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Looking for a compact and affordable bass guitar? If so, you’re in the right place!
Check out this Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass review! I dive into its features, sound quality, and overall value to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Table of Contents
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass Review Overview
This is my Ibanez Mikro Bass review in a nutshell.
It’s an inexpensive bass, but this doesn’t mean that Ibanez skimps on quality.
- The pickups are passive
- The bass is lightweight
- The controls are simple and easy to use
- The short scale and compact body are comfortable and great for beginners or bass players with smaller hands
The hardware, such as the tuners and bridge, are nothing to write home about, but they get the job done!
There are occasional issues with frets, but that’s always a variable to consider with inexpensive bass guitars.
Lastly, the electronics setup is simple, and you’ll likely be able to get the tones you want from this bass if you have a decent bass amp or bass pedal setup.
This bass has passive pickups, is lightweight, has a simple sound setup, and is very comfortable to hold and play.
Ibanez Mikro Bass Value
This is one of the best-priced bass guitars on the market. The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass is worth $199.99, at the time of writing this.
Design and Features of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass
For an always up-to-date description of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass, look on Ibanez’s website.
Size and Build of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass
This is an Ibanez Mikro model, which means that it has a smaller body compared to a regular bass guitar.
It’s a 3/4 size and has a scale length of 28.6 in, which isn’t too much smaller than your typical bass guitar.
And due to its short scale length and compact design, it’s pretty easy to play!
Despite its low price tag, The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass is built with good quality materials, including a popular body and a maple neck.
It’s also lightweight, coming in at only 6.9 lbs., which is great for us bass players who don’t want to be hauling around a tree stump in our gig bag.
Hardware and Controls of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass
The Ibanez Mikro Bass features a p/j pickup configuration, with a Dynamix P pickup in the neck and a Dynamix J pickup in the bridge position.
These are passive pickups, which means you don’t have to worry about hauling around and replacing batteries for your bass guitar all the time.
The controls are easy to use, consisting of two volume knobs, one Tone knob, and the three-way pickup selector switch.
As for the hardware, the tuning machines and B10 bridge get the job done. Sure, they’re nothing too fancy, but this is a budget Mikro Bass we’re talking about, not some high-end Stingray.
The strings are not the best out of the box, but you can change them if they bother you too much.
Sound Quality and Performance of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass
This bass has a simple pickup configuration and sound setup but can sound like a beast with the right bass guitar rig.
Tone and Versatility of the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass
You know, the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 has a great sound-to-price ratio.
It’s quite versatile for how inexpensive it is. After all, the pickups on it are pretty good. With the right amplifier or pedalboard setup, you can get great tones out of this thing suited for various genres, including rock, pop, and funk.
And for a beginner bassist, a three-way switch with a simple volume and tone knob set-up is a good thing. There’s no need to complicate sound for a beginner.
This demo video from Patrick Hunter is one of the best Ibanez Mikro Bass review demos I’ve found. It really showcases the types of tones and sounds you can get from the GSRM20.
And I’ll always say this, the player and the EQ/Amplifier matter. Any good bassist with a good amp can make just about any bass guitar sound good!
Ibanez Mikro Bass GSRM20 Specs
GSRM20 Scale length
The Ibanez Mikro Bass scale length is 28.6″, making it 5,4″ shorter than the most common bass scale length of 34″.
GSRM20 Colors
The Ibanez Mikro Bass has the following colors:
- Black
- Pearl White
- Starlight Blue
- Metallic Purple
- Brown Sunburst
- Root Beer Metallic
- Transparent Red
GSRM20 Weight
The Ibanez Mikro Bass weighs 6.9 lbs, which is light compared to full-size bass guitars. This makes it great for young bassists and bassists who don’t want a heavy bass.
GSRM20 Knobs Configuration
There are three knobs on the GSRM20:
- Tone knob (the right knob, under the bridge)
- Bridge Pickup Volume Knob (the center knob)
- Neck Pickup Volume Knob (the left knob)
GSRM20 Size
It’s a 3/4 size bass. This compact size, paired with the short scale length, gives it the name “Mikro” bass.
GSRM20 Pickups
The Ibanez Mikro Bass uses passive pickups: the Dynamix P for the neck, and the Dynamix J for the bridge.
Who Should Consider Purchasing the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20 Bass?
Great for beginners, adults with small hands, kids, and travelers.
Beginner bassists
The Ibanez Mikro series is a bit smaller than a standard specs bass guitar which makes it comfortable for beginner bass players.
It has a simple sound configuration, which is great for new bass players that want to plug in and learn right away.
Adult Bassists
If you’re an adult you may wonder if this is the right fit for you, and the answer is yes.
The Ibanez Mikro Bass is great for adults, especially beginner adult bassists wanting to dive straight into learning bass. This is due to the bass’s simple control scheme and compact size.
Kid Bassists
Kids will have a hard time with a standard bass scale length and body, and the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass removes that hurdle.
The 28.6″ scale length and 3/4 size body, paired with easy-to-use sound controls, makes this a great choice for kids learning bass guitar.
Ibanez Mikro Bass Review Conclusion
GSRM20 Ibanez Mikro Bass Review Verdict
Arguably the best brand name short-scale bass for beginners, bassists on a budget, kids, traveling bassists, or any musician looking for a lightweight, short-scale bass.
This bass has far more pros than it has cons. It’s inexpensive, great for beginners, and comes from a reputable brand, Ibanez.
Thanks for reading my Ibanez Mikro Bass Review!
I truly believe the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass is one of the best beginner bass guitars, especially for the price. If you’re looking for a short scale bass, then this will be right up your alley.
And don’t forget about its compact 3/4 size body, which makes it quite a cozy bass, relative to a typical bass size.
Lastly, remember that the tone is in your hands. And don’t forget, if you don’t like this particular bass guitar, or if you end up not liking bass guitar at all, you can always return it!
