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MGR/Steve Flacy « Ibanez GSR200 »
Published on 01/24/03 at 15:00I acquired my GSR200 at Musician's Workshop in Asheville, NC. I got the GSR200 because I had tried the GSR190 in the beginners "Jumpstart Kit" and was very impressed. The GSR200 has completely enclosed tuning keys, so I got it over the 190. The price I paid was $229, well worth it for what you get. This is a fine instrument.
I used to play rock 'n roll for a living. I did that for about 11 years and in the course of my music career I owned two American made Fender Precisions, a Gibson bass, a Rickenbacker and a Music Man bass. Those basses cost me $500-$800 each in the 60's and 70's and I like my GSR200 better. It is lighter than the Precision and the Music Man, and has a faster neck than the Precision or Music Man. I think it sounds as good as both and much better than the Rickenbacker. And it is ten times the bass the Gibson was.
I had some fret buzz problems when I first got it, but having set up a lot of basses and guitars when I was a working musician, I was not too concerned. The angle of the neck, respective to the body, was not exactly right. Now, this is something you see in very expensive basses too, and some even have built-in tilt adjustments. But for having only paid $229 dollars, I did not mind taking the neck off and putting a shim under it. It plays great now and I have no significant buzz.
I am an extremely picky person (no pun intended). Having worked professionally as a musician, I wanted a good instrument (even though I am only playing for my own enjoyment now). I can assure you, this instrument is very well put together. I would use it on stage with no reservations, and would not feel I had to have a backup bass.
While this axe does not have active electronics, the tones produced by the two pickups, Precision-style pickup up front and Jass-style pickup in back, are excellent. The intonation is near-perfect too, thanks to a great bridge. I can play a note on the 19th fret and the next fatter string (two octaves) without the slightest heterodyne. All-in-all, I am totally amazed at the quality Ibanez offers in this instrument for such a low price. Oh, and the harmonics on this axe are great.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
I used to play rock 'n roll for a living. I did that for about 11 years and in the course of my music career I owned two American made Fender Precisions, a Gibson bass, a Rickenbacker and a Music Man bass. Those basses cost me $500-$800 each in the 60's and 70's and I like my GSR200 better. It is lighter than the Precision and the Music Man, and has a faster neck than the Precision or Music Man. I think it sounds as good as both and much better than the Rickenbacker. And it is ten times the bass the Gibson was.
I had some fret buzz problems when I first got it, but having set up a lot of basses and guitars when I was a working musician, I was not too concerned. The angle of the neck, respective to the body, was not exactly right. Now, this is something you see in very expensive basses too, and some even have built-in tilt adjustments. But for having only paid $229 dollars, I did not mind taking the neck off and putting a shim under it. It plays great now and I have no significant buzz.
I am an extremely picky person (no pun intended). Having worked professionally as a musician, I wanted a good instrument (even though I am only playing for my own enjoyment now). I can assure you, this instrument is very well put together. I would use it on stage with no reservations, and would not feel I had to have a backup bass.
While this axe does not have active electronics, the tones produced by the two pickups, Precision-style pickup up front and Jass-style pickup in back, are excellent. The intonation is near-perfect too, thanks to a great bridge. I can play a note on the 19th fret and the next fatter string (two octaves) without the slightest heterodyne. All-in-all, I am totally amazed at the quality Ibanez offers in this instrument for such a low price. Oh, and the harmonics on this axe are great.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com