The AR420 is an Artist series solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in late 2012. It is produced in China.
The AR420 features an arched flame maple top with abalone purfling and cream binding on a mahogany body mated to a set-in maple neck with a smooth heel and a 22-fret fingerboard with binding and split block position markers. Components include dual Ibanez Super 58 Custom humbucking pickups with individual volume and tone controls wired to Tri-sound switches which allow a range of tone options, an ART-1 Tune-o-matic style bridge, a Quik Change Classic tailpiece with scalloped gold ornament, and Ibanez die-cast tuners with half moon buttons.
The pickups were replaced with Super 58s in mid 2014. For 2015 the pearl & abalone fretboard inlays were replaced with acrylic & abalone. The rosewood fretboard was replaced with treated New Zealand pine in mid-2017.[1] For 2018 the fretboard material was again changed, this time to jatoba. For 2019 the mahogany body was replaced with okoume. For 2020 the bridge was changed to the Gibraltar Performer. For 2021 a new Transparent Blue Gradation finish was offered in the US market.
The AR420 is similar to the AR325 which was released concurrently. The main difference between the two models is the material used for the body — the AR325 has a figured bubinga top. The AR320 is a similar model without the abalone purfling. The AR620FM is a similar model with different pickups and vine fretboard inlays. The AR720FM is a visually similar model which has different pickups, a different bridge and an ebony fretboard. The AR3212 is a similar 12-string model. The AR520HFM is a similar model with a chambered body.
A left-handed version, the AR420L was offered in 2015.
