suhr wants. Never get tired of comparing these 2 of my favorite brands. You can read more about our Privacy Policy. 2.9 178. The Ibanez is truly a tool for someone who wants every dollar spent on things that will affect your playing and tonal experience. I mean the pickups, the neck and that bridge are all top notch. Some people love it, some people hate it. [.] Endorsements are a business, period. They both have roasted maple necks, stainless steel frets, locking tunerswhat's the difference?Pickups: SSV Neck, SSH+ Bridge PickupFace portion was shot with a new camera. Charvel pro mod DK24Ibanez AZ224F vs Charvel DK24 3StratSuhr\ibanez AZ\ibanez AT100 charvel VS charvel"" Ibanez AZ224F Charvel Dk24IbanezAZ vs Fender The satin line is built in the same regard that John Suhr uses with the customs and you can expect the same build quality out of the satin line. Now, I am not so sure. I love my Ibanez AZ, but I recently got a Fender American Ultra and it's a pretty damn good guitar that is similar in a few aspects.. so let's take a look . tone forum. Anyway, if you can play both that would be your best bet.. but I would personally go with the Ibanez. Also, I think you are right about the flat 12 radius. IMO though if you need to make a decision on something, this is it. With that in mind, every Suhr Ive seen has been perfectly constructed, and thats a wonderful thing. That Fender, meanwhile, is just an upgraded, modified Strat. Get all the details on one of their Prestige flagship models the AZ2402. It is not dead ringer, but is has some quack. The Ibanez has more tonal options thanks to a toggle to split humbucker and add certain combinations. The series incorporates ideas and suggestions from musicians from around the world as the cornerstones of the Prestige production process. I keep thinking about swapping out the bridge humbucker for something a little more conventional. Part of the charm of the AZs sound is here, too. The tones in all 5 positions are useful. Ibanez AZ +2Suhr You have two major points of bias though. Rimo BlogIbanez! #3 I believe after looking into it that its an SSH+. . In fact, Ibanez even managed to pull in two endorsees that were once with Suhr, Tom Quayle and Martin Miller, both of which now have signature AZ models. If I were in the market for that kind of guitar (and Ive considered it), I have to confess Id go with the Ibanez. My first love was a Strat, Ive owned that guitar for coming up on 24 years, have modded the hell out of it, and love that guitar to pieces. Sweetwater Savings: $ 666 .66 MSRP: $ 2,666 .65. Seriously GASsing for an AZ Prestige but can't decide between the HSS or HH model. What do you think about this? I love mine, and it's inexpensive enough that if you didn't love the pups you could drop 3-400 on replacements and still have less than 1500 in it. The bridge pickup is unbelievably hot. Guitar Neck Diagram. So, minor differences. Just because I've found the Suhr the most consistently amazing and satisfying to own and play. I had always steered clear of C-type necks and then the Strat won me over when I actually tried it (supposed to be a modern C, not a vintage C). I can tell the difference between a USD$300 Strat and a USD$1500 Strat, but those differences generally wont make a difference to how well Ill be able to play on it, or how much Ill enjoy it (with the exception of whether I specifically hate the pickups on a cheap guitar, but I can do a full pickup replacement that will suit my taste for max of about $300 if I have to). EDIT 2: well it kinda looks like a strat and a jaguar had a child so if you like how that looks it's only about 200 pounds more expensive. I like a TUSQ XL nut, and thats around USD$10. My Suhr Modern Pro has HSH pickups, and yet I get beautiful stratty tones from the neck (with coil splitting). So for me, its impossible to justify a $3500 guitar over a $2000 guitar on that basis. They've already built their rep as one of the top boutique manufacturers and won't need to try hard to get a new wave of artist sponsorships. thanks. I enjoyed the comparison, OP. I can see the pickups working well for fusion sounds. If you've had your heart set on the Ibanez, then go for that. On the less expensive side check our the Charvel DK24 Pro Mods. Some people find the Strats closer position in the way of their picking hand, and the AZ follows the RGs practice of moving it a little further away. The Suhr, by comparison, sounds incredible in most positions, but theres two things I dont like which may be connected. Go with a company that uses a lot of mass in that floyd, like the ibanez edge style Floyds. Also, the roasted neck will have excellent tuning stability and handle weather even better than standard maple necks because of how it's dried (roasted). I loved the SSS, anyway. By continuing to use our site you consent to use our cookies. Same with Ernie Ball. Having played both and owned the Ibanez premium 224 I would say the Ibanez felt a little nicer than the Schecter. AZAZ!. May 9, 2014. The avg player buys in the Harley Benton range though. Other people might care more than I do about something like the handle on the spring lever of this toaster feels too wiggly, and thats up to them. For 1600 you get a 4a top, chambered body, and roasted maple neck. -Ibanez AZ necks are .80-.88. I was just playing my ibanez js2450 and Suhr modern satin. But overall, I felt both were excellent, with a slight but minimal edge for the AZ. I didn't care for the AZ I tried. The Ibanez AZ is basically their take on a Suhr Modern, and isnt really their traditional RG style superstrat. in the face of a decision, go for both?). Of course there is nowhere nearby to try any of these so Im considering ordering 2 and returning my least fav. The noiseless pickups reduce a lot of the hum, which is fantastic and a great feature. One thing to remember is that because necks are 'hand-finished' they can vary from guitar to guitar. Let's take a look and see if this high-end custom shop guitar is worth the insane price tag. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like . Very, very good bridge on this guitar. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 9. For the money they are hard to beat IMO. To start viewing messages, So I am not sure I would change them in the short run. For the money, grabbing a clean multiradius Fender neck (Id target 2010 or latter, I really do think this is a new Fender golden era were in), any 22-fret, 2-point Fender (or Warmoth, or whatever) body in whatever color you can find that you really like, and then specing out your own pickups, wiring, and bridge, and building it up yourself, will give you a comparable guitar, a little more tuned to your own tastes, for probably a bit less than grabbing a new American Ultra.