We’re back with another comparison review for your perusal. This time, we decided to review the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300. We want to help you find out which of these two guitars you should be getting. We understand that it’s a fairly common question and we hope our attempt to answer it gives you the much-needed help you came here to seek.
Now, the two guitars we are reviewing are from different series but both from Ibanez. These series have different characteristics, understandably. For instance, the GSR series contains Ibanez’s budget guitars. The SR series, on the other hand, are higher-end, at least as you climb higher up especially once you cross the SR500/SR600 mark.
Alright, so without further ado, let’s get into the review of the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Comparison Overview
Our review today on the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 is going to be a pretty long one considering everything we have to cover. Plus, these are two exceptional guitars with interesting features to consider. In this section of the review, we give a quick overview of all we’ll be discussing. So, if you’re pressed for time and can’t go over our entire review, then you should check this out.
Rating Of Features In General Of The Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300
It’s easy to tell which of these two guitars has better features just by looking at them. The SR300 is obviously the better guitar.
First off, if you’re fluent in Ibanez, you understand that the GSR is a lower-end series when compared to the SR series. So, naturally, the GSR200 isn’t exactly in the same league as the SR300. However, we still consider both of them beginner guitars.
That said, the SR300 is still a better model compared to the GSR200. In the first place, the SR300 is more durable when compared to the GSR200. Of course, following that, the SR300 naturally costs more money than the GSR200.
Also, in looks, the SR300 takes the cake once again. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not like the GSR200 is completely ugly. It’s just that it has a more no-nonsense appearance than the SR300. To put it perspective, some people have referred to the SR300 as sexy. That’s a word we didn’t see used with the GSR200 by anybody.
Now, hearing this, you might be tricked into thinking that the GSR200 isn’t worth the trouble. But you would be so far from correct. In fact, in our opinion, the GSR200 is one of the best beginner guitars you could possibly settle for.
Its electronics especially are simply amazing. We’re talking active circuitry here. That’s not something you find every day on a beginner guitar.
For both guitars, you get a selection of varieties to suit your unique tastes which is great. So, overall, even though the SR300 is the obvious winner in the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 contest, they are both excellent guitars for their individual purposes.
Are The Ibanez GSR200 And SR300 Overpriced?
Ibanez guitars are well-priced and so are these two guitars. We are actually yet to find an Ibanez guitar that isn’t decently priced. The good thing about them is that they do even far beyond their price tag.
We already explained that the GSR200 comes with active pickups and this is a guitar that sells for less than $300. As for the SR300, the SR300E which is arguably the best in the series sells for less than $400. On the guitar, you get a mahogany body, powerful humbucker pickups and a sound that compares with those of high-end brands.
It’s somewhat a bummer that several models of the GSR200 and SR300 are currently unavailable. But the great thing is that the available ones are super affordable. Of course, you can expect some compromises at such a small price tag.
For instance, the GSR200 is solid, no doubt. However, its hardware isn’t the best. Sure, they suffice but with extended use, they could get a little faulty. The electronics are also quite good, however, they are still somewhat limited when compared to higher-end electronics.
The same applies to the SR300 as well. It’s, of course, better than the GSR200 but it also a few compromises here and there. The bridge, for instance, was a small problem for the SR300 and you’d have to constantly keep readjusting it. Not entirely an attractive feature.
Plus, the strings are not exactly the best of the bunch. You might have to change them out if you want your guitar to sound great.
But excluding these small cons, these guitars are practically perfect and, as you can see, worth their super affordable price tag.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Comparison Of Major Specs And Features
Ibanez GSR200 |
Ibanez SR300 |
| Double cutaway body construction | Double cutaway body construction |
| Agathis body | Agathis body |
| 1-piece Maple neck | 5-piece maple bolt-on neck |
| Rosewood fingerboard | Rosewood fingerboard (maple fretboard for 300M) |
| 34 inch scale | 34 inch scale |
| 24 medium frets | 24 medium frets |
| Accu-Cast B20 Bridge | Accu-Cast B100 Bridge |
| Split-coil Neck Pickup | CAP EXF-N2 Humbucking Neck Pickup |
| Single Coil Bridge Pickup | CAP EXF-N2 Humbucking Bridge Pickup |
| 12 inch fingerboard radius | 12 inch fingerboard radius |
| 1.50 inch nut width | 1.50 inch nut width |
| 4 strings (5- and 6-string models also available) | 4 strings (5- and 6-string models also available) |
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – What Situation Is Each Guitar Best For?
Ibanez GSR200 |
Ibanez SR300 |
| The Ibanez GSR200 is a beginner guitar and that’s all it is. It isn’t something a pro player or even an intermediate player can use. However, for a beginner guitar, this instrument sure kicks butt. The guitar comes with a really decent tone and sound which we find really impressive for a beginner guitar. The electronics are pretty outstanding for the single fact that they are active. You don’t get that easily on beginner guitars. So, for that alone, this guitar has won our hearts. The hardware is okay but we can see them wearing out after frequent use. Overall, this is a great guitar for a beginner. It is decently priced and really affordable too. We readily commend this guitar and recommend it to any beginner looking to get a guitar for the first time. | The Ibanez SR300 is also a beginner guitar although it belongs to Ibanez’s SR series. The SR series contains Ibanez’s higher-end guitars. However, those at the lower rung of the ladder are less expensive and a little similar to the GSR series. The SR300 will work for anyone from beginner to professional looking for a solid guitar with aesthetics and a mean performance for little money. Selling for less than $400, this is an affordable guitar and the sound would leave you speechless. It works for live sessions, recording sessions, practice, just about anything you need the guitar to be to you. We highly recommend this guitar. PS: Both the SR300 and the GSR200 have left-handed guitars for the lefties. However, they only come in the 4-string version. That is, no 5-string or 6-string. |
What Features Do The Ibanez GSR200 And SR300 – Have In Common?
The body of the two guitars are made with Agathis tonewood
They both come with bolt-on mapel necks
They both have a double-cutaway construction
The two guitars are equipped with a Rosewood fingerboard
They both have a 34-inch scale length with 24 medium frets
You can get either of tgehse guitas in 4,5, and 6 string models.
Finally, if you’re a lefty, both of these guitars cater to your needs with a left-handed version.
Agathis Body
Both the Ibanez GSR200 and the SR300 come with agathis bodies which might not be great news for everybody, especially those who have a prior knowledge of guitar tonewoods. But we’ve got to tell you, the agathis bodies of these guitars don’t sound half that bad. For beginner guitars, these guys sound quite good.
Agathis is somewhat cheap wood when you compare it to mahogany for instance. While mahogany sounds warm and rich, agathis almost sounds like that but just not as rich. But like we said, for a beginner/budget guitar, an agathis body is not the end of the world.
If you’re worried about cutting through a mix, then don’t. These guitars come with pretty good pickups and EQ systems with which you can tune your guitar’s sound just right.
Now, besides sound, agathis is a lightweight wood which, in turn, gives lightweight guitars. This is definitely an advantage you want to have when choosing a beginner guitar.
Maple Necks
The first feature we will be mentioning here is the maple neck. Both the Ibanez GSR200 and the SR300 come with maple necks, however in different constructions. But let’s get to discussing the maple neck first.
Maple is a pretty strong wood naturally. So, guitars that come with maple necks tend to last long, especially with proper construction. It does tend to make a guitar heavy too. But luckily, Ibanez has that sorted. Neither guitar is unduly heavy.
Moreover, besides durability, maple necks also add to the tone of your guitar. Being a hardwood, maple tends to lend a level of brightness to the tone of your guitar. So, your upper mids stand out really nice which ensures that you’re heard clearly. Of course, this will improve how you cut through a mix.
Now, before we leave this section, we must mention that there’s a small difference between these two guitars. Although they both have maple necks, one is a one-piece neck while the other is a 5-piece neck.
Naturally, a 5-piece neck seems more solid than a one-piece neck. It’s less susceptible to the weather and is also less likely to bow or warp. However, some people feel like multi-laminates kinda hamper the sound of your guitar. We feel it’s really a matter of preference.
Hence, overall, in the neck department, these two guitars do really well and you can hardly go wrong with either of them.
Bolt-On Necks
We just looked at the fact that both guitars come with maple necks. Now, we look at the installation method. Well, these necks are bolt-on necks which means that the guitar makers installed the guitar neck by screwing it on to the body of the guitar.
Bolt-on necks are considered budget guitar necks because they are super cheap to install. So, it’s common to find such types of necks on beginner or budget guitars. This is not to say, though, that they don’t have their benefits.
For one, bolt-on necks are known for their sharp attacks and the bite they can bring to sound as well. So, this is another reason besides their inexpensiveness that guitar makers use them.
Lastly, bolt-on necks are really durable. Super durable, in fact. We guess that’s what screwing your guitar neck on to your guitar does for you. Adding this to a 5-piece or even a one-piece maple neck ensures that your guitar lasts really long.
Double Cutaway Construction
One thing Ibanez is known for besides making budget guitars that compete with the biggest elite brands is the ergonomics. Ibanez guitars are pretty ergonomic which is something you’ll notice when comparing the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300. Both guitars come with a double cutaway construction.
A double cutaway construction does several things for a guitar, in this case, the GSR200 and SR300. First off, a double cutaway construction improves the ergonomics of your guitar. There are grooves to the guitar which make the guitar more comfortable to hold.
All those contours become places where your hands can actually rest making your guitar more comfortable especially when you have to play for long hours at a stretch.
Plus, if you think about it, a double cutaway construction means you don’t need as much wood to make the body of your guitar. This, of course, makes your guitar less heavy and ultimately more comfortable as well.
Rosewood Fingerboards
Alright, still on our review of the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300, both guitars also share the same type of fingerboards which is rosewood. Rosewood is like the sweetheart of fingerboards. It’s not the absolute best you can get but it’s a great material anyway.
Rosewood is a medium density wood. It’s not too heavy and it’s not too light either. So, it’s pretty durable. This is something you want for your fingerboard in particular because you’ll be interacting the most with your fretboard.
Another thing about rosewood too is that rosewood is naturally oily and doesn’t require a finish. You get to feel the naturalness of your guitar under your fingers while you play which is great. You just have to ensure that you condition your fingerboard regularly to keep it in good condition.
Of course, as usual, rosewood can affect the tone of your guitar. Naturally, rosewood has a mellower and darker tone than maple which sounds brighter. Its darker and fuller notes make rosewood great for jazz and shreds.
34 Inch Scale Lengths
Bass guitars typically come with a long scale otherwise known as the 34-inch scale length. Like we said, long scale lengths are pretty common among regular guitars. They work for the average guitarist, tall or short except you’re on either extreme.
Of course, if you’re getting this for a child or for taller players, you’d have to get something shorter or longer as the case may be.
24 Medium Frets
Frets are useful for many things like helping beginners with getting the right notes. However, there is more to frets than that like the number of frets there are.
Usually, the number of frets range from 21 to 24. And naturally, the higher the number of frets your guitar has, the more notes you get from your strings.
Solo players especially would appreciate having the extra notes. You might not hit the 24th fret, but then you get enough room along the upper frets for your fingers while you play.
12 Inch Fretboard Radii
Fretboards and fretboard radii affect the playability of your guitar and just what exactly you can do with your guitar. The Ibanez GSR200 and SR300 come with a 12-inch fretboard radius each which makes them pretty much flat.
A flat fretboard is great for playing lead or for playing large bends. Of course, this gets easier as the fretboard gets flatter. This is because, with a flatter fretboard, your string height is shorter so they are ultimately easier to depress. By the way, classical guitars have the flattest fretboards.
Number Of Strings – 4, 5, And 6 Strings Available
The Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 is a review of two four-string bass guitars which also happen to have 5-string and 6-string models. The regular bass guitar is a 4-stringed guitar. It’s easier to play than other stringed guitars – 5 or 6. So, usually, it’s the beginner bass guitar. But then again, there are some professionals who prefer 4-string guitars too.
But like we said, the Ibanez GSR200 and SR300 both have 5- and 6-stringed guitars also. Usually, these kinds of guitars are considered expert guitars as they are mostly requested for by pro players.
5-stringed guitars come with an extra lower B string which takes you lower than where the regular 4-stringed would take you. The extra lower B string allows you to achieve lower notes without necessarily using an effects pedal or altered tuning.
This is also great for playing with keyboardists that like to play heavy especially along the lower mids.
Below are links to getting the 5-string models of both guitars. You can get whichever one you want!
As for 6-stringed bass guitars, these are like your regular acoustic guitars. They, of course, play lower than the 5-stringed guitars. But what’s really interesting about them is how they play like regular guitars but still sound like bass guitars.
Left Handed Models
Both guitars also feature left-handed versions which share similar versions with their parent guitar. This must be great news for lefties as we might assume.
Now, none of the left handed versions here are offered in the 5-string and 6-string variants though. So, you have just the 4-string bass guitar to cope with which we understand might be a bummer if you’re not into 4 strings.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Features Unique To Each Guitar
Features Unique To The Ibanez GSR200
The Ibanez GSR200 comes with a Split coil neck pickup and a single coil bridge pickup.
There are 3 models in this series: Ibanez GSR200EX, GSR200FM, GSR200SM.
Split Coil Neck Pickup/Single Coil Bridge Pickup
We are really impressed with the pickups on the GSR200. It’s not what we expected with the GSR200 being a budget guitar and all.
In fact, what really blew our minds is that the electronics are active rather than passive. Usually, passive electronics are less expensive than active electronics. So, you’d expect to find them on cheaper guitars.
Anyway, these pickups are really great performance wise.
The split coil pickup goes to the neck of the guitar while the single coil pickup goes to the bridge. This is your classic P/J configuration except that it is active rather than passive.
Check out this demo below and let’s know what you think.
The Ibanez GSR200 Comes In Several Models
The Ibanez GSR200 comes in several models which we will be checking out in a second. By the way, we do hope you’ve been enjoying our review of the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 so far? Let’s move this review forward. Come with us.
Ibanez GSR200EX
The major difference between these two guitars is that the GSR200 comes with an agathis body while the GSR200EX comes with a basswood body.
Also, the pickups are somewhat different as well. The GSR200EX uses PPD4 neck and bridge pickups. However, it also features the Phat II EQ just like the pickups on the GSR200.
Basswood sounds nearly the same as agathis. They are both cheap wood. No surprise since these are budget guitars. They do decently though, agathis and basswood, that is. They definitely won’t be first choice for professional players, but for a beginner guitar and with Ibanez’s construction choices, they somehow work.
Now, the small difference between the pickups is that the pickups on the GSR200 are active. These ones on the GSR200EX are passive. But both of them are humbuckers and humbuckers are great for many reasons. There’s their hum cancellation, their dark, and rich sounds which makes them great for metal, heavy metal, hard rock, and the likes.
Sadly, this guitar is currently unavailable right now.
Ibanez GSR200FM
The Ibanez GSR200FM is another example of the several models of the GSR200. The suffix “FM” is for “Flamed Maple”. So, as you can guess, this guitar comes with a flamed maple top. However, it bears a strong resemblance with the GSR200 except that it comes with a mahogany body rather than an agathis body.
And paired with a flamed top, the body of this guitar has a much better sound than the SR300. Mahogany is naturally warm and rich but it’s not quite bright sounding. Some guitarists actually like their guitars like that.
Anyway, coupled with a flamed maple top, the maple tonewood brightens your tone a little bit. Maple, as you know, is pretty hard wood and harder woods sound brighter than less hard wood.
Now, let’s move to the pickups. They are pretty much like those on the GSR200. The neck is a humbucker while the one at the bridge is a single coil pickup. We will give you a full explanation on single coil and humbucker pickups in the section explaining the Ibanez SR300E.
Furthermore, unlike on the GSR200, the electronics on the GSR200FM are passive which is more common among budget guitars. Passive electronics are versatile and they also don’t require batteries to work.
As for the EQ, it’s the Phat II. This feature enables you to create a fatter tone with your guitar by producing that heavy lower B sound. It also balances your sound between the highs and the lows really nicely too.
Sadly, this guitar is currently unavailable.
Ibanez GSR200SM
Next up, we have the Ibanez GSR200SM. It more closely resembles the GSR200FM than the GSR200. This one comes with a spalted maple top which many say sounds noticeably darker than flamed maple. So, depending on your tastes, you can decide on which you’d rather get.
Just like the GSR200FM, the GSR200SM comes with a mahogany body and with passive electronics. Of course, it comes in the standard P/J orientation and it also features the Phat II EQ. The pickup is called the PSNDP neck and bridge pickup and it sounds pretty good too.
This guitar comes in the 4-, 5-, and 6-string models.
Features Unique To The Ibanez SR300
The Ibanez SR300 comes with CAP EFX-N2 Pickups
All the guitars in this series come with 3-band style Sweeper EQ
The Ibanez SR300 is available in the following models:
SR300M
SR300DX
SR300E
SR300EB
CAP EFX-N2 Pickups
The Ibanez SR300 uses the CAP EFX-N2 pickups, different from those of the GSR200. These humbuckers are good quality devices. And, in fact, there are some who believe that it performs on the same level as the Bartolini Mk-1s of the SR500.
But let’s take a closer look at the pickups themselves. They are humbuckers like we mentioned. So, they naturally cancel the hum we’re used to hearing from single coils. This is one reason they are currently more popular than single coils.
Then again, Ibanez is known for making bass guitars well suited to metal. Humbuckers, on the other hand, produce heavy, thick, dark tones which work nicely with the metal genre of music. They are also great for hard rock and heavy metal. Single coils are typically better for country music, by the way.
Of course, as usual, these pickups come in a pair – one for the neck and the other for the bridge of the guitar. Working together, these guys deliver on unparalleled sound. It’s hard to believe sometimes that you’re only listening to a budget guitar and not a high-end one.
3-Band Style Sweeper EQ
Also following these nice pickups is a 3-band EQ system. The circuit is an active one so there’s a lot of power to enjoy from the EQ. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to never forget to take spare batteries with you when heading out.
The Style Sweeper EQ is a great system with an impressive ability to scoop out your mids really clearly. Unlike the ones on the GSR200, the Style Sweeper works for slapping styles. So, if that’s your thing, you’ll be better off with the powerful, low-end rumble that the SR300 will give you with a slapping style of play.
Furthermore, the Style Sweeper is really easy to use and there are many wonderful tones to select from. All come pre-equalized, thankfully. So your choice is an easy one. From a more modern sound, you can swiftly enter a classical one, and all without fiddling too much.
For controls, there’s just one rear tone knob that’s called a multi-knob. It comes with two control knobs in one. It’s quite easy to use though once you get used to it.
Overall, this EQ system boosts the versatility of your guitar, making it playable with all kinds of music.
The Ibanez SR300 Is Available In Several Models
We’re still reviewing the features of the SR300 under our review of the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300. Just like the GSR300, the SR200 also has several models available for the beginner to pick from.
Ibanez SR300M
The first model we will be checking out today under the SR300 is the SR300M. The only difference this model has from the SR300 is that it comes with a maple fretboard rather than a rosewood fretboard. So, what does translate to in practice?
Maple and rosewood are dense and hardwoods. However, maple is tougher than rosewood. Rosewood is actually more like medium density hardish wood. So, for this reason, therefore, maple tends to sound brighter than rosewood.
So, while rosewood makes your sound mellower, maple will make your sound much brighter. This is why your SR300M will sound a little brighter than your SR300.
The SR300M has been discontinued though.
Ibanez SR300DX
The Ibanez SR300DX is the Ibanez SR300Deluxe. So, yes the DX there stands for “Deluxe”. However, don’t let that make you think that the SR300DX is an upgrade to the SR300. It’s actually a slightly older model. Yeah, we’re surprised too.
Anyway, these two guitars still have a couple of features like their agathis bodies. However, the SR300DX comes with a rosewood neck instead of maple like you have on the SR300. Rosewood, like we discussed before now comes with a darker and mellower tone. So, expect a bit of that with the SR300DX.
Also, the SR300DX comes with a 3-piece rather than a 5-piece neck. It is, therefore, not as sturdy as the neck on the SR300. But, all the same, a 3-piece neck is still pretty solid.
Finally, the SR300DX comes in just the 4-string and 5-string variants. It doesn’t have the 6-string variant like the other SR300 models. You can grab any of these guitars from the links below:
Now, let’s check out the electronics of this guitar. This is the major area where the SR300 and SR300DX differ.
How are the IBZ DX Pickups?
These neck and bridge pickups are pretty good from user feedback. It’s just a 2-band EQ which we understand can be somewhat limiting. However, you’ll come to be impressed with the pickups the more you use them.
These versatile pickups make your guitar ready for metal, rock, jazz, all kinds of music really. Of course, it might not be at par with other higher-end pickups. But then again, we just called them “higher-end”. For the price, you definitely get what you pay for which is a good thing.
The controls are quite easy to use. But we were even more impressed by the fact that the guitar comes with active electronics. That’s surprising considering that this is an older model but then again, this is the SR series which contains some of Ibanez’s higher-end guitars.
The EQ comes with a control called “Phat”. Phat is the control that makes your tone “fatter” by helping your guitar produce that heavy B sound. It also helps you balance out your sound between the highs and lows to ensure that your sound is really beautiful.
So, get ready for this guitar to shake your chest a little. Sound good to you? Why not check out a demo of the pickups here.
Ibanez SR300E
Here we present the ultimate upgrade to the SR300 – the Ibanez SR300E. There are a couple of things to look out for on this guitar. And, to be honest, if we had to recommend any SR300 guitar to you, it would be this one without overthinking.
First off, the SR300E comes with a mahogany body. That already beats the agathis body of the SR300 by a land slide, thereby making it better suited to professional players. Mahogany has a rich and warm sound that agathis lacks. So, it’s the real deal.
However, the main aspect of the SR300E that totally blows our minds is the part where we see the pickups and electronics.
That said though, the SR300E comes with a mahogany body and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard just like the SR300. It also shares the SR300’s 24 medium frets and double cutaway construction as well.
Finally, the Ibanez SR300E comes in the 4-, 5-, and 6-string models with each one currently available for purchase.
And now to move this review forward, let’s check out these pickups on steroids – the PowerSpan dual coils which are the pickups of choice for the SR300E.
How are the PowerSpan Dual Coils?
Just like the IBZ DX, the PowerSpan dual coils are humbuckers. However, they are not just your typical humbuckers. These are remarkable pickups with features that help the pickups deliver on an exceptional performance.
Firstly, there are the stainless steel poles which help to improve clarity and fullness. This way your sound comes out more encompassing and a lot clearer.
Now, while that is great, what we actually love the most about these pickups is the fact that it can work as a humbucker and as a single coil. It changes the terms of versatility and lifts the bar way high.
So, with the “Power Tap Switch”, you can switch from single coil mode (Normal Tap) to humbucking mode (Series Tap) to single-coil mode with boosted bass (Series Tap).
For those wondering what good single coils are to you when you have humbuckers, remember they each have their strengths.
While the humbuckers shine for the fullness and heaviness of their notes, single coils are excellent in terms of expressiveness and sensitivity. Plus, they are better suited to country music and the likes than humbuckers are.
That said, the EQ system of the PowerSpan dual coils are passive but 3-band. They are quite versatile since they work for both active and passive guitars. Plus, you won’t require batteries to use them.
Ibanez SR300EB
The Ibanez SR300EB is simply a variation of the SR300E. It’s different in that the SR300E comes with chrome hardware. The SR300EB, on the other hand, comes with black colored hardware.
Normally, the SR300EB is available in the 4-, 5-, and 6-string models. However, only the 4- and 5-string models are currently available.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Unique Pros
Why Some People Prefer The Ibanez GSR200 To The SR300
The main reason why people prefer the Ibanez GSR200 is that it’s more affordable than the SR300.
What’s great about this series is that although it’s a beginner guitar, t cmes with active pickups. This makes it stand out from the pack of beginner guitars.
Why Some People Prefer The Ibanez SR300 To The GSR200
The SR300 is obviously of higher quality than the GSR200 and will work for beginners and intermediates with a higher budget (especially the SR300E) better than the GSR200.
The Pickups on these guitars are great for slapping styles.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Unique Cons
Ibanez GSR200
- Pickups are not great for slapping styles.
- Bridge could be better.
Ibanez SR300
- No unique con.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Pros Common To Both Guitars
In this section of the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 review, we check out pros that these two guitars share.
Ibanez GSR200 |
Ibanez SR300 |
| Great guitar choicefor beginners. | The Ibanez SR300 is also a great beginner, and also works for intermediate players as well. This might be a stretch for the GSR200, though |
| Electronics on the GSR200 is simply wonderful. Like who puts active electronics on a budget guitar that sells for less than $250, right? | Electronics here are simply awesome. There’s a mix of active and passive pickups across the several models. But the electronics that really blew our minds were those of the SR300E. The PowerSpan dual coils are just amazing and the things they can do would to your guitar’s sound will make you really happy. |
| The GSR200 is quite lightweight and really ergonomic too. | Same goes for the SR300 |
| This is a really affordable, beginner-friendly guitar | Also applies for the SR300 |
| Several models available which leave the guitarist spoiled for choice | Also applies to the SR300 |
| Of course, we can’t forget to mention the slim neck of these guitars which are super important to ensure that the guitar plays really fast, espeically for beginners. | This also applies for to the SR300. |
| C |
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Cons Common To Both Guitars
Ibanez GSR200 |
Ibanez SR300 |
| Agathis tonewood is not exactly the best tonewood in the market. It’s not as rich as mahogany, for instance, but it’s still not totally terrible though. | The same goes for the SR300 |
| Hardware and bridge were a small problem for some users, durability wise. | Also applies to the SR300 |
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Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – General Feeling Among Customers
Here’s what customers have to say about the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 debate.
Ibanez GSR200 |
Ibanez SR300 |
| Many customers admitted that they would recommend the GSR200 to a friend. And you know that when your customer voluntarily advertises your product to their friends and fam, then you did something right. Ibanez sure did many things right with this instrument. Tutors and regular players alike loved the guitar and there were many reasons to. There’s the active EQ. Plus, customers also commented that the guitar came ready to play right out of the box. This says a lot about Ibanez’s construction processes. Also, we did observe that customers were totally in love with the ergonomics of the guitar. Lovely shape that makes the guitar sweet to hold. And let’s not forget the super slim neck that makes playing way more comfortable and convenient. Beginners especially stand to gain from this feature. We didn’t observe many people commenting about the looks of the guitar though quite unlike most Ibanez guitars we’ve reviewed. So, we conclude that the guitar was just there in the looks department. Now, it wasn’t all roses and rainbows though. There were those who were not overtly impressed by the guitar. We assume those to be bass guitar aficionados. In the words of one, they are a slave to the bass guitar. Although they gave the guitar a fair score, they just weren’t taken by the overall quality and performance of the Ibanez GSR200 | The SR300 is no longer available, so we decided to run you by what customers are saying about the SR300E instead. For the most part, everyone loves the SR300E. It is super functional and really playable with its slim neck. That’s one feature that is recurrent whenever you think about Ibanez guitars. The slim neck, as well the ergonomic body makes the guitar really comfortable to play on whether you’re sitting or standing or moving around on stage. So, in all this guitar was easy to play for everybody. Beginners agree with this, experienced players agree with this too. So, this is another area where Ibanez did right by its customers. And besides that, beginners as well as professional players found the guitar quite usable. In fact, many saw this as a deal they couldn’t pass up. And pass up, they didn’t. As for the electronics, the PowerSpan dual coils were impressive as expected. Beautiful tone, excellent sound, basically everything customers wanted in a pickup. |
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Final Thoughts
The Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300 review is coming to an end and here’s our final conclusion. The Ibanez GSR200 would be our suggestion to you if you’re a beginner and on a budget. It’s not a perfect guitar but its tone is great all the same.
As for the Ibanez SR300, it’s also a fantastic guitar. It is a beginner guitar as well but of a better quality than the GSR200. If you have a little extra money, we’d advise that you go for the SR300 though. It’s of better quality and a better tone.
So, for us, the Ibanez GSR200 vs SR300, the SR300 is the obvious winner. However, if you don’t have as much money then the GSR200 would have to do and we’re not just saying that. The guitar actually does well for its purpose.
Ibanez GSR200 Vs SR300 – Frequently Asked Questions
What are the knobs on my Ibanez bass?
The knobs on the Ibanez guitar are more like the controls of a stereo system.
The volume control for each pickup is located closest to the pickups and bridge. For the other two knobs, the larger one is the tone that rolls off the treble when turned. The second one which is usually smaller is the Phat II, also known as a bass boost.
Also, apart from the master volume knob, there is another knob that perfectly balances the pickups and adjusts the treble or bass frequency.
Who uses Ibanez basses?
Ibanez basses are mostly used by hard rock and metal artists. A few of them are Adam Clayton, the current bassist for U2 (an Irish rock band), Jennifer Batten, a former Ibanez endorser in the ‘80s, and a guitarist for the late Michael Jackson.
Other artists that play Ibanez are Reb Beach, Buckethead ( Brian Carrol), George Benson, Wes Borland, Dylan Carlson, Dino Cazares, and Steve Vai, a grammy award winner and composer. He also designed the Ibanez Universe and electric guitar.
Which bass guitar is best for beginners?
The Ibanez 4 string Bass Guitar is a compact and lightweight guitar that makes it ideal for beginners.
With a 28.6” scale, the Ibanez 4 string Bass Guitar not only makes it comfortable for beginners and young learners but also allows for easy movement along the fret.
It is made from maple and has a slim neck which makes it ideal for fast playing. The body and fretboard are made from rosewood. This together with the guitar’s shorter scale, basic strings, and great sounds make it perfect for beginners.
What does Ibanez mean?
Ibanez (Aibanizu in Japanese) is a guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki.
Ibanez is one of the few Japanese owned musical instrument establishments to gain ground in guitar importation into the United States and Europe. It is also the first guitar brand to produce in mass a seven-string guitar and eight-string guitar.
A report in 2017 showed that they had marketed over 130 acoustic guitars, 165 models of bass guitars, and over 300 electric guitars.
Although the name Ibanez is of Spanish origin, we cannot place any correlation between it and Ibanez as a company.
Why Ibanez is the best?
Ibanez produces quality guitars and basses for both beginners, intermediate and even top-notch instruments for expert players- all at reasonable prices.
They make sure to include all forms of players on their checklist with a guitar to suit every need.
Over the years, Ibanez has gone from being entangled in legal issues because they were creating quality replicas of American guitars to making their own styles. They’ve successfully transitioned from being followers to being industry leaders.
They have quality in-house hardware and innovative designs which have made them one of the most choicest guitar brands in the industry.
How many hours should you practice guitar in a day?
One hour is the ideal time to set for your guitar practice each day. 15 minutes to one hour is fine. However, if you want to train longer than that, split up the practice sessions by 20 minutes for the best of results.
Training for more than two hours is not advisable as you may get bored and tired. There is also the tendency of forgetting the initial things practiced because of mental fatigue.
So the best bet is to train 15 minutes to one hour for more effectiveness.