Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 short scale bass. Demonstration & review
In this unsponsored video, we will explore the available sounds on this super short scale (28.6″) Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro 4 string bass. We will then discuss the good things and the shortcomings of this bass. Can such a short bass sound good? If you work around the shortcomings, I think it can!!
The bass was recorded direct through a Line6 Pod Go with my usual GK800RB model settings. No EQ or compression was added in post.
*For the best sonic experience, headphones or quality speakers are recommended.
00:00 Intro
00:14 Quick Specs
00:51 Sounds
07:27 Track
08:53 Assessment
https://jonathanwong.bandcamp.com
#Ibanez #Mikro #GSRM20 #short #scale #bass #Demonstration #review
Originally posted by UCesauVJ_xjbj7u539yf-lOw at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMlnFMKhxWo
Thanks so much for the quick response. So are there Fender pickups on the Mikro or are you just using the terms P and J very loosely? I wouldn't expect them on an Ibanez product. Or do you just mean that because it's split you call it a P and the other is single so you call it a J—but they're Ibanez pickups? Not too familiar w/Fender instruments I've always been a Gibson Les Paul guy and started young on drums. Thanks for your time.
I'm SO glad you made this detailed video. I've been looking for a light-weight short-scale bass for a while. I thought of defaulting to the Hofner "violin" hollow body but the sound and looks would be unlike my preferences.Tried a Mustang and Electromatic too. I already have the mid-length Ibanez SRDM200(?) but it's too long and goes out of tune very easy. For your Mikro I thought there was "basically" only 3 pickup positions(disregarding Tone). They would be Neck pickup only, Bridge pickup only, or Both pickups simultaneously. You threw me off when you mentioned J or PJ pickups. What did you mean? If you have time please respond.Thanks again.
Great review! I recently bought a Mikro 5 string. I will try the tone settings you recommended.
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Thanks for your vid. How much does it weigh?
This video prompted me to get out my Mikro for the first time in a while. For anyone considering one, the simple answer is, it's great bang for the buck. Incredible ergonomics: very light, extremely well balanced and comfortable, with thoughtfully rounded body edges. Easily the most comfortable of all my basses. The frets are dressed well. With a little setup work, you can get pretty good intonation and low action. The pickups are hot and the tones a little coarse, so while you can play different genres on this, it's especially suited for hard rock or metal. This thing is small but puches hard. The control knobs have a little static crackle sometimes, and they don't offer subtle gradations of tone or volume, but they're effective enough for a very inexpensive instrument. The cable jack is strong. The styling is simple and attractice and neither too retro nor too modern or odd. If you're up for a short scale, this is definitely one to try, particularly as a first bass or travel bass. (It's not much bigger than a typical electric guitar.)
This is the bass that turned me from a guitarist who dabbles on bass into a bassist who dabbles on guitar.
Beginner bass players here. Just picked up a Mikro as my first guitar. Grabbed a used one in excellent condition for $75. Nice review.
A great, to-the-point review. I've watched many videos of this bass; yours is the best. The brown truck brings mine today.
I have a Ibanez GSR 200 same red, same JP pickups, same bridge and all but it's a 34 inch scale.. This GSRM 20 seems exatly my 200 in video! Mine 200 has a pair of frets not so precise but, for the rest, it's a good entry level instrument with a good precision sound.
I own 2 of these bass i have one standerd and tge otber has piccalo strings on it . if any one owns tbese bass add piccalo strings and be amazed . next time show all positions of the bridge pickup it does a lot
I'm considering this model to put lighter strings on and go up 1 octave for Piccolo. Would the pickups be suited for that?
Hi Jonathan! I was supposed to buy a Squire mini to make a fretless. I changed my mind and I'm going with the Mikro. Like you told me it offers more possibilities, plus I like the satin look on the Walnut version. Thanks again for helping me make my choice!
I listened and watched this video prob 10+x to pick up some of your bass chops . Very cool and funky . I just received my Mikro yesterday to add to my Fender Squier Mini bass . The Ibanez Mikro has a fatter rounder neck in the back but the width is exactly the same as the Squier Mini neck . Mikro feels heavier than the Squier Mini but not by much . The sound and feel of the Ibanez Mikro feels a slight more solid than the Mini and the sound is a bit better / different than the Mini also . The setup was very very good upon arrival but I did tweak it more to my preference. All in all I love both basses and i consider them my 2 kids now . They each have their own feel and playability. Thank you for your video and nice bass lines .
I got one of these because I'm really a guitarist. And I thought it would make swapping instruments easy. But it has the massive drawback that the E string when tuned correctly just doesn't have the tension it needs because of the scale length.
Ended up getting a full size Jazz Bass.
good review
Very helpful review. Thank you. Are you able to tell me please how it balances on a strap. Does have the typical short scale bass neck dive?
Greeting from Brussels (Belgium)
I find the original pickups to be quite good. There is no need to change them immediately. With good strings and a well-tuned amp, it is possible to have a good sound, the rest is the fingers that create the melody
A bass like this, in prestige brands, is twice the price !
I prefer it to the Sonic Bronco.
In addition, for the Ibanez, no need to shield the cavity and no need to change the pickups and more versatility.
I saw it in brown walnut, very classy
It has fairly neutral sounds, so a little more versatility.
It also seems comfortable.
It's a very successful bass
I like that bridge pickup @ 25% tone very much. With my eyes shut, I'm not sure I would know it was a short scale. A sub 250USD short scale? No way. Great value for money bass. Thanks for your review.
Jonathan, I’m a huge fan of your reviews, they’re both honest and informative. I’d pretty much decided on this Ibanez as my first bass, but after enjoying the series on modding the Squier Bronco I’m now undecided. Unfortunately there isn’t a music shop nearby where I can try them both. Size and weight are a major factor for me due to injuries, hence opting for a short scale. Which of the two would you choose if you were me?
Could you screw down the pickups to counter the hotness?
Best money I've spent on a guitar, and only $200. For comparison, I bought an Epiphone SG modern with all bells and whistles for about $600 and 3 years later am still trying to "like" it, but this Mikro bass made me smile from the first touch in the guitar shop and had me all over it for hours after I got it home. Also, I have a full scale Ibanez, also low end ($280) and BOTH of them have the most amazing feel to their necks. Superb.
Thank you, this presentation was very helpful in me understanding what I have. I'm a novice bass player and I'm using an Orange 50 am. My main sound is Latin and African Jazz percussion but I've always wanted to play bass, your video will help me get started, thanks again.
sounds like a flee bass reminds me of a spector sound.
You’ve done by far the best review of the GSRM20. Guitar Center has them on sale for $160 through Black Friday and has a liberal return policy, so I couldn’t resist trying it out. I’m primarily a guitarist but would like to have a bass available for multitrack recording. The short scale and light weight makes the transition from guitar relatively easy. I think with a bit of EQ the tone will fill the bill. The lowest few notes do seem a little flabby (which to me means having some weird harmonics) but some of that may be my imprecise fretting on a scale a bit longer than I’m used to.
Hello Jonathan,
yesterday I drove up to the instrument shop, to buy an Ibanez Mikro. 300 kilometers roundtrip. However, I returned home without any. 8-(
When I unpacked the bass in the store, it made a good oberall impression. Well built, good craftsmanship, a really nice instrument. Physically.
But then I plugged it into one of the amps in the showroom…… and sounded aweful! Like a Telecaster. (I like Telecaster, but not as a bass!) I tested all amps in the showroom, and whichever I used, it sounded more or less equally ugly!
The strings were roundwound, as always. And I know that r/w have quite some more overtones, which make r/w sound twangy. But I never ever have had such a Telecaster sound on any of my basses with r/w.
Next thing I noticed was, that the intonation was poor. Even on the third fret, the tone moved uo a few cent. But when playing a while, the strings got kind of stretched and then intonation was okay.
But the D and G strings were significantly louder than the E and A, when using the P-pickup. On the J-pickup they were equally loud. Probably solvable by adjusting the height of the P-p/u. But astonishing.
But…. the worst is still to come. Both pickup-controls were working only on the last 2 millimeters. There were merely on/off-switches! No chance to blend the p/u with any lower percentage to modify the sound.
I tested one freshly unpacked (my intended one) and then one from the display in the showroom. Both had the same quirks (execpt the intonation).
They both were far from the sound in your presentation video. Note, the bass from the hook at the showroom have had a lower action. Likely setup by the store. No problem at all for the comparison.
The bass itself is 215 EURO, new strings (okay, granted, I prefer flatwounds), but also new controls / new pickup, move the price more into the 500 EURO zone. Then I could better choose an instrument with less problems. Perhaps the new Kala Solid Body or, way more expensive, a fretless Tiny Boy? <yikes>
The ones I tested had the production date of March 2023 printed on their paper-label. My guesstimate is, that Ibanez (as all manufacterers do) installs different different electronic hardware over the years. One has to keep that in mind when comparing instruments of the same brand. Its like different years of wine.
I am a bit unhappy now <hmmmpf>. Well, I do not need that bass. But I was eagerly anticipation this new toy for me. <sigh>
Anyway, the search continues! Boys remain boys.
this looks small…does this fit in a standard electric guitar gig bag????? looks like the overall length of a tele??? thanks!!!
I just bought the 5-string version. I love it so far. Thanks for the review.
After watching quite a few videos about this Ibanez GSRM20 GIO bass I can say that yours is the best, most profound review of this instrument! And so are your other videos. Well crafted videos, with a really good sound, no blatant self-promotion, just honest work representing the love for basses.
Thank you very much for your efforts!
Great video! I'm looking forward in making this my first bass. Mind if I ask what amplifier you have paired it up with? I'm still kind of new to all of this so any tips you can provide would be greatly appreciated ???? thank you!!
I’ve owned this bass for a few years and I swapped the bridge for a hipshot bridge and it’s awesome
I love this bass ! Great sound , and easy to play, even with my damaged fingers (sport).
Bought an Orange Amp . These two are unbeatable ❤
Excellent review.
Nice review ????????
I wish the PJ setup would go away. I’d rather have one P or space permitting, 2. Or just have a single soap bar. You can get a lot of different tones with one pickup by varying right hand position.
$175-199 in the US
Thanks ????