Gio Ibanez Soundgear Bass Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

Very lightweight, no strain on my back. Has that perfect Ibanez action I've come to prefer over other makes. Pickups work in tandem, not separately, so that took some getting used to. Color is hot and sexy.John

The Ibanez GSR 200 is one of the best "bang for your buck" basses on the market. They are made with excellent quality, lightweight wood, agathis, maple, rosewood. The onboard P/J pickups and electronics sound good. They play good out of the box but they play excellently if set up by a guitar tech. These were choice basses for many of the bass players supporting MWR tours. Musicians would take Ibanez GRS 200 basses on tour and raffle them off to service members on the last gig.matt4717

I bought the jewel blue one and named it "Jewel". No, not like the singer. I thought it was totally beyond all expectations. I played it for a couple of years before I lost it when my marriage fizzled. Now I want another one. I'm no novice. I've been playing guitar for over 35 years, and Jewel was my third bass. I liked her better than a Fender Jazz. I want another one. To nitpick, I didn't like the square corners on the top of the neck (past all the frets), so I took the neck off and rounded them. Problem solved. I also didn't like that the threads stripped out on the E string bridge piece when I tried to back it up far enough to get the intonation right. But I think the real problem is solved with an Earvana nut. Anyway, if you can't afford to buy the bass everyone is telling you to buy – or even if you can – buy this one. If you don't sound good on it, you don't need a Fender or a Rick, you need lessons.Gravity Zen

Overall: I wanted a bass. I play guitar and just wanted to try the bass. I went in the music store and asked the salesman to help me. He showed me basses in my price line which was 500.00 dollars,then he wanted me to try the gsr100ex. He plays this one himself and asked me to try it. I love it!!!!!!!! I am telling you it sounded better than the other basses that were there. I would recommend this bass for anyone not just the beginner.Daniel

Ordered one of these (In Pearl White) because of a good experience with another one. Of course I had to do some set up to alleviate fret buzz, adjust neck, string height etc. Once it was set up to my liking and a fresh set of my gauge strings, this bass was ready for just about anything! I have used it for a couple of outdoor shows with medium and very large P.A support and the sound was very good overall. Through my stage amp, I was able to dial in a very usable sound quickly. The bass is very light weight .(Which helps those of us with back issues.) Yet is still able to get a decent tone. The bass I received was a newer model with a poplar body and a Jatoba fret board which still has the characteristics of rosewood (slightly lighter in color) with a hint of a maple type bite. Personally, I liked the overall sound with this particular fret board. Speaking of which, the fret board is very easy to play (when properly set up) with a smooth, fast neck. The electronics are decent enough although the "bass boost" knob should be used sparingly and judiciously just to add some deep flavor on occasion for certain styles. All in all, a pretty decent machine that can easily be used by beginners and seasoned pro's (ok, it won't match up with a "boutique bass" by any means but still a very usable product!) Very good value for the price!Heard the Bass

This bass is really amazing for the price of it. The neck is so smooth and a bit thinner than other regular bass, perfect for my small hands and the weight wow it is really light. the built quality is top notch. The sound is really good and you've got plenty of sound you can experiment with it. Overall it's an all rounder bass from beginners to pronelson c.

The Ibanez GSR 200 is one of the best "bang for your buck" basses on the market. They are made with excellent quality, lightweight wood, agathis, maple, rosewood. The onboard P/J pickups and electronics sound good. They play good out of the box but they play excellently if set up by a guitar tech. These were choice basses for many of the bass players supporting MWR tours. Musicians would take Ibanez GRS 200 basses on tour and raffle them off to service members on the last gig.matt4717

The Mikro bass plays, looks and sounds great. The extra-short scale length does not compromise the traditional bass tone it produces. I have played 6-string guitar for over 40 years, including many professional gigs and teaching. I own over a dozen topnotch guitars. But this is my first bass, and I chose Mikro on the recommendation of a trustworthy friend. I have been doing my own repair work on guitars for decades, and can say the Mikro bass is impressively well made, and arrived decently set up with new, good strings. Fret work, neck, nut, tuning machines, bridge, fingerboard, finish, electronics are all virtually flawless; and the tobacco sunburst color I chose looks really nice, with a "vintage" vibe. I replaced the stock chrome dome knobs (which are nice ones) with Gibson-style knobs so I can see numbers for volume and tone settings. I really like the tone of the Mikro, especially the "Precision" style pickup–the one closer to the neck, from which it's easy to get a classic P-bass tone in conjunction with the tone control, which also works great. Ibanez chose a great capacitor value for the tone knob. The bridge position ("Jazz" style) pickup is just OK–usable, and not bad, but nothing remarkable, and it's especially lackluster when used solo, without any of the P-style pickup dialed in. That is the only part of this bass, other than the knobs, I would consider upgrading in the near future (maybe also the potentiometers, but even those feel smooth and responsive out of the box). The satin-finish neck feels great, and is a breeze to play, even for someone like me, who is coming to the bass from years on guitar. The tuning stability of the Mikro is remarkably great. So the latest versions of the Mikro basses are a phenomenal bargain! I would not hesitate to recommend a Mikro to anyone considering moving from guitar to bass, or to someone with smaller hands. From what my bassist friends tell me, the Mikro is great for any bassist PERIOD.NYC Slide Guitarist trying bass

Overall: I've been playing for years, mostly Fenders, Tobias and a heavily modified Decca short scale from the 60s. This is my first Ibanez bass and I am blown away! I chose the brown burst finish, and took a chance on the "blemished" version. Been looking at it all day and I can't find any imperfection anywhere. Definitely wanted short scale, light weight and a fast neck, this one has all 3 and then some. Set up out of the box was close, very close, with only a slight fret buzz on the E string. A very small adjustment at the saddle took care of it. The stock pickups sound good, the tone knob has useful range, everything sounds quite good through everything I've played it through so far (Fender, Orange, antique Earth head, etc.). Overall, I couldn't be happier!Bryan

An utterly great bass overall. It's perfect for someone with a low budget, or someone who's new to learning bass. Also good for children or people with small hands since it's a short-scale. This was my first bass and I still play it a lot. Not only is it cheap, but it has a really good tone, a nice feel to it, and a beautiful orange finish (if that is the finish you chose). The only bad thing I have to say about this is that it got some fret buzz to it but in all honesty, it's not that bad. I love Ibanez basses, I own several and this one is absolutly great.Logan

Ibanez knocked it out of the park with this one. I purchased one of these a little over 3 years ago in Roadster Orange and still have it. In it's price range I think this is the best bass you can get. I've had much more expensive (Modulus FB5 Flea) basses and much cheaper. This is a well balanced bass and you get ALOT of higher end features for your money with it. I have been in love with the fat, boosted sound of Ibanez Soundgear basses since I started playing as a teenager. And the feel is amazing. No sharp fret edges, great action. Highly recommended if you are looking for a bass in this price range. I tried the Sterling Sub 5 and absolutely hated it. It's garbage compared to these.TW

Hey guys I wrote a review for this guitar and it was a 4 star review, I have made some corrections if you will about this Bass 1) The pots are cheap, but I had 2 that simply weren't tightened down, simply pull the knob off and gently but firmly tighten the nut on the pot and your golden. 2) I made some ever so slight adjustments on the bridge saddles on the E string and the G string on mine all it took was about a half turn on both screws now zero buzzing and still plays great virtually unnoticeable playing wise. So with just a little patience and a touch of work You will have an outstanding instrument to play live or record with. Great Affordable Bass Guitar by IbanezPerryman

I have very expensive basses and everything in between . I don't want to take those expensive heavy basses everywhere. This bass replaced a MIM Fender Precision bass. I could not have been more pleased with the performance of this bass. The first thing I did was take it to my guitar guy and have it setup to my liking (as always). It was set up fairly good Straight Out of the Box. This is now the bass that I use when I play at Disney. Construction is awesome but what really surprised me is the sound is every much a Fender precision or even that of a beefy jazz. More versatile than my MIM Fender precision was. The bass is light so after playing all day I don't feel like I've been carrying bricks around my shoulders. The action is exceptionally smooth. I think this is a great intermediate bass for anyone – 5 or 4 strings it doesn't matter. I have seen where some people don't like the bass boost feature. Always question what they're using the base for. If you play a lot of death metal then this may not be the best choice for you. But if you're like most of us playing anything from Jazz to R&B and pop on a regular basis this is an excellent choice for you. There are a lot of choices in this price range. However, the quality of this instrument's Construction outshines most of them in my opinionTank

Very lightweight, no strain on my back. Has that perfect Ibanez action I've come to prefer over other makes. Pickups work in tandem, not separately, so that took some getting used to. Color is hot and sexy.John

First my jewel blue bass does not look like the one in the picture. It is the correct model but has a different neck. The knobs are cheap plastic and they were not sanded correctly so the first time I turned one the plastic bumps on the bottom scratched the paint. The bass sounds good and is easy to play. I'm torn with the craftsmanship because on some levels it's near perfect for the price, where other areas felt skimped.Norvak

I bought the jewel blue one and named it "Jewel". No, not like the singer. I thought it was totally beyond all expectations. I played it for a couple of years before I lost it when my marriage fizzled. Now I want another one. I'm no novice. I've been playing guitar for over 35 years, and Jewel was my third bass. I liked her better than a Fender Jazz. I want another one. To nitpick, I didn't like the square corners on the top of the neck (past all the frets), so I took the neck off and rounded them. Problem solved. I also didn't like that the threads stripped out on the E string bridge piece when I tried to back it up far enough to get the intonation right. But I think the real problem is solved with an Earvana nut. Anyway, if you can't afford to buy the bass everyone is telling you to buy – or even if you can – buy this one. If you don't sound good on it, you don't need a Fender or a Rick, you need lessons.Gravity Zen

although I have played regular guitar for 4 years now and drums over 40 years, I have always like the sound of a bass guitar and decided finally to include bass guitar in my list of abilities. After reviewing info about Ibanez bass guitars I decided to give them a try. So since I am totally new to bass guitar my comments will be more directed towards workmanship and appearance and less about sound since this is my first bass. the brown burst GSR200SM that I purchased is absolutely beautiful! the high gloss appearance is so slick and deep I received praises from others immediately. no flaws or defects noted in construction. definitely worth every penny of the low price of this bass and with my limited abilities at playing bass (at this point) it really sounds awesome. the only reason for 4 stars is due to my inability to max out the full level of possibilities of this bass guitar at this time (need more "stick" time). ordered on-line from guitar center website and shipping time was great. Thanks, GC!JAMES

I got it for $155.00, it was like new, in the original box with manufacturers information and guide, all of the help wrench, never opened. Has a good tone, but will need setup attention. The G string was set real low and the others were at the same height, fret edges aren't super smooth but not bad. I am not a bass player, mostly guitar, so this will work until I get better.rayste-479

Sound: The stock pickups sound great especially with high gain. Nice crunch and break up. Features: For me the reason that I bought this model is that it is the least expensive way to get a real Edge tremolo. I can do subtle things with the Edge that I can’t do on an Original Floyd Rose. The bar is easier to position and it stays where ever you put it. As long as the torsion bushings on the bar aren’t worn out, the pop in bar is neither too tight or too sloppy. Value: This guitar is worth every penny. Manufacturer Support: I did not use Ibanez customer service and I did order half a dozen sets of torsion bushings, but had to order them from different places. The Wow Factor: I love the color of this one, Desert Sun Yellow. Overall: In the last 2 months I’ve bought 5 different Ibanez guitars, both lower and higher price. I must say that this guitar is the most bang for the buck out of any of my 21 guitars that I own.Got more than 200 bucks off on mine as it was sold as a slight blemish. When the guitar arrived, I noticed it did have a hairline crack in the paint on the bass side at the neck pocket. That was the only flaw I could find and it probably would have happened anyway if I would have got a “new” one.This is the shreddiest guitar that I have. The only thing that I had to address is that the 6th fret was a little proud. Other than that the fret job was good. All the frets were shiny and smooth and no fret sprout.This is the guitar that is at the price point where if you spend more money, you aren’t going to get much better. And the fit and finish were top notch.Scott

Overall: This guitar was a total impulse buy and I’m so glad I bought it! It’s easily worth twice the price of it. Can’t get too many mid tier guitars that are neck thru with decent pickups and a 5-way switch that has a fast and slim neck at this price. I mostly play baritone 6 strings and 7 strings but I needed a 25.5” scale for drop C and this is perfect for it with 10-54 strings. I did upgrade the nut with a Graphtech tusq nut and Hipshot locking tuners with knurled tuner buttons and looks even more badass while staying in perfect tune! I have an Ibanez rgib6 Iron Label 28” baritone and this is up there with that as far as quality and playability. The stock pickups aren’t bad at all and definitely surprised me cuz that’s usually the first thing I’ll change in an inexpensive guitar. As you can see by the other reviews people say it’s a great guitar and they’re not lying so if you’re on the fence about getting it then go for it! You won’t be disappointed at all and if for some reason you are then zZounds has a return policy within like 30-45 days so you won’t be stuck with a guitar you don’t love.Josh

I have been a bass player for 30 years. I was happy that my 13 year old daughter wanted to take up the instrument. She learned Ukelele well enough that I was willing to listen but no way was she using my basses because I see how she takes care of her room. Her arms were too small anyway so I researched this Ibanez mikrobass. What a delight! The walnut finish is fantastic and the tone when unplugged is tremendous. Plugged in, it was a little clackety-clack and the tone knob is almost literally nothing so I put daddario XL Flatwounds 50-100 (a recent discovery from which I will never return) and took care of that problem. The tuners seem a little slack when Im tuning it up. If I were to make a change, it would be the tuners. But theyre fine enough. It is exactly the size of my six string guitars so I was able to devote a quality gig bag that I dont use much for the cause. My daughter is encouraged by it although she hasnt quite dug in yet. However if she decides not to play after all, this will remain in my collection. Its just SO FUNboredofthisalready

I play in my home studio and record my bass along with mp3's of my favoritie songs, I make videos for self critique and to share with other bass players in my FaceBook bassists group. I recently sold my Ibanez SR755 5 string because I was not thrilled with the B string sound. Now I find the B sounds better to my ear with this bass that costs one third of the SR755…Amazing. I prefer passive electronics and the GSR205SM with it's Phat EQ give me the best of both worlds or active or passive. With the EQ turned counter clockwise the bass sounds like a passive and as you turn up the EQ the bass responds well and gives me an edge on the sound. Best of all there is no Floppy B string farty tone. the B sounds more musical. I want to address the weight of this bass. It is light as a feather especially after playing my Warwick. I can play for extended periods of time without having back pain issues. As to the statement of other reviewers about this being a great beginner's bass, let me add that in the hands of a seasoned player it sounds and feels as good as you'd want it to sound as well. This bass sounds totally different than my Fenders and Warwick and I find that to be advantageous.Preston

Overall: I bought this without playing it, but was very pleased right out of the box. My fingers were black after a few minutes of playing due to the dirty strings, but that didn't dampen my opinion by any means (but good idea to purchase a new set of strings along with the bass). Bought the Walnut Finish (looks more expensive) for use with my SC-300 Boss Looper (also purchased from zZounds). It sounds great! I'm not onstage playing head banger metal, so don't need that rumbling low end anyway. But the pickup configuration def gives you a lot of low end. Even though I've been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years, I would use this bass onstage, AND more importantly, if you are introducing anyone to playing bass – this will be a much easier learning bass due to the size. It still feels like a 'bass' and it's not tiny or anything, but it doesn't feel clunky like a bigger bass does. I'm looking forward to using this for a long while, and assuming it holds up over the next few months I'll likely grab another one just to have a backup. Don't hesitate if you need for a recording bass, or onstage. And def great for a beginner to keep them from losing interest due to most basses being too large for them.Jason

I have been a bass player for 30 years. I was happy that my 13 year old daughter wanted to take up the instrument. She learned Ukelele well enough that I was willing to listen but no way was she using my basses because I see how she takes care of her room. Her arms were too small anyway so I researched this Ibanez mikrobass. What a delight! The walnut finish is fantastic and the tone when unplugged is tremendous. Plugged in, it was a little clackety-clack and the tone knob is almost literally nothing so I put daddario XL Flatwounds 50-100 (a recent discovery from which I will never return) and took care of that problem. The tuners seem a little slack when Im tuning it up. If I were to make a change, it would be the tuners. But theyre fine enough. It is exactly the size of my six string guitars so I was able to devote a quality gig bag that I dont use much for the cause. My daughter is encouraged by it although she hasnt quite dug in yet. However if she decides not to play after all, this will remain in my collection. Its just SO FUNboredofthisalready

I play in my home studio and record my bass along with mp3's of my favoritie songs, I make videos for self critique and to share with other bass players in my FaceBook bassists group. I recently sold my Ibanez SR755 5 string because I was not thrilled with the B string sound. Now I find the B sounds better to my ear with this bass that costs one third of the SR755…Amazing. I prefer passive electronics and the GSR205SM with it's Phat EQ give me the best of both worlds or active or passive. With the EQ turned counter clockwise the bass sounds like a passive and as you turn up the EQ the bass responds well and gives me an edge on the sound. Best of all there is no Floppy B string farty tone. the B sounds more musical. I want to address the weight of this bass. It is light as a feather especially after playing my Warwick. I can play for extended periods of time without having back pain issues. As to the statement of other reviewers about this being a great beginner's bass, let me add that in the hands of a seasoned player it sounds and feels as good as you'd want it to sound as well. This bass sounds totally different than my Fenders and Warwick and I find that to be advantageous.Preston

Overall: I bought this without playing it, but was very pleased right out of the box. My fingers were black after a few minutes of playing due to the dirty strings, but that didn't dampen my opinion by any means (but good idea to purchase a new set of strings along with the bass). Bought the Walnut Finish (looks more expensive) for use with my SC-300 Boss Looper (also purchased from zZounds). It sounds great! I'm not onstage playing head banger metal, so don't need that rumbling low end anyway. But the pickup configuration def gives you a lot of low end. Even though I've been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years, I would use this bass onstage, AND more importantly, if you are introducing anyone to playing bass – this will be a much easier learning bass due to the size. It still feels like a 'bass' and it's not tiny or anything, but it doesn't feel clunky like a bigger bass does. I'm looking forward to using this for a long while, and assuming it holds up over the next few months I'll likely grab another one just to have a backup. Don't hesitate if you need for a recording bass, or onstage. And def great for a beginner to keep them from losing interest due to most basses being too large for them.Jason

Overall: I bought this without playing it, but was very pleased right out of the box. My fingers were black after a few minutes of playing due to the dirty strings, but that didn't dampen my opinion by any means (but good idea to purchase a new set of strings along with the bass). Bought the Walnut Finish (looks more expensive) for use with my SC-300 Boss Looper (also purchased from zZounds). It sounds great! I'm not onstage playing head banger metal, so don't need that rumbling low end anyway. But the pickup configuration def gives you a lot of low end. Even though I've been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years, I would use this bass onstage, AND more importantly, if you are introducing anyone to playing bass – this will be a much easier learning bass due to the size. It still feels like a 'bass' and it's not tiny or anything, but it doesn't feel clunky like a bigger bass does. I'm looking forward to using this for a long while, and assuming it holds up over the next few months I'll likely grab another one just to have a backup. Don't hesitate if you need for a recording bass, or onstage. And def great for a beginner to keep them from losing interest due to most basses being too large for them.Jason

This is my second Mikro. I gave my first to my nephew, and moved onto full scale bass guitars, some fairly expensive. However, I missed that Mikro. Even though it?s the cheapest bass I own, it is by far the most fun to play and sits next to my desk as the ?go-to? guitar to pick up and play when the mood hits. Love this thing.RICHARD

I'm recently retired and a beginner with the base. The Ibanez miKro Series GSRM20 was just what I needed to get started. The short scale is better for stiff fingers, and I found it quite easy to play. The quality is very good for this lower priced guitar, and it came mostly set up, needing only a few tweeks. I recommend this product to others, especially older folks with arthritis.MARK

I have been a bass player for 30 years. I was happy that my 13 year old daughter wanted to take up the instrument. She learned Ukelele well enough that I was willing to listen but no way was she using my basses because I see how she takes care of her room. Her arms were too small anyway so I researched this Ibanez mikrobass. What a delight! The walnut finish is fantastic and the tone when unplugged is tremendous. Plugged in, it was a little clackety-clack and the tone knob is almost literally nothing so I put daddario XL Flatwounds 50-100 (a recent discovery from which I will never return) and took care of that problem. The tuners seem a little slack when Im tuning it up. If I were to make a change, it would be the tuners. But theyre fine enough. It is exactly the size of my six string guitars so I was able to devote a quality gig bag that I dont use much for the cause. My daughter is encouraged by it although she hasnt quite dug in yet. However if she decides not to play after all, this will remain in my collection. Its just SO FUNboredofthisalready

I play in my home studio and record my bass along with mp3's of my favoritie songs, I make videos for self critique and to share with other bass players in my FaceBook bassists group. I recently sold my Ibanez SR755 5 string because I was not thrilled with the B string sound. Now I find the B sounds better to my ear with this bass that costs one third of the SR755…Amazing. I prefer passive electronics and the GSR205SM with it's Phat EQ give me the best of both worlds or active or passive. With the EQ turned counter clockwise the bass sounds like a passive and as you turn up the EQ the bass responds well and gives me an edge on the sound. Best of all there is no Floppy B string farty tone. the B sounds more musical. I want to address the weight of this bass. It is light as a feather especially after playing my Warwick. I can play for extended periods of time without having back pain issues. As to the statement of other reviewers about this being a great beginner's bass, let me add that in the hands of a seasoned player it sounds and feels as good as you'd want it to sound as well. This bass sounds totally different than my Fenders and Warwick and I find that to be advantageous.Preston

Overall: I bought this without playing it, but was very pleased right out of the box. My fingers were black after a few minutes of playing due to the dirty strings, but that didn't dampen my opinion by any means (but good idea to purchase a new set of strings along with the bass). Bought the Walnut Finish (looks more expensive) for use with my SC-300 Boss Looper (also purchased from zZounds). It sounds great! I'm not onstage playing head banger metal, so don't need that rumbling low end anyway. But the pickup configuration def gives you a lot of low end. Even though I've been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years, I would use this bass onstage, AND more importantly, if you are introducing anyone to playing bass – this will be a much easier learning bass due to the size. It still feels like a 'bass' and it's not tiny or anything, but it doesn't feel clunky like a bigger bass does. I'm looking forward to using this for a long while, and assuming it holds up over the next few months I'll likely grab another one just to have a backup. Don't hesitate if you need for a recording bass, or onstage. And def great for a beginner to keep them from losing interest due to most basses being too large for them.Jason

Classic Ibanez body shape, neck, tuners and lightweight, like a scaled down Soundgear (SGR) series only sans the unnecessary active bass junk. Knobs are solid metal, not cheap plastic ones found on other low end Ibanez basses. Only thing bass needed out of box was intonation set. No neck adjustments needed and no significant buzz. Strings are round wound (my pref). Would not recommend this bass if you think you need (tone killing) flat wound. I'm not aware of anyone making flatwound strings for a 28.6" scale bass. Note: scale length of this bass (28.6") is shorter than typical short scale (30"). The strings on it are proprietary (Ibanez). You might be able to make some cut down long scale strings work (pain, wouldn't recommend) but the proprietary Ibanez strings are the way to go. MF doesn't sell them for some reason. You can find them online for a very reasonable price online. Buy a couple of extra sets. Pickups are jazz bass style and config (two volumes + one tone) which is my pref. I had zero issues with tone or volume controls. Pickups are all passive. Yah! And tone sounds great, classic jazz bass tones available including a nice Jaco-ish tone with 100% bridge pickup and tone rolled way down. Be wary of review comments from guitar players that don't play bass and buy this bass and suddenly have a lot of opinions about what this bass should and shouldn't be. This bass does not need the bridge, pickups, tuners or electronics replaced to make it a "pro" instrument. All this bass needs to be a "pro" instrument, is a "pro" player playing it. Tone is in your fingers. I highly recommend for beginners and I think experienced players will dig it as well, especially those that appreciate shorter scale instruments.mark5211

My 75 year-old fingers are becoming very arthritic and my two Fender Jazz basses were causing too much pain so I tried the Mikro bass. Its short scale makes playing much easier and less string tension has provided painless fretting. The sound is amazing – from really punchy vintage bass sound to jazz bass to great slapping and with changing pluck position, it mimics a fretless bass beautifully. I am now playing daily and am very happy with this bass. The low cost belies the great sound and quality of the instrument.Paul J

I play short scale & wanted a 5-string but didn't want to spend too much. Having played Ibanez full scale basses I know their quality so figured I'd risk the $200. No risk at all. Greatly exceeded expectations. Solid, a flawless finish & smooth neck. First thing I checked were the frets, as I've seen some inexpensive basses with fret issues. The frets were level with not a sharp edge to be found. This bass is a joy to play. Has good tone & is fast due to the 28.6" scale. Two minor quibbles: 1) wish it had color options like the 4-string Mikro (the transparent red is killer); 2) I'm not a big fan of round wounds & these may be the 'clangiest' I've heard. However, this little bass is so good I see a set of La Bella SS flat wounds in the very near future.John

I've been hacking around with guitars for over 40 years and never had any inclination to get a bass guitar until recently. Partly because of the size and weight, I think. I never saw myself standing up with a concrete block hanging from my neck, trying to pick out a bass line. Not my idea of fun at all. I always play sitting down, especially since I have grown old, and I do mean OLD. And then I discovered the short scale bass. Wow. Never even knew such a critter existed until a couple months ago. That opened up a whole new way of looking at the bass. A guitar-size instrument that will rattle my toes when I play. Now we're talking. Long story short – I got me an Ibanez GSRM20 in black. I absolutely love it. It has everything I need in a guitar – value, looks, playability, the whole nine yards. Can't say it would suit everyone the same way, but for me it is perfect. If you are a guitar geek and never really have been inclined toward a bass, this might do it for you. I love it.king_arthur0_1

The stock pickups and tuners are not so hot, but were easy enough to upgrade. It still has a lot going for it: mahogany body, comfortable maple neck-not too thick, and the fret work was impressive. Also the newer models like I received are using a lighter colored jatoba fret board instead of the darker rosewood. I don't notice much difference in tone between the two woods, more of a visual. I think the lighter colored jatoba looks good in contrast with the black of the this instrument. To me the string tension was a little too loose. Came with 45-130 strings. I put on D'addario 50-135 and now it handle the low B string much better. Is a standard 34 inch scale. As far as the pickups I went with Duncan SSB5 passives-were direct fit, did not have to modify. The stock p/u's are passive as well, just has an active bass boost. They sound better than stock, but I'm still not a fan of the bass boost. Also for some reason 500k pots are used on this, not 250k like most bass's use. I will likely end up wiring up with 250k pots and bypass the bass boost, making a truly passive bass. Tuners would slip and were not smooth. Replaced with Gotoh GB707-5 L3xR2 tuners. They dropped right in and used old screw holes as well. I could have spent seven hundred plus on the nicer Ibanez with name brand tuners and pickups, but saved a few hundred putting together myself. I really dig it. I've tried a few 5's before (mainly a 4 string player), but this one is a keeper. Very comfortable, and now stays in tune and sounds good.mv

The gsrm20 is more than I seriously expected. It's short scale is so convenient for me since I'm a short person so it definitely makes my playing experience more comfortable. The sound that comes from the guitar is definitely amazing, and a guitar like this would very much work for people who are looking for a bass to transport when having gigs or rehearsals. The guitar is really beautiful and is definitely a steal for the price it is at. It doesn't matter if you're a child teen or adult, the guitar can be for everyone and does more than you would expect.leo c.

Fantastic bass guitar. Really good finish all round and a great sound and features. Would be good for players at any level.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I was shocked by the quality and setup on this entry-level Ibanez Bass. Either the Ibanez Indonesia factory has stepped up their game, or AMS at least doesn't ship out the duds. Never purchased from AMS before, but once you buy you are hooked (stop sending me those $20 off coupons). VERY satisfied customer.Island Thumper

The Ibanez GSR105EX Bass is a nice value bass. The neck was straight. The action was nice and low. The neck profile made it very comfortable to play. The passive pickup has quite a growl to it. It is so light. Mine weighed just over 6 pounds. Strings were the weak link on the bass, which you would expect on a bass at this price. They were really rough on the fingers, even for an experienced bass player. They were changed out immediately, and it greatly improved the sound, and they saved my fingers from further trauma. I enjoy playing it. I think it is a good starter bass for those who want to explore a 5 string without a big investment.Pete H.

1st-great price for what you get – no more or less. 2nd- Re: Mahogany Oil naming – this guitar hasn't ever been in the Zipcode of Mahogany but I guess the stain is Mahogany colored – sort of. Review: The bridge is fine and the intonation and action is fine. This guitar is like my old 'Cuda – the harder you drive it the better it gets. It shines on more aggressive stylings; tho I don't like slapping and popping this thing sounds excellent for that. I use this mainly for recording so as far as sound – the one giant 'bucker is fine as I run Bass thru EQ's and compressors anyway on my DAW. Having the low B, 5 extra notes is the key here for stoop-down bad-ass low-ness. For 2 bills it's too nice. •••• d:DDean

Ibanez knocked it out of the park with this one. I purchased one of these a little over 3 years ago in Roadster Orange and still have it. In it's price range I think this is the best bass you can get. I've had much more expensive (Modulus FB5 Flea) basses and much cheaper. This is a well balanced bass and you get ALOT of higher end features for your money with it. I have been in love with the fat, boosted sound of Ibanez Soundgear basses since I started playing as a teenager. And the feel is amazing. No sharp fret edges, great action. Highly recommended if you are looking for a bass in this price range. I tried the Sterling Sub 5 and absolutely hated it. It's garbage compared to these.TW

Jumping from a heavy 4 string Epiphone to this beauty was an awesome experience! It's narrow and comfortable neck is a highlight, I found string spacing not to be a prob. Sound is also great and it has a beautiful rounded shape. I have been using it actively for 3 yrs to now and have to say, it's light weight is definitely one of my favorite features, additionally tuning is very very stable, requiring only small adjustments if weather changes. On the other hand, I had some problems with electronics, some re-welding was needed, battery replacement ain't easy, an snap-on lid would be preferable, but that`s it. With more pros than cons (price included), this bass is a very good choice, it won't disappoint you.Skybss

I have very expensive basses and everything in between . I don't want to take those expensive heavy basses everywhere. This bass replaced a MIM Fender Precision bass. I could not have been more pleased with the performance of this bass. The first thing I did was take it to my guitar guy and have it setup to my liking (as always). It was set up fairly good Straight Out of the Box. This is now the bass that I use when I play at Disney. Construction is awesome but what really surprised me is the sound is every much a Fender precision or even that of a beefy jazz. More versatile than my MIM Fender precision was. The bass is light so after playing all day I don't feel like I've been carrying bricks around my shoulders. The action is exceptionally smooth. I think this is a great intermediate bass for anyone – 5 or 4 strings it doesn't matter. I have seen where some people don't like the bass boost feature. Always question what they're using the base for. If you play a lot of death metal then this may not be the best choice for you. But if you're like most of us playing anything from Jazz to R&B and pop on a regular basis this is an excellent choice for you. There are a lot of choices in this price range. However, the quality of this instrument's Construction outshines most of them in my opinionTank

This is a nice bass. I'm an Ibanez fan, and have had a top-of-the-line SoungGear bass for many years, but wanted a nice simple bass – no active electronics/batteries. I also own Fender and Yamaha basses, and this one holds its own nicely. Nice neck (not quite as thin as some of the SoungGears, but not bad), nice feel, and nice tone from the single pickup. Great for small gigs, jamming etc. Play it through a decent amp & speakers and you'll get decent and varied sounds simply be adjusting the tone control. Nice!Hawkeye Fan

I found myself away from home due to a family emergency with no idea how long it would be before returning. Since I had left in a hurry I didn't take any instrument and three weeks later I wished I had. So began my search for an inexpensive full size bass to practice on when I found free time. I ultimately chose the Ibanez GSR100EX for several reasons. This bass is a no frills offering having a single passive pickup and nothing more than a volume knob and a tone knob. The pickup is surprisingly beefy. It has that "fast" Ibanez neck and true to their advertising, it came setup with the same quality that you would see on more expensive models. Every screw was tight. Neck was perfectly straight. No dead spots and the frets were well dressed and crowned. The finish (I got the black model) was perfect. No cracks or hazing. Even the action and pickup height was just the way I like it. It's quite lightweight too. Maybe I just got lucky but other than some minor intonation adjustments it was ready to go right out of the box. I would play this bass anywhere and not be lacking. It's not just a beginner's bass by any means although a beginner couldn't find a better value IMHO. It may not have the tonal palette or lack the features of basses that cost many hundreds more, but it does deliver the basics and does it well. When I get back home I intend to convert it to a BEAD bass. DON'T let the price cause you concern. It really is a great deal.IamBuzzy

In highschool I played bass a lot and on the side I learned to play the guitar. BUt once I got into college I started to play guitar way more, to the point my Carvin 6 six string custom bass sat in its case for about 6 months because I had no chance to play it. Three years later, I started playing bass again but unfortunately I don't have any gear. BUt I have a couple of friends that have basses they let me borrow when ever I need to (one is this bass the other is the cheapest rogue they make). Now Its been a while since I played my old gear, which was a carvin 6 string and a nicer hartke amp with the alum 4x10s, but I still remember great tone, good tone, and blah tone. Anyways back to this bass, the tone is pretty flat fingerstyle. There just isn't alot of life in this bass, nor the rogue for that matter but the rogue is a hundred dollars less. The neck wasn't too bad pretty thin, action okay. This one didn't buzz much but the rogue had its places. ALl in all the basses sounded identicaland minus the fret buzzing on the rogue played the same. So my advice if you are starting out go to a music store find a rogue that has a decent neck with no buzz and save the extra hundred and put it towards your next bass. This bass is't worth the extra money even though it is cheap. This bass has no growl or spark in its tone just like a cheap rogue doesn't have any of that.Roger-bdKv7