Introduction
The Ibanez Mikro series has become a popular choice of electric guitar and bass for beginners, children, and players with smaller hands. First launched in 2012, the Mikro line aims to provide high-quality, easy to play short-scale instruments that don’t compromise on tone or looks.
At just 24" scale, Mikro guitars are around 3/4 the size of a standard 25.5" scale guitar. This reduced scale length makes them much easier to play, especially for younger players and those with smaller hands. The benefits of a short scale guitar include easier fretting, lighter string tension, and improved comfort.
Some of the most popular Ibanez Mikro models include the GRGM21 electric guitar and GSRM20 bass guitar. These feature the iconic Ibanez designs but in a smaller, more playable package. With a huge range of vibrant finishes available, Mikros manage to look just as cool as their full-size counterparts.
Ibanez GRGM21 Mikro Electric Guitar Specs and Features
The Ibanez GRGM21 Mikro electric guitar has a compact and lightweight body with a 24" scale length. This shorter scale length makes it easier to play than a full-size guitar.
The body is made of poplar wood, which helps keep the weight down. It has a slim and fast GRGM maple neck with a rosewood fretboard containing 22 medium frets.
For pickups, the GRGM21 uses a pair of Ibanez Infinity R humbuckers which provide a warm, rich tone well-suited to rock and metal styles. It has a simple control layout with individual volume controls for each pickup, and a master tone control.
The hardware consists of a fixed bridge and Ibanez tuners designed specifically for the shorter scale. Available finishes include the sleek Black Night, eye-catching Jewel Blue, and classic White.
The smaller size, shorter scale length, and lightweight build make the GRGM21 an extremely playable and comfortable electric guitar. The Infinity R pickups provide great rock tones, especially when played through a distorted amp. It’s an excellent choice for beginners, younger players, or anyone with smaller hands who wants the familiar feel of a Strat-style guitar.
Ibanez GRGM21 Mikro Electric Guitar Review
GRGM21 Tone and Playability
The Ibanez GRGM21 Mikro electric guitar features two Ibanez Powersound pickups that provide a surprisingly full and rich tone for a short-scale guitar. The neck pickup delivers a smooth, round sound perfect for jazz and blues. The bridge pickup has more bite and brightness, allowing you to cut through the mix.
Despite its small size, the GRGM21 feels very comfortable to play thanks to its thin, fast maple neck and smaller fretboard radius. The strings are closer together compared to a full-size guitar, making it easy to form chords and play intricate solos up and down the neck. The action is low and fast out of the box, allowing easy bends and vibrato.
The light basswood body and contoured edges make the GRGM21 easy to play for long periods without fatigue. It’s very well balanced whether played seated or with a strap. The guitar stays in tune nicely even during heavy playing. Overall, the playability belies the diminutive size, allowing beginners to learn easily while providing the comfort and tone an experienced player expects.
GRGM21 Pros and Cons
Pros
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The GRGM21 delivers impressive tones from its dual Ibanez Powersound pickups, providing nice clarity and definition. The 5-way pickup selector switch allows for a good range of humbucker and single coil tones.
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Thanks to its short 24" scale length, the GRGM21 is very comfortable and easy to play, even for those with smaller hands. The slim, fast maple neck allows for easy fretting and smooth soloing.
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With eye-catching finishes like Black Night, Jewel Blue, and White, the GRGM21 has a slick, modern look. The double cutaway design provides great access to the 22 frets.
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At around $200, the GRGM21 gives you great bang for your buck. You get pro-level build quality and playability at a very wallet-friendly price point.
Cons
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While the GRGM21 offers some tonal versatility, it may not have the widest range of tones compared to guitars with more pickup and switching options. The lack of coil-splitting limits the single coil tones.
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The short scale length that makes it so easy to play can be a disadvantage for larger handed players who need more room on the fretboard. The slim neck may also not suit all playing styles.
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass Guitar Review
Specs and Features
The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro bass guitar features a short 24" scale length, perfect for smaller hands. The body is made of lightweight poplar wood with a sleek double-cutaway design finished in an eye-catching Starlight Blue.
The Mikro bass has a comfortable thin C-shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard with medium frets. It’s equipped with a pair of Ibanez Powersound pickups – a PJ configuration with a split-coil Precision pickup in the neck position and Jazz pickup in the bridge. There are volume and tone controls for each pickup, allowing for versatile tone shaping.
The hardware consists of chrome die-cast tuners, a fixed bridge, and single-coil slanted pickup configuration. The compact Mikro body and short scale length make this an easy-playing and portable choice for beginners, kids, or anyone with smaller hands looking for their first bass guitar. The Starlight Blue finish gives it a cool and stylish look.
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass Guitar Review – Tone and Playability
The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro bass delivers impressive tone and playability despite its diminutive size. It comes equipped with a pair of Ibanez PowerSpan humbucking pickups that provide a rich, full-bodied bass tone. The neck pickup brings a smooth, round low end while the bridge pickup offers more bite and attack. Together they provide a versatile tonal palette suitable for various bass playing styles.
The shorter 24" scale makes the GSRM20 very comfortable and easy to play, especially for musicians with smaller hands. The slim, fast maple neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it easy to zip up and down the fingerboard. The lightweight bass body is well-balanced and comfortable to wear on a strap without feeling neck-heavy. Overall, the GSRM20 provides a very playable and enjoyable experience for practicing, recording, or live performance. The smooth tones and easy playability make it a great choice for beginner and intermediate bassists looking for their first short-scale 4-string bass.
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass Guitar Review
Pros
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Great tone for a short scale bass: The Ibanez GSRM20 produces a surprisingly full, punchy bass tone despite its smaller body and short 24" scale length. The combination of the Dynamix P neck pickup and Dynamix J bridge pickup provides a balanced, versatile tone perfect for various music genres.
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Lightweight and comfortable to play: Weighing in at just 7.5 lbs, the GSRM20 Mikro bass is extremely lightweight, especially compared to full-size basses. The contoured body sits comfortably against your body, while the thin, fast maple neck allows for easy mobility up and down the fretboard. This makes it a great choice for younger players.
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Affordable price: With an MSRP of just $199, the Ibanez GSRM20 offers great value for money. It’s one of the most affordable short-scale bass guitars on the market. The high build quality and versatile tone make it a great starter instrument for new bassists.
Cons
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Limited tonal versatility: While the GSRM20 sounds great for a short scale bass, it doesn’t have the same tonal range as a full-size bass guitar. The two Ibanez pickups offer a good variety of tones, but lack some of the depth and growl possible from a 34" or 35" scale bass.
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Less low-end punch: The smaller body and short scale length mean the GSRM20 won’t produce the same thundering low end and rumble as a standard bass guitar. While the tone remains surprisingly full, it lacks some of the low-frequency response needed for certain bass lines or heavier genres.
Advantages of Short Scale Guitars
The Ibanez Mikro series offers several key advantages over full-size guitars, making them an excellent choice for many players. The most notable benefit is the easier playability that comes with the short 24” scale length. Compared to a standard 25.5” scale guitar, the strings on a Mikro sit closer together and require less tension to fret notes up and down the neck. This allows for easier forming of chords, requiring less finger stretching and hand strength. It also reduces hand fatigue when playing for extended periods.
The short scale design also results in a more compact and lightweight instrument. Mikro guitars are more comfortable to hold and easy to handle. Their portability makes them ideal for travel or small venues with limited space. The smaller fretboard is perfect for musicians with smaller hands who struggle to play full-size guitars. Beginners will also appreciate how a Mikro allows them to learn proper technique and build finger dexterity without uncomfortable stretching. The short scale length lowers the barrier for getting started on guitar or bass.
In summary, the key advantages of Ibanez’s Mikro series are the easier playability from the short 24” scale, a more comfortable and portable instrument, and ideal ergonomics for players with small hands. By removing the challenges of full-size guitars, Mikros enable beginners to learn faster and allow more advanced musicians to play for longer without fatigue.
Comparison to Similar 3/4 Size Guitars
The Ibanez Mikro series stands out among other 3/4 size guitar options for a few key reasons. Here’s how it compares to some other popular short-scale models:
Squier Mini Strat
The Squier Mini Strat is another 3/4 size option with a 22.75" scale length. It has a similar lightweight poplar body and maple neck construction. The pickups are Squier’s own single coils rather than Ibanez humbuckers, producing more of a classic Strat tone. The Mini Strat sells for around $150, comparable to the Mikro. The Mikro may have a slight edge in build quality.
Epiphone Les Paul Express
This short-scale Les Paul style guitar has a mahogany body and maple top along with 650R humbucker pickups for a thicker tone. It has a 24" scale like the Mikro but a slightly larger body shape. It sells for around $200, a bit more than the Ibanez models. The Mikro offers more color and finish options.
Jackson Minion JS1X
Jackson’s 3/4 size Dinky guitar has a poplar body, maple neck, and Jackson designed humbuckers. The double-cutaway style is more like an Ibanez RG than the Mikro shape. It sells for around $180. The Mikro may have better quality control and attention to detail.
Overall, the Ibanez Mikro guitars are very competitively priced versus other short-scale options, and offer great quality and playability for the price. The unique body shape and color choices help them stand out in the market.
Conclusion
The Ibanez Mikro series offers a fantastic option for beginner guitarists, children, or anyone with smaller hands who wants to start playing electric guitar or bass. With their short 24” scale, Mikro guitars are extremely easy to play and very comfortable to hold and fret compared to full-size instruments.
The Mikro electric and bass models provide a quality entry-level instrument with decent tone and playability at an affordable price point. While they may have some limitations in tonal versatility compared to more expensive guitars, the Ibanez Mikros excel at being fun, accessible instruments to learn on.
The Mikro body shape is perfectly suited for smaller players, with a lightweight construction that makes the guitars easy to transport and ideal for travel. Attractive color finishes like the GRGM21’s Black Night and Jewel Blue give the guitars a cool look on stage.
Overall, the Ibanez Mikro series hits the sweet spot of being high-quality, inexpensive short-scale guitars. If you or someone you know is struggling to play a full-size guitar, or wants a convenient grab-and-go travel guitar, be sure to try out an Ibanez Mikro model. You might just find it’s the perfect fit.