• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

GSR100EXMOL - best bang for buck I know

Killed_by_Death

Killed_by_Death

Snaggletooth
Inactive
Jan 2, 2015
24,890
61,257
14 Megameters from Groong Tehp
#1
TBH I think these are far ahead in value for what they cost, so I feel like I must be missing something!

GSR100EX | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

md2a1lldufokfelknibc.jpg


Yeah, the machine-heads probably won't last, but you can get shiny new GOTOH for $60.

The bridge isn't quick-release like higher-end models, but that could also be replaced with a B100, ($50 on evilBay).

Anyone out there owned one that fell apart on them?

The PowerPole pickup is pretty great as well, high-output & sounds good to my ears.
The position of the pickup makes it bright enough & rolling back the treble-cut knob brings some mighty lows.

It ticks all the boxes for me:
completely passive
2x2 head-stock
hum-bucker (no noise)
very lightweight (yet no neck-dive)
natural finish (can't really get more natural other than raw wood)
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapped777, BaltoNealio, Reedt2000 and 6 others
#5
Well, here it is, not in pristine condition, but that's even better. Haven't got to worry about bumping it or what have you:
GSR100EXMOL

GSR100EXMOL

best bang for buck

I've wrecked the pots already, just getting the knobs off the pot shafts came out as well. I managed to get them back together, but the treble-cut pot is scratchy & unstable.
Considering bypassing all the controls for now, just to see how it sounds like that.

Already have an appointment to get the frets & nut looked at next week.
The neck is nice & stiff, which is one of the most important parts.

This one is made in China, but the GSR105 I had recently was from Indonesia.
It's exactly 1 pound lighter than my Ibanez Premium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapped777, BaltoNealio, Spidey2112 and 2 others
#6
Killed_by_Death said:
TBH I think these are far ahead in value for what they cost, so I feel like I must be missing something!

GSR100EX | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

Link Removed

Yeah, the machine-heads probably won't last, but you can get shiny new GOTOH for $60.

The bridge isn't quick-release like higher-end models, but that could also be replaced with a B100, ($50 on evilBay).

Anyone out there owned one that fell apart on them?

The PowerPole pickup is pretty great as well, high-output & sounds good to my ears.
The position of the pickup makes it bright enough & rolling back the treble-cut knob brings some mighty lows.

It ticks all the boxes for me:
completely passive
2x2 head-stock
hum-bucker (no noise)
very lightweight (yet no neck-dive)
natural finish (can't really get more natural other than raw wood)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the review on the GSR100ex. I will check it out. Maybe this type of stuff could be a permanent feature say good basses for less than $200.or $400 or whatever. Pawn shop for $50? Enjoy the day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Killed_by_Death
#7
Killed_by_Death said:
Well, here it is, not in pristine condition, but that's even better. Haven't got to worry about bumping it or what have you:
GSR100EXMOL

GSR100EXMOL

best bang for buck

I've wrecked the pots already, just getting the knobs off the pot shafts came out as well. I managed to get them back together, but the treble-cut pot is scratchy & unstable.
Considering bypassing all the controls for now, just to see how it sounds like that.

Already have an appointment to get the frets & nut looked at next week.
The neck is nice & stiff, which is one of the most important parts.

This one is made in China, but the GSR105 I had recently was from Indonesia.
It's exactly 1 pound lighter than my Ibanez Premium.
Click to expand...

just checked - both of mine are made in indonesia. no scratchy pots, knobs come off just as they should. necks are stiff and comfortable on both.

2strings2frets said:
Thank you for the review on the GSR100ex. I will check it out. Maybe this type of stuff could be a permanent feature say good basses for less than $200.or $400 or whatever. Pawn shop for $50? Enjoy the day.
Click to expand...

i love both of mine. the first one was great to play, so i got the second one to mod. i'd say that the GSR100EX and the squier bronco are some of the best deals in bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BaltoNealio, 2strings2frets and Killed_by_Death
#8
I messed up when trying to get the knobs off. They were on so tight that I used vice-grips. DOH!
That would have compressed the knob onto the shaft, and that's why it all came out. I should have worked out a way to pry them off.

Wouldn't you know, once I got them out the knobs just slipped right off the shafts. That was irritating!
I wish this one had been the Indonesian one, the neck finish is thinner & not glossy on those.

The volume knob is back to normal, but the treble-cut knob has a bump in the middle like it's hit a détente.
I've taken it apart again to try & get it to operate smoothly, but had no luck.

TBH there was something wrong with the treble-cut pot from the get-go, it wasn't turning as easily as the volume knob.
Ironically, it now turns just as freely as the volume knob, except for that bump, LOL!

I went through my on-hand pots already & nothing fits.
The Alpha pots fit in the hole, but the bushing is too short.

The 3/8" bushing pots won't fit in the hole.
I might just hire the local luthier to do it right after he has a look at it next week.

I'd rather not be fooling around for weeks ordering pots that won't work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spidey2112 and pcake
#9
I love how the GSR range used to be basically firewood, and if you wanted to get "the good stuff" you needed to dig into the SR range, but at least SR500+.

Today?

Just grab whatever, chances are, it's good.

It's not just ibanez, though, the quality of cheap instruments is just amazing nowadays, though obviously budget cuts do cause issues like pot metal tuners and terrible nuts and imperfect fretwork.

At least I am happy that the Chinese manufacturers finally figured out that slightly cheaper copper wire and much worse magnets really aren't helping. Nowadays even cheap instruments get pickups with good copper and decent magnets in them, which is an amazing step up.

Why I am saying this is that I did a setup on the newer GSR205 model (the one with natural finish) and I was super impressed with the general fit and finish, the fretwork, and the pickups sounded pretty good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Killed_by_Death
#10
Killed_by_Death said:
I messed up when trying to get the knobs off. They were on so tight that I used vice-grips. DOH!
That would have compressed the knob onto the shaft, and that's why it all came out. I should have worked out a way to pry them off.

Wouldn't you know, once I got them out the knobs just slipped right off the shafts. That was irritating!
I wish this one had been the Indonesian one, the neck finish is thinner & not glossy on those.

The volume knob is back to normal, but the treble-cut knob has a bump in the middle like it's hit a détente.
I've taken it apart again to try & get it to operate smoothly, but had no luck.

TBH there was something wrong with the treble-cut pot from the get-go, it wasn't turning as easily as the volume knob.
Ironically, it now turns just as freely as the volume knob, except for that bump, LOL!

I went through my on-hand pots already & nothing fits.
The Alpha pots fit in the hole, but the bushing is too short.

The 3/8" bushing pots won't fit in the hole.
I might just hire the local luthier to do it right after he has a look at it next week.

I'd rather not be fooling around for weeks ordering pots that won't work.
Click to expand...

Dental floss method works well for me for stubborn knobs as it lifts it up from underneath with equal pressure, doesn't damage the knobs or anything.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BaltoNealio, Spidey2112, Wisebass and 1 other person
#12
They're playable right out of the box.
I got this one pre-owned.

For under $200 USD (bass + parts), it would last just as long as a much pricier instrument.

Maxdusty said:
Dental floss method works well
Click to expand...

I tried getting a shoestring under there for that method, but the treble-cut knob was right against the body, & had actually worn a small ring there.
Dental floss would have slipped in there, but I never thought it would have been strong enough.

Thinking about it in retrospect it was probably my own grip that was causing it to seem like it was on there tightly.
Too bad I almost completely ruined the pot for not realizing this beforehand.
 
#13
Killed_by_Death said:
They're playable right out of the box.
I got this one pre-owned.

For under $200 USD (bass + parts), it would last just as long as a much pricier instrument.



I tried getting a shoestring under there for that method, but the treble-cut knob was right against the body, & had actually worn a small ring there.
Dental floss would have slipped in there, but I never thought it would have been strong enough.

Thinking about it in retrospect it was probably my own grip that was causing it to seem like it was on there tightly.
Too bad I almost completely ruined the pot for not realizing this beforehand.
Click to expand...

Dental floss is surprisingly strong, never snapped on me when used for removing stubborn knobs - just used it recently on a knob of a Spector I swore was stuck on with superglue. It's not as comfortable of course as using shoestring but if there isn't enough of a gap to slip one in there, dental floss would be what I would use, a little hard on the hands but it will get the job done. It should lift it up and loosen it up enough to get your fingers underneath and pull it the rest of the way. Unless you want it to smell like mint, I would definitely recommend the non-flavored variety.
I saw one of these basses recently and thought it looked really cool, inexpensive and had that humbucker pickup. I have PJ GIO GSR190 my wife gave me about 10 years ago as a gift, inexpensive but very comfortable- it's my beater bass these days and to date, nothing on it has had to be replaced although I've considered switching out the pickups but have yet to do so. Even the inexpensive Ibanez basses seem pretty sturdy in my experience.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Killed_by_Death
#14
Hi KBD :)

Killed_by_Death said:
Dental floss would have slipped in there, but I never thought it would have been strong enough.
Click to expand...

Maxdusty said:
a little hard on the hands but it will get the job done
Click to expand...

Loops! And use a "handle" of some kind (screwdriver or drumstick :D)

Slide each loop of dental floss under the knob.




bass-knobs - Copie.jpg


greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Rafar, InternetAlias and Maxdusty
#16
Hi KBD :)

Killed_by_Death said:
I might just start over & get another one, maybe one from Indonesia this time.
Click to expand...

Coitus interruptus? :crying:

Nah c' mon!!! That' s too much trouble for a piece of pot! :laugh: (IMO!)

When you like the bass, just find a poti that fits.

Maybe get knobs that tell you not to mess with them. (when you don' t need to) :D


12329937_800.jpg


And have fun!!!!


greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spidey2112 and Killed_by_Death
#17
First thing is to get the local luthier's take on it. He spots things I can't.
If the neck is twisted or something, then it's gone.

The nut seems to be cut too low on the top string, but that can be solved.
I was just looking for another one pre-owned & I'm flummoxed as to why the 2nd hand market isn't flooded with them, since they're so cheap.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back