Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Short Scale 5-String Bass Unboxing, Demo, and Review
Unboxing, demo, close-up, and review of the Ibanez GSRM25 short scale 5-string bass.
#Ibanez #GSRM25 #Mikro #Short #Scale #5String #Bass #Unboxing #Demo #Review
Originally posted by UC9zLFW29l-W9J7D3h-nuKCA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMK9F5pRgZM
The main concern on a bass such as this is the B string. Not covered at all on video. In fact, you should've played more nearer the nut and not up the neck.
I have had the 4 string version (Maple – which I polished out to a very high gloss)…. love it!! I just received the 5 string version about a week ago……. I have just ONE, pet peeve… with it…. THERE ARE NO FLATWOUND 5 STRING SETS FOR IT !!! There Are, "Short Scale" Flatwound Sets (I bought the LaBella 760FS-B-S set), and they All "fit" this bass…. EXCEPT, for the low "B" string… the "wrap" Begins, right at the tuning post, so you would wind up winding the flatwinding On the post…. a definite No, No!!
LaBella has developed a 5 string set, specifically for the "micro basses" with the 28.6" scale…. But, they are Roundwounds, only. I wish that Squier, Ibanez and a few others, had gotten together with some of the string manufacturers BEFORE production…. and said said "Hey… this is what we're coming out with… and Not all bass players like playing Roundwounds… how about making FLATwound string sets for these basses, as well".
The Low "B" in my LaBella set could work, IF…. I could figure out a way to separate the low "B" part of the Bridge, and move it back 1/4" to 3/8ths of an inch which would put the beginning of the string wrap about half way between the nut and the tuning post. IF ANYONE…. knows of a Name Brand 5 string Flatwound set that fits the 28.6" scale Micro Basses…. PLEASE, let me know… and "reply" under my post, here. Thank You….. Lets Play Bass!! : )
A lot of bassists choose short-scale for ergonomic reasons. I’ve been playing a standard long scale 4-string bass since I started around 13 years ago, but I’m thinking of picking one of these up because I have long fingers and narrow hands. People often talk about hand size when choosing a bass, but there are a lot more than just “big” or “small” hands. Human anatomy is very nuanced. The extra fingerboard width of the 5-string could allow people like me to stretch out our gangly fingers, and the short scale helps with shifting up and down the neck.
It's a real prospect of a bass. So cool to have those extra notes to the B on tap.
I'm getting older, and the short scale Marcus Miller U5 bass (got it just over two years ago – and no, it doesn't have five strings! Just the four…) has been a gamechanger for me in my ability to play for any amount of hours on stage or otherwise, on fast and busy basslines for e.g. a punk-ska outfit I'm currently playing with. Shortscales are the future!
You have done a great job covering all parts of this bass it was very informative. Thank you.
Good job doing close-ups on a bass you've had out for a week and you've never even cared to wipe off beforehand. Setting up a new instrument that just shipped from a warehouse is standard and should be done by everyone always.
How does this bass balance? Does the neck dive?
Thanks for doing this. I have one of the 4-string versions and like it a lot. I’m going to pick one of these up too.
I have the 4 string and I was amazed at the quality and weight of it. I’m interested in selling my full size and buying this.
Tried one of these at GC the other day. The Bstring was so bad. Almost unusable
Thanks Kody, that was helpful. ????
Great for guitarists who try to play bass.
I have the 4 string in the root beer color and love it. I’m buying the 5 string next.
Hi everyone. I'm thinking to buy one and transform it into a piccolo. Is there anything against it?
Thanks.
Hi Kody! Nice review, I was wondering if this bass can be set up with a high C. Thanks…
Is it active or passive electronics?
I've used the 4 string version for years cheap and good for limited applications, just ordering a 5 string version
Demo using the B string more would be good.
One major concern I have that was not addressed was the B string. Is it sloppy? Is balanced in volume with the other 4 strings?
Hello. Are the pickups single coil? Any 60 cycle hum?
I love mine. Had it for over a year and play out with it all the time. The only real issue I had is with intonation. I had to remove the springs for the B and E strings to be able to move saddle back far enough. The are all the way back but it correct now. This bass stays in tune very well even playing outdoor gigs with temperature changes. I actually get a lot of compliments on how it sounds.
What a splendid review. You go into those details that I am most interested in. Keeping the tone demo short is another great plus, as far as I'm concerned. I wish you could review all the basses I'm interested in 😉
great demo. I’m a bass player just was curious about the sound of a low b on short scale basses.seems to come out ok
Want to hear more or demo a little metal
Had one of these and it was absolutely great, also had the 4 string too. Had to part with it though after 20 minutes playing it my carpal tendon would scream at me. There was just something about the neck shape that didn't jive but I still recommend the mikro bass to others.
Nice one
Thanks, really good video, straight to the point.
Is this recommended for a serious playing? I'm starting a band with my good buddies, and we agreed to take things seriously. The bassist is a guitarist-turn-to-bassist who struggled to reach the frets of a bass.. Will this be good & okay for gigging (or even professional use) after component upgrades?
Love the review BTW, really informative and the most thorough one out there on GSRM25's!
I've fallen in love with short scales, had to have a 5-string shorty so after about 3 years of hunting in Europe found one (they're now much much easier to get after COVID!). I knew I'd mod the daylight out of it, so it's had Schaller strap locks (so good, worth every penny), black Wilkinson tuners, Graphtech nut, John East UNIPRE preamp, Hipshot A-style bridge, Hipshot string-thru ferules and a battery box for the active preamp.
This is all complete overkill, as it sounds good out of the box, but I can recommend the Graphtech nut (for £10 and a bit of sanding, a no-brainer for a bit more sustain and nice string setup), a high-mass bridge or better bridge will intonate better (again, better sustain and clearer tone) and I fitted D'Addario short scale round wounds which just play better than the Ibanez strings (shame D'Addario don't do a low B for that short scale set, I did ask and they don't/won't make one).
What I did find is that this is such a comfy, easy-to-play bass, great tones, a great platform for modding, and all-round fantastic bass to own, and I get fed up of them being pitched as for children or those of shorter stature/smaller hand size, they're great full-stop for anyone (I'm 180cm/6ft), especially at the price! 🙂 And the one thing not many mention, short scale basses cut through differently in band settings, my shorties have been the only ones the drummer can hear clearly when we play!
I recently purchased one of these off eBay for £130 (nearly new condition). I got this for easy traveling & practice bass, but I have found you can definitely gig with this bass, I couldn't believe the sound quality! I could tell it hadn't been handled much prior to me buying it, the setup had not been done & the strings not stretched in. Once I had setup the bass & altered the truss rod, all was NICE! The B string isn't as floppy as my full sized 5 string which really surprised me. A fantastic bass for easy travel, practice, gigging & affordability, even at full price. I couldn't be more happy with mine, just wished there were more bass short scale 5 string sets to choose from out there, 4 strings short scale sets are easy to buy, but 5s not so much.
I changed the chrome knobs for black Les Paul style knobs, looks so much better, I don't like too much chrome on black.
Thanks for your review, it is great.
Bless
I just purchased one and put flatwounds on it. Still working with the amp and the bass settings to get the best tone. But I do like it. Quite a good deal and well made for the money.
Great review video, thank you for sharing! Cool little bass! How is your experience with it now you might have used it for an extended time?
Well, i played piano from about 30 years, and in February 2021 I bought my first bass, a 4 string one.
Curiously, and without seeing first YouTube videos about playing techinic, i found myself playing like you… One finger on each string…
Obviously, some musics requires pizzicatto techinic, and in those cases I play the classic 2 fingers pizzicatto.
But in all the other musics, I play like you, and I do not think it is poor bass technic…
And what the weight? Did you weight it?
Best of all for you!
PS: I've never play guitar in my life
Love this bass!! Had this for about a year and a half. Sounds great it's had no fret buzz and stays in tune well. Gotta say it's incredibly light. I'm 5ft and can easily play a 3 hour practice session without getting sore. I also have a four string mikro but feel the five string is all round just a bit better. The five string sits well and doesn't move about or neck dive where I felt the four string i would fight with it a bit.
Nice simple review on the quality and playability. Tone and volume equality across the scale not mentioned though. I have one of these too and am reasonably happy. I enjoy the short scale (being a guitar player too) but have to admit my 34" scale Cort just sounds better period. I don't find the tone that great through my Fender Rumble 40 BUT through my Bassman 400 it improves quite a bit. Should try to find a good tone match up with a particular amp. I have to mention I'm mostly looking for a nice fat 60 and 70 ish sound with deep lows and just a touch of string twang on top so you know it's actually a guitar.
Looked into string replacement and you better know that pretty well the only strings that are going to fit are the Ibanez strings for this bass. The issue is this is actually a 28.5" scale!! The closest that I tried were the Labella Beatle bass strings but they did not work properly when winding them up on the pegs. Labella HAD a set that would fit this bass but this year stopped production. So you're stuck with the Ibanez strings.
I had to order mine as there was NO stock in Canada. Took nearly 6 weeks to get here.
I found the factory setup was intonated properly and string height although low is exactly where I like it. I don't hammer on mine and setup is always personal and style dependent. I tend to play lightly and let the amp do the talking. Took years to learn to play that way instead of choking the neck and hammering the strings!
For those who want to know about the B string, it does thunder but with such low tension on the short neck, I also find you can't ride the B string and I have to keep it partially palm muted to get really good definition out of the note. But considering that, it's quite good, and I'm a heavy B string user. I have had my Cort 6 string for 20 years now and just wanted a smaller bass and narrower neck than the Cort to hack around on. One top of that the 6 string weighs a ton and wears me out and this little 5 string weighs less that my Les Paul and so I find it very comfortable to play.
Excellent review. You touched on everything I wanted to know thanks.
Long time bass player wanting to experiment with 5 strings, and I don't like the washed out sound of the B on most I've heard. What little I heard here sounded fairly clear.