Ibanez Short Scale Bass Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

Bought this one for the kids, but it's so much fun I'll probably play it more. This has to be one of, if not the best short scales in this price range. Mine came with a great neck, good frets and no sharp ends. Weight wise, its a little heavier than I expected- maybe 7.5 lbs? Fingers, pick, slap, all sound good with no rattles. No neck dive. The only weak point I think is the cheapo bridge. Its really unstable and the E saddle could be bumped and moved too easily. I ordered a Hipshot when I ordered the bass because I hate these style bridges anyway. I'd have had to shorten the screw or maybe just cut off some spring length on the stock saddle for the E (and possibly the A) to get them to intonate. Get the bass on sale, a Hipshot for another fifty and it's a performer on par with basses that cost a grand or more, and still less than competing Squiers or Epiphones that also probably need upgraded bridges. I mainly just use the P in a PJ setup, but installed a Fender J anyway because this one was noisy at home (but not at rehearsal for some reason). I had to carve away about a millimeter of wood on top and bottom of the bridge cavity to fit the Fender, so be aware that aftermarket pups may not be a straight drop in. Upgrading the pups is not really needed though IMO. The tuners have the large posts so breaking strings is less likely. They seem to be holding pretty well. I can get through a few songs without having to re-tune, then it's only a minor tweak to the E and A.Lothar

I wanted a no-nonsence, light weight, easy to play and transport, bass for gigs and rehearsal. All these “bases” are covered and some. I can’t say or explain enough, how great this short scale guitar is to hold and play, especially for a “senior” musician looking for comfort on stage! Smooth neck, warm tone, no set-up needed, right out of the box! The price is right too! Try one for yourself!Jimbo

I got this bass for my son as he’s wanting to learn bass and music theory from myself . I’d been teaching him on one of my fleet of basses but he was complaining that it was too big for him so I decided to look into the small scale range at a reasonable cost. I seen this bass which, to me, looked perfect for an 11 year old to learn on . After receiving this bass I gave it an inspection and I was very impressed with its factory set up and the general build of this bass. I plugged it in and gave it a blast through one of my smaller rigs and I was literally left flabbergasted at the sound of this thing. It’s a little ripper! It particularly sounds best when using a pick with it but it can hold its own finger style too. I’d be quite happy using this bass on stage and I have many basses by distinguished brands ans custom built basses by luthiers . It goes to show that what’s perceived as a lower end instrument can actually prove to be a hidden gem. It’s loud, it cuts the mix and it plays like butter. What a great bit of kit.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

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.

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'd been looking for an affordable but quality 4 string for a long time. I originally bought a Hofner but it was not up to par so my advisor suggested this Ibanez AFB200. I love the size and weight. The hollow body is great because you can jam unplugged if you want and it still projects. Plugged in sounds great too. Not for Metal or Heavy Rock but perfect for acoustic, funk, blues, country and just jamming. Pretty enough to have it sitting in the living room. Perfect purchase for me.TI Singer Dude

I really wanted this bass for a long time it just looked so cool in the sea foam green roasted maple neck. I just couldn't get out of my bubble on a p bass. I finally said screw it and give it a try and I'm glad I did. First off i opened this it came perfectly setup and ready to go no fret buzz or anything this is my first multi scale bass and it wasn't hard to get used to once in awhile I'll mess up but I've gotten used to this bass now and it's easy. The sound. While as the pickups are very dark the pre amp cleans it up nicely I choose not to use it tho because I'm more of a passive player it's nice to add for a boost in a song tho so it's cool to have. With a lot of eq and the right cab this comes together really nice I would recommend using stainless steel strings to help give more brightness to this. The body is really nice I can play for hours standing up without problems in the shoulders. I recently bought a new fender p bass for a lot more than this bass and from putting them off together I would say this bass is different and has more benefits than a classic p bass you get a lot more sounds stainless steel frets and the roasted maple neck which I wish was a thing years ago. Which bass would I prefer we'll it be the Ibanez at this point because of all the great features it's priced well plays and sounds great for the money my number one thing about any music I've done for the last twenty years is something that cuts through the mix easily the p bass has always been my go to it's easy and you get to work right away this bass is on that level just add more mids and high end and your set I've been recording music for clients with this bass for about a month now and they are very happy with there recordings I will continue to use this bass for now on no more tuning to e eb d c since I got this I've relearn to play everything in one tuning and it's awesome it saves so much time I couldn't be happier with this bass and would recommend it to anyone out there.Anthony

I had been looking at the EHBs for some time now and finally pulled the trigger. Needless to say, I have not been disappointed. Having severely injured my left shoulder in highschool, the weight of basses caused problems over the years and was only getting worse as time went on; especially 5 and 6-string basses. Problem solved. The weight of the EHB is perfect and I no longer suffer those issues. It's ergonomic design is supremely comfortable both standing and sitting. The variety of tones from the electronics is superb. The instrument arrived in a timely fashion and the setup was spot on. The only "issue" is a slightly cosmetic one involving the top layer of the body not being perfectly aligned with the controls (less than a centimeter gap). It doesn't affect the sound nor playability so it wasn't worth a change in the rating.G. Brown

Overall: This is the nicest bass guitar I have ever owned. It is super light weight, has so many different tones that you can't possible not find what you're looking for. The back of the neck is so soft to the touch is makes for fast playing and very easy slides. The tone this guitar puts out is unbelievable. It is so clean and crisp and clear I don't think any other bass out there sounds this good. The guitar stays in TUNE!!! I use a strobe tuner and on occasion I might have to turn these monster tuners maybe 1/20th of a turn. The intonation was perfect right out of the box. The bridge is so beefy. I think this is Ibanez's best bridge they have ever made. The strap locks are sturdy and beautiful as all of the hardware is. This neck is awesome and beautiful craftsmanship. The wood used for the body is gorgeous and the dragon's eye finish is spectacular. My wife is very jealous of this instrument or should I say work of art. BUY IT!! You will not regret it.Robert

Took this out of the box last week and immediately started practicing for a gig the same week. I have a Hofner , but wanted a solid body for some of the heavier tunes but still a small scale neck. Action and set-up were fine out of the box with no fret buzz. I may put flat-wounds on, but not sure yet. Tone and pick up were good. Mine was a blemish-so I got a discount. Anyway, I used it at the gig with no problems and never switched to the Hofner. Nice bass for the price. Whether it becomes my go to remains to be seen.Mike V

After playing this bass guitar I don't want to play my 30" scale Beatle bass anymore much less a 34" scale bass! Lol. It is so easy to play that it makes me wonder why Fender introduced their first bass guitar with a 34" scale. This bass runs circles around any long scale bass guitar. Add to that the super fast neck, low action, P/J pickups, great tone and Ibanez quality construction is just amazing. This is now my main bass guitar after 40 years of longnecks. Ibanez hit it out of the ball park on this one. No doubt other brands will follow. This bass has no flaws of any kind. I tried to find one but couldn't. Great job, great bass!CodSackJackson

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

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 played and owned many different basses over the years, but this one is hands down the most comfortable bass that I've ever played. The neck is fast and easy to play, the fret work was superb, and the sounds that you can dial in are very versatile for just about any style of music. I was also surprised that as a bass it was almost as light as my Ibanez S61AL electric guitar (and that thing is feather light). Overall, I'd gladly recommend this bass to anyone from beginners, experienced players, and especially anyone wanting a short scale bass.Brittany M.

Sound: I was impressed by the sounds I could get from this little beast. I'm a pretty heavy handed finger style player (I've always had a heavy attack), but I could hear the differences every time I alternated pickups, adjusted the EQ, and flipped the "Power Tap" switch. This thing offers a lot of sound for very little money! Features: As stated, the thin fast neck of this bass is amazing. I have smaller than average sized hands, so the slimmer design is really comfortable for me. The PowerSpan dual coil pickups are really decent sounding for what they are. The "Power Tap" switch is what sold me on it. After some knob twiddling, trial and error, I found a really nice warm, but heavy sound that I enjoy. Also, the ease of access to the battery compartment is a nice feature as well – no screwdriver needed! Ease of Use: Ease of use is great! Plug it in and play 😉 Seriously though, my stepfather is a guitarist by nature, and even he's remarked at how nice it plays and how nicely the knobs freely turn to dial in the sound you are looking for. Quality: I was impressed by the overall quality of this instrument for the price. I own and play "higher end" basses (Warwick's, Ibanez SR Premium's, etc.), and the quality of this is bass is almost as nice as my SR Premium at a fraction of the cost. Of course it had a few things that needed some tweaking out of the box, but overall I am very pleased with the product. You could spend a lot more and get a lot less (I have anyways…). I guess there's a reason I keep coming back to Ibanez basses. Value: The Ibanez SR300E is considered by most to be a beginner bass. I get that. Yet, for the price, you will be hard pressed to find something with better quality and features. If you are new to bass, or need a backup for your regular player, I would highly recommend the SR300E. I see it becoming my regular player because of it's features and sound. And hey… If something were to ever happen to it at a gig in one of those "seedy" venues, I could easily replace it and not be too upset about the price. Manufacturer Support: I've never had to deal with Ibanez directly, but I have dealt with zZounds a few times and their customer service is wonderful! Friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. Those are the things that make me a repeat offender to this site! The Wow Factor: This bass is a lot of bang for the buck! I love the look of the black hardware on the weathered black finish. When my girlfriend gave me the "Oh no. Did you buy another bass?" look – even she had to admit the weathered black finish was sexy looking. Ha! Overall: I originally bought an Ibanez SR300E Iron Pewter as a gift for a member of my family who took an interest in playing the bass. When it arrived I took it out of the box to tune it and give the action a little tweaking. Of course, being a bass player myself, I had to give it a try to see how well it played. I was in shock and awe by how well it played and sounded. The neck was extremely comfortable; very thin and fast! It felt like this thing could play itself. After playing it for a few days, (and a few times since), I was so amazed by it that I had to come back to order one for myself (Weathered black – that black hardware on black bass just looks so good).Jason

I'm a 40+ year working bass player. Previously I had owned an Ibanez BtB and loved it, then traded it for a Warwick, which was cool, and definitely fashionable too. Ended up having several shoulder surgeries and a major spinal surgery in my neck, (I set off metal detectors now), also gathered a pile of some rather large medical bills in the process, so the Warwick had to go to pay the bills, so I decided to retire in order to heal up for awhile. Lately, sitting at home doing nothing and waiting for the pandemic to end. I decided it was time to get another bass, and decided to start playing again. Since I had worked at a local music store for years as a guitar tech I was familiar with the Ibanez SR Series, so when I found this here I knew this had to be the "one" because of the price and me being familiar with the SR Series, (we were an Ibanez dealer). I love the color, the feel of the thin neck and the active electronics. With the 3 way tap switch, volume/tone/pickup splitter knobs you can get an amazing number of sounds out of this instrument, from floor shaking lows to twinkling clear highs. The color was nice, the neck felt good and the price was definitely right. It also arrived with a decent set up, not great, but better than many others I have seen, so as a retired guitar tech I lowered the strings a bit, tweaked the truss rod, worked on the intonation and it was ready set go! If only my callouses would come back that easy everything would be golden.I would definitely recommend this as a great beginner instrument, and also as capable of being a suitable gigging instrument.Sonny

I am Loving my new Ibanez SR300E Bass. As a female Rock bassist, I needed to find a lightweight, slim bass that still packed a punch, and this baby does all that I've asked of her. Lovely deep tone, well balanced and responsive, the active electronics are on point, the lead stays put, and as for the colour… WOW! My husband, the drummer, is also really impressed at how well she locks in with the groove. Excellent delivery times from PMT, ordered on line and it arrived within 3 days. Very happy.Sammy T.

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.

This bass is INCREDIBLE!!! Range of tone for days!!! Whether you like it smooth and pretty or if you like to thump and be funky you can do it all!!! I play it out of my Ampeg rig and whewwwww I’m glad I have great neighbors who don’t mind ?? Get this bass today!!! You won’t be disappointedMontrelia Burns

Slap, tap, finger style, whatever. This bass makes them matter. While it takes some time to adjust to multi scale, it takes zero time to appreciate the human ergonomic factors that went into this design. This is the next level bass.Mauteman

There are things that I love about this bass: the weight, the balance, the uniqueness. Despite being really expensive, it's probably my go to travel instrument just for the weight and size. Having said that, for the price the quality and fit and finish is really disappointing. The thin veneer is beautiful, but really thin and easy to damage. Beyond that mine was clearly not put together well. I alternate between playing with fingers and a pick and couldn't figure out why I kept hearing an odd noise when playing with the pick. Well, one of the four neck bolts was installed incorrectly and the washer is just rattling around, but the bolt is unable to be loosened or tightened, so obviously it was cross threaded on installation. My biggest complaint is the frets were not installed on the neck correctly, they actually hang off one side a bit and cut my left hand to shreds while playing fast. For the price it should have been comfortably playable out of the box, not needing as much work as a used guitar. I'd be really hesitant to buy another Ibanez after this experience.Andy

Hard to find a Medium Scale Bass, let alone a 5 string. Plays great, very good active EQ. Would be better if it had midrangeolivhar_23

I love this bass! I'm primarily a guitar player but wanted to learn bass as well. I decided on a short-scale because I've tried a full sized one before and found it very uncomfortable (I have arthritis in my hands and some things just felt like too much of a stretch). Being unable to try a number out due to COVID I trawled the net and YouTube for reviews and thought the Ibanez Mikro had the best sound, and I wasn't disappointed. The sound is full-bodied, and by adjusting between the pickups a good range of tones is available. I haven't had to alter anything, it played beautifully straight out of the box. It's unbelievably well made for the price, and the finish is lovely. I prefer to play it standing up, and the weight is just right and well balanced. I'm genuinely impressed with this instrument and the way it plays and sounds. It's definitely no toy, but it IS a lot of fun!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

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.