Imaging a bass that exhibits no fret sprout regardless of climate, has a neck that doesn’t move. Has easy access to trussrod without removing a cover. Flawless finish. No dead spots. And it costs 185$ when bought new 6 years ago. I can’t say anything this good about my American Jazz basses. I’m talking about the Ibanez Gio Mikro. Took my wife’s bass out of the closet to see if it needed any tweaking and surprisingly it hasn’t really budged despite the cold dry winter. Pretty flawless little bass for the money. The fit and finish and convenience features are commendable.
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Bizarro World
- Thread starter dave_p
- Start date
I can’t say I’ve had the same luck with fret sprout on mine in the American West (where the 2021 heat dome sprouted frets on other instruments that had never had a problem with that in a quarter century), but otherwise, oh yeah 
remarkably good instruments regardless of cost, but exceptionally good for the money.
We have had similar luck with the lefty, acquired around the same time as your wife’s—it has required virtually no maintenance. Lefty is now as tall as I am, by the way
remarkably good instruments regardless of cost, but exceptionally good for the money.We have had similar luck with the lefty, acquired around the same time as your wife’s—it has required virtually no maintenance. Lefty is now as tall as I am, by the way
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Oddly enough my wife is a lefty, but plays guitar, ukulele and bass righty.I can’t say I’ve had the same luck with fret sprout on mine in the American West (where the 2021 heat dome sprouted frets on other instruments that had never had a problem with that in a quarter century), but otherwise, oh yeah
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We have had similar luck with the lefty, acquired around the same time as your wife’s—it has required virtually no maintenance. Lefty is now as tall as I am, by the way
Mine (new old stock purchase) had horrible fret sprout when I got it a couple years ago, worst I've ever had my hands on, but I got it and a guitar gig bag cheap. Fixed the sprout myself (which really isn't that difficult to do once you get on to it), gave it a good thorough setup, and it's really a great little bass both playability-wise and (surprisingly) tonally as well. Don't play it a lot (bought it for my young grandson hoping he'd follow in grandad's footsteps - no go so far...) but it does occasionally go to gigs with me as a just-in-case backup as it's small, lightweight, and easy to haul around. Great little kids sized starter bass.
Dumb related joke - I got the Micro because when I tried out for the band they said they were looking for someone who could play a little bass...
Dumb related joke - I got the Micro because when I tried out for the band they said they were looking for someone who could play a little bass...
The Ibanez Mikro is an astounding value for the price and drastically changed my perception of budget instruments manufactured in the East Indies. Great setup right out of the box and sounds great. Even though it is 28.6" scale length, it is my 'long scale' bass among my herd of uke basses.
After buying the Mikro I had no hesitation buying the two Kala uke basses which have no indication of where they are manufactured but I suspect the East Indies as well (probably Indonesia and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same manufacturer as the Mikro). Like the Mikro, the Kalas are very well made, sound great and even have nice little details like pocket frets. I just wish they made more lefty models.
After buying the Mikro I had no hesitation buying the two Kala uke basses which have no indication of where they are manufactured but I suspect the East Indies as well (probably Indonesia and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same manufacturer as the Mikro). Like the Mikro, the Kalas are very well made, sound great and even have nice little details like pocket frets. I just wish they made more lefty models.
this bass is really fun, it was my first bass and i still sometimes play it till this day, its small, light, and easy to play. But eventually when i was playing a Primus song, the E string broke on me, I had it tuned normally E A D G, so you will have to replace them faster than normal. Still fun though. I only got it for $100 about though.
A neck with adequate drying that was made in the winter should exhibit no fret sprout. Any neck with fret sprout can, with a few minutes work in the middle of winter, be fixed forever.
I'm glad you're happy with the bass.
What micguy said! I have a Harley Benton that has proven good in all those area's. In fact, it's become my #1. I never would have thought it possible but, it fits the bill. After a string change and a good setup out of the box, it's been a winner. It plays as well if not better than some of my top end basses. Fluke (?) could be? It's a black burrel MSB 5. Like I said, total surprise.
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Ibanez makes a great bass, but if you want a truly “solid state” neck, get something carbon graphite like a Steinberger or Modulus. All wood necks move eventually, but CF/graphite is just impervious to any normal range of temperatures and humidity. The Mikro is indeed, a great little bass, particularly for small stature players.
Not really where I was going with this. That’s just one thing of many. My point being my wife’s sub 200$ bass that sits in a closet requires less care and feeding than 3 American Fenders and a German Warwick. It also has more convenience features than the Fenders. The Warwick beats them all in fit finish and convenience. Just requires waxing.
We live in a golden age for bass guitars, where you can get decent instruments at very cheap prices. You have cnc machining to thank for that - the best way to make wood parts and the cheap way to do it happen to be the same thing.
Enjoy your bass.
Gads, no! Tell me it's not true...
My '17 GSR206 which is the same stability as yours, even though temps and humidity here oscillate quite a lot and it sounds fine and has been gigged a few times. Best couple of hundred I've ever spent.
I think you mean Indonesia or Southeast Asia.
The East Indies are a Carribean chain of Islands near Barbados. The East Indies may be known to have produced conga drums.
I just purchased a new purple Mikro.
It is supposed to arrive today. The coldest day of the year. 15 F degrees.
Recently got a coral red Fender Mustang bass that I like.
I’m getting some lighter guitars and short scale versions. Even trying a headless guitar.
Stepping away from my old boat anchors.
I like the lighter guitars because of my advancing age. I also had a badly torn shoulder, neglected; repaired surgically by a very good surgeon 1 year ago. Excellent healing and no longer painful to play guitar or bass.
I want to keep it this way. Trying not to overexert myself. The surgeon told me I can’t play with my teeth or behind my head…
It is supposed to arrive today. The coldest day of the year. 15 F degrees.
Recently got a coral red Fender Mustang bass that I like.
I’m getting some lighter guitars and short scale versions. Even trying a headless guitar.
Stepping away from my old boat anchors.
I like the lighter guitars because of my advancing age. I also had a badly torn shoulder, neglected; repaired surgically by a very good surgeon 1 year ago. Excellent healing and no longer painful to play guitar or bass.
I want to keep it this way. Trying not to overexert myself. The surgeon told me I can’t play with my teeth or behind my head…
I had a minor tear and scar tissue in my shoulder, surgery 18 months ago. I was surprised how long it took to heal, and it still aches a little when I over-do it on playing (more than 1 hour or so), but overall MUCH better. I've switched to 32" scale exclusively, it's only 2" less reach, but it's a lot more comfortable. I may eventually go all short scale, if so I'll probably build myself a short scale. Plenty of full-size male bassists running Mikros these days, if it works, play it!
I neglected my shoulder after injuring it and it hurt. Kept hurting more or less.
Then I injured it at least 2 more times during 2 or 3 years of neglect.
The last injury was extra painful and I found a surgeon.
The surgeon helped me one year ago now and I do not have the pain any longer from the bad shoulder ligament and tendon tears. He salvaged what he had left to work with.
I took my physical therapy seriously. Plenty of useless physical therapists treading water that need to be dismissed. Find a good physical therapist that you can work with. You are paying them.
It required surgical attention to regain pain free guitar playing, especially with jumbo acoustics guitars, bass guitars, big things.
@pingvuiini is correct — it’s not exactly the nomenclature of the day, but "East Indies" does indeed refer to parts of what is now more commonly called Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG), and distinguished this region from the rather inappropriately-named West Indies. There may well be a group of island in the eastern Caribbean known by some as the East Indies, but not on any maps I’ve had access to.
