Ibanez GSR200

Made in 2002, Indonesia
22 frets, Rosewood fretboard
Agathis body, Transparent red
Schaller Tuners, Passive pickups

I'll give the sound about an 8, because it can make really low end, bassy sound which i really like, because my band play a grungy, alternative sound, but we also like to play punk rock. Unfortunately, this bass cannot play at its best form without the bass cranked up, because the sound starts to clack and resonate through the strings which sounds awful. I use a Crate BX-50 with a Digitech BP50
multi-effects processor

The action on this..well my bass is perfect.
I played on a Squier Standard J-Bass and the action on mine is better.
The pickups are ok, they have just began to move about a bit, but its nothing that a screwdriver couldnt fix. the tuning pegs are very tight and don't move very often unless you want them to.
The only problem is that the finish holds memories, if you touch the body, you're going to know about it for a while, fingerprints show up badly on this guitar.

I would definately use this bass live,
I seriously doubt it would fall apart unless you were doing a Kurt Cobain with it!! The strap buttons are very solid and have not come loose yet and i would use this without a backup

I'm not sure, i've never consulted them.

I really do like this bass, i had a Tanglewood rebel 4k before this guitar and this one rips it apart! If you are a bassist whos been playing for over a year and wants something a bit more than a beginners bass then i would definately recommend this guitar to anyone. In the event of this guitar getting stolen i would be really upset and disappointed about it. But to be perfectly honest i would buy a better bass than this, but for the moment i love it all the same!

Made in Indonesia, I'd guess around 2001. Comes with 22 frets on a maple neck. Agathis (Basically Glorified Plastic) Body. A Volume for each of the 2 pickups, and one tone. Has A Precison with a Jazz Pickup added at the bridge. Passive Electronics, with a solid finish. The Body is a comfortable shape, nothing fancy here though. Much thinner body than a J or P Bass. Sealed Tuners, they work just fine for what I need. Medium Frets. No Included accesories.
Okay, so the Features won't amaze you, but I've been pretty happy with the bass. It's fairly straight forward, and for a beggining bass, it offers plenty of pickup versitility. The Bridge is also fully adjustable, And once adjusted, no fret buzz. Although I will ay that I like relativley high action.

I've been blasting it through a Dean Markley Head & Home Made Cab, and playing it through a Fender Bassman. Through the Dean Markley, (Which is a kinda, well 'okay' amp) The sound can get slightly thin. The Jazz Pickup is also slightly messed up, and produces some wierd buzz noises and feedback. (But this bass was also involved in a flood at my house, so, that could have something to with it) Ouch. Through my Bassman, and amp that no bass player is worthy of ownership (It sounds nice), the bass sounds pretty damn good. Nobody except a bassist will be able to tell the difference between it and a Fender P or J bass- at least as far as I've seen. As I said, the sound can thin out, but this can be defeated if you just set your amp right. I use it for Blues, Jazz, and Rock/Grunge. It works fine for any of them- although I would recomend a more expensive bass for jazz, because you're a bit more exposed.

Well, I got it from Guitar Center, so It was pretty nicely set up when I bought it right off the display. The action was fine, and the only complaints go to how unforgiving the finish is. Jeebus! Fingerprints were everywhere. (Again, I got it right off the display rack), but still. Before a show, I try and wipe it off again, but when you get under the lights, all you can see are fingerprints. Otherwise, very nice finish for a bass at this price range, and it certainly beats a Squier.

I don't know why the other guys are complaining about its durability, because mine's held up fine. Their are no cracks to speak of, the finish is fine, the strap buttons lossen every once in a while, but if you have a screwdriver than you can fix it, I think it works just fine. Personally, I would have no need for a backup. The intonation is what you'd expect for a 200 dollar guitar, decent

Never had to deal with Ibanez, but according to a lot of people, they're a pain to deal with.

Okay now People, If you want a decent bass, for a cheapskate price, I would advise against any P or J basses made by Squier. Yes, they have real wood bodies, but personally, i dislke most everything else I've seen about them. This Ibanez Bass is a good value. If lost or stolen, I'd not replace it , simply because I've grown out of it. The Bass is meant to give you I wide spectrum of tones for the beggining bassist- if you have the money, you might as well get a higher end bass suited to you're type of music. If I could have one wish, it would be that not so many people own this bass. Because it has been labeled as a begginer bass (Because well, lets face it, it sort of is), People don't take me seriously when I play it, because it's sitting in the closet of so many little kids who bought because they told their mom they wanted to be a rock star. Grrr. It's a nice bass though. So buy it.... now......

probably the same as all the others... Ibanez GSR200, red finish... looks pretty good...

at first the sound was ok, but after maturing as a bass player and playing more intruments, its clear that you get what youre paying, which isnt much. Then again, the sound is pretty much the best you can get for the price,i think... sounds good on the lower strings. D and G strings are a bit weak though...

the bass felt good when i first played it, and the pickups were set well... the finish was supreme, and the only sign that it was a cheap bass was the visible join of wood in top of the neck...

heres the problem... after two days this bass tipped and slid into a wall from its stand. it didnt even fall over, but the impact was enough to cause a massive crack down the back of the body. Ugly!. However, it still plays good, and has lasted for 2 years with that crack so no worries!... the Tone Controls have come loose, and the strap buttons are wobbly, but you can fix that yourself no problem when it happens...

I wouldnt gig this without a backup though, just something about it that i dont trust...

Good bass for the money, but get a loan and buy a Musicman!.

I think all the main features have been covered in other entries.

Not much range. For regular players, beggining to intermediate, it's ok. Slapping around on it can produce some OK tones. For the money, it's pretty good.

The action is set pretty well for me, lower than most of those crappy fenders. I found nothing wrong with it's appearance.

Hah. I left it out 5 minutes in a room, and it went out of tune. I need the neck constantly adjusted, it's gone in for many tune ups. I could bend the neck at one point which sounded pretty cool, but wasn't too good for the bass. Every now and then it'd crackle, so i'd hit it against the wall and it'd work again....
on the other hand, i have a friend with the same bass, and his has had no problems. maybe mine was a dud, i dunno.

Haven't had to deal with the company..... maybe i should've.

It could be better. MUCH better, but if you have 200 bucks for a bass, get this.

Black GSR200. THink everything else can be worked out reading the rest

I hate the sound of this bass. It is quite harsh. I have played alot of other basses and this isnt the best. However, for the money, this is one of the best basses you can buy.

The bass was set up relatively well. The innotation was totally out and i had to spend ages redoing that. The nobs are lose and i have had to tighten them up. I have also had to tighten the front jazz pickups.It likes rather pretty as well when its all polished up, however, fingerprints show up really really bad.

I have used this bass on gigs without backups and its never let me down. The only problem i really have with it is fear of actually losing all the nobs cause they come off really easily. I dont want to glue them down because they also become lose and i need to tighten them again. It likes rather pretty as well when its all polished up, however, fingerprints show up really really bad.

Ibanez are one of the worst companies to deal with. I havent had to deal with them with this bass, although i have trying to purchase other bass's

If your a beginer and dont have/want to spent silly money, buy this bass. Its good, and easy to play. If you can though, go for a better bass

2002(?), Indonesia
22 fret, four strings
purple-blue pearl body
volume for P pickup, volume for J pickup, and a mix pot
passive pickups, stock.
neck feels better than my six-sting strat copy. (i have big hands)
purchased with a Behringer practice amp. Axe Music didn't have a bass combo package at the time so they made me one, free soft case and plain cable as well.

I am a beginner, no set music style as of yet. listen to every thing from lighter side of classical to darker side of metal. hope to emulate and make my own music stand out one day.
As mentioned above currently with the Behringer. used with headset as not to make unhappy neighbors.
I am a beginner, it sounds like a bass to me, however my friend can make it sing.
My friend said i'd never need a backup for stage, and it sounds good enough for recording.
my only dislike is the finish attracts fingerprints like crazy.

I think it was in a few hands playtesting at Axe (they let you do that) so it needs a setup & strings, but it is still playable.

No flaws that i can find.

My only bitch on the finish is the constant polishing to remove finger prints. (mebbe my skin is too oily?)

Like most have already said, it is built like a rock.
Nice weight on the hip.
Had it for a couple of months and never had to tighten anything yet.
If my friends prediction is true, I'll never need another bass as a backup.

need to get strap locks.

No problems yet.
The guys at Axe will stand by what they sell. I have no dought that if I have a problem they will fix it.
I think it is a two year warranty.

left rating No Opinion as i haven't had dealing with customer support.

I've been playing guitar for close to two years. I picked up the bass because my buddy needed a bassest for a new band he was forming.
If stolen I'd seriously hurt the dude if he was caught, but I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Favorite feature is that it is forgiving for the beginner. If you manage to wreak it, it is cheap enough to get a new one and to bring it up a stage with new pickups is a cheap upgrade.
The pervious reviews definitly helped me choose to buy this axe. If you want to get into bass, and have the chance to go to a music store and sit for an hour with a few basses, put the GSR 200 on the try list.

Stock Indonesian (see other reviews).

This is fundamentally a beginner - intermediate guitar, unless of course you're an accomplished musician. With that in mind.

The neck is thin and fast and makes for good transition from a 6 string. Even so, would probably not be good for those with small hands due to the broad spacing of the lower frets.

You can get a good range of bare bones sounds to cover most styles of music acceptably with just the guitar. The guitar pops well but haven't had much success with slap. Tapping not so good and harmonics marginal (poor string set). Good with picks. Decent standup sound from palming the bridge. The stock pickups are noticeably lacking but nothing a respectable amplifier won't compensate for. The volume pots are scratchy but this bass has never been covered either. Probably the most admirable aspect of this guitar is that it never goes out of tune (unless the keys get bumped) and it has sat idle for extended periods (months!).

Craftsmanship in cheap guitars is inherently inconsistent. If at all possible, take an experienced bass player with you to minimize the chances of overlooking something you'll regret later. If you're buying new from one of the chains, make sure they include a free setup to your satisfaction before you hand over any money. And if they don't come down on price or throw in a free goodie or two, go somewhere that will. A gig bag in particular will protect the guitar in transport and keep the guitar clean (cleaning those tight spots is such a pain) as well as the pots if tucked away when not playing.

That much said. On this particular instrument, after shimming the neck, trust rod and bridge adjustment, I have not been able to get the string set to even a moderately acceptable level without buzz. In spite of that, it is quite playable. To my knowledge, the pickups are not adjustable without shimming underneath them and getting longer screws (a definite negative - have to remove strings). The pickup magnets do set well in relation to the strings. I have not been able to find a really comfortable right hand position on this body. Appearance wise, the instrument still looks great and the composite fingerboard feels better than Rosewood (and maybe ebony?)

Cheaper hardware and components are obviously inherent in cheaper guitars. Even so, these tuning keys are unbeatable. I did have to resolder the P pickup wire twice (from the winding itself to the pickup frame). The neck and body is stout. I had read cautions about putting Thomastik-Infeld flats on the necks of some guitars and was particularly concerned because of this thin neck. I had no luck tracking down the answer so I slapped a set of them puppies on and - no problem.

No contact with Ibanez. The best chance of support will be where you buy. In general, smaller, independent stores may have less of a selection or cost more, but they're more likely to be responsive if there's a problem after the sale.

As a rule, I think Ibanez is one of the better guitar makers for the money but I'm putting a "1" here because guitar manufacturers in general don't back their products and a "10" would go into the review if I left no opionion. And besides, if you have a problem, the manufacturers "are" basically worthless, which is what a 1 is.

Years ago I had a used music store selling mostly guitars, amps, and drums. Hundreds of various brand guitars from cheapo's to vintage. No two guitars are alike. There are some great cheap guitars out there and some expensive junk. Ibanez was an above average manufacturer of guitars back then, I guess still is.

The GSR 200 is a good guitar of choice, just try and pick one out that is suitable enough for recording and live performance cause you never know where you'll end up. It's nice to have bought a keeper you can gig with without having to worry about someone stealing it or picking it up and playing it half drunk.

Got it as a gift in 2000, think it was around $200 US. Made in Indonesia. 22 frets. 4 strings. P/J pickups. Passive Electronics. Thin neck.

The sound is "OK", but I am getting ready to change all of the electronics. Compared to other basses I've now heard, I would say my sound is just "OK", but has been perfectly workable so far in the Rockin Oldies band I am in. It has a buzz when the P pickup volume is all the way up. The tone control does give noticeable variety in the sound.

I really like the thin neck. I am a fairly new player and have only handled one or two other basses, but I really like this neck. I'd like the frets to be closer, as I have small hands and it is a stretch compared to my friend's Fender Precision. But I like the action. I am learning to stretch my fingers more.

The electronics have been a problem since it was brand new. One of the "P" pickups has something wrong and it goes out, and I have to tap it to get the sound back. Also, neither of the volume control knobs don't work properly either. The tone control knob is the only one that works normally. I am getting ready to replace all of the electronics, and I think I am going to be really happy, cause I love the bass for everything else.

Have not dealt with customer support yet. Had it repaired twice at a local music store for the electronics problem, but neither repair solved it.

I've been playing since 2000. I own a Peavey KB30 amp. I own a Fender Acoustic guitar.

If it were stolen, I would probably buy the same bass, but now that I've been playing a couple of years, I would like to shop a bit and try out others.

My favorite feature is the thin neck.

my gsr is made in korea and is from the 80's. It has the old style headstock like the RG guitars. The bass is what you can expect for a cheap beginner bass, nothing great.

The sound is not that great. I recommend it for beginners though, becasue they dont know the difference.

I like the ibanez necks, they are thin and fast.

This bass is absolutly bomb proof. I never had a case for it and I abused it. It has been dropped on ashphalt, rolled down a set of stairs, you name it. The neck has a fair amout of flex in it.
Its built to last, not to look pretty or sound good.

never had to deal with them

If your starting off and you want to see if bass is your thing, or if your someone considering buying you kid a bass this is the one to get.
I shit hauled my bass and its still good to go, and when your starting off nothing else matters but durability.

2002 model, 22 frets, 4 string, Agathis body, Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard, 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 1-P stlye pickup, 1-J style pickup, Stamped bridge, Modern version of a Fender P-style body,
Gotoh style tuners.

Full sound, but a little Plain.
I'm a Rock/Blues style player.
After having a Bass with active pickups it's limited, but over all good sounding.
Sounds better in the lower registers than the upper.

I shopped around a lot and for it's price range it is best in it's class here.
Neck is easy to play & action realitively low
The only dissapointment here is the cheap stamped bridge

This thing is solid... For being light in weight it is deffinitely strong.
Only needed to adjust the truss rod once when I first got it.
After that the neck hasn't moved a bit.
Very dependable.

Haven't needed customer support.

I've been playing over 21 years, Started on Bass... Moved on to Guitar. Did the band thing through the 80's.
Now I record at home.
I purchased this Bass in this price range because I only need it for
recording. I have owned very expensive Basses through the years and no this one is not as good as those, but in the bang for the buck scale I would highly recomend it to someone recording at home or just starting out on Bass.