Ibanez Mario Camarena (Chon) Signature MAR10 Guitar, Lavender Metallic Matte

Player's Perspective

The Ibanez AZ series and its derivatives are some of the most beloved guitars by the players here at the shop for their perfect marriage of vintage and modern guitar design and its combination of features that prioritize quality of life for the player, and this Mario Camarena Signature MAR10 in Lavender Metallic Matte is no exception.

The AZ Oval C neck shape is the perfect neck for those who simply want a faster version of the traditional S-type guitar profile, and it feels amazing in the hands with the unfinished roasted maple. Gotoh is a favorite hardware manufacturer of a lot of players here, and their quality is on full display on this guitar - the awesome MG-T locking tuners and T5102 bridge, which is based off of their renowned 510 tremolo, are of the highest quality, function, and usability.

The Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups are a Swiss Army knife of tone - they were definitely designed with lower-gain styles in mind, but they have the hotness and EQ profile capable of playing the higher-gain riffs that Ibanez bolt-on guitars came to be known for. And speaking of that, the 24 frets and sharktooth inlays exclusive to the MAR10 as far as HSS AZs go are reminiscent of the mid-2000s RGs that a lot of us grew up playing.

Pair all of this with a Lavender Metallic Matte finish that you rarely see on guitars, and you have one uniquely spec'd and awesome instrument.

Details

This Ibanez Mario Camarena Signature MAR10 in Lavender Metallic Matte has a bevy of high-end features usually associated with much higher-end guitars. Heat-treatment on the roasted maple neck provides a well-balanced attack and tone and a rich sustain. In order to achieve supreme neck grip comfort, the fretboard edge is finished with a smooth curve. Seymour Duncan Hyperion Pickups feature a moderate output through Alnico-5 magnets to keep the clarity of the fundamental tone when using a distortion sound, and to deliver a clear pick attack. From treble to bass, the overall tonal balance is evenly adjusted, and works well with various effect pedals. The Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads achieve incredible tuning stability, cutting down string-changing time. The luminescent side dot position marks make it easy for players to see fretboard position marks when performing on dark stages. The super smooth Graph Tech nut increases tuning stability, sustain and clarity of sound. Stainless steel frets boast excellent corrosion resistance. The wide and tall fret-type offers a quick response, good articulation when playing chords and clear tone when playing single notes.