Head to head
Ibanez miKro GSRM20 vs Yamaha BB234
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets (Under $300 against $300 - $500), and the scale lengths are not the same (28.6" against 34"). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 21 rows that actually differ marked out.
miKro GSRM20
Transparent Red
A real bass at three-quarter size — the answer for small hands and small rooms
BB234
Yellow Natural Satin
The workhorse BB formula at its entry point, and a genuinely narrow neck
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Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Ibanez miKro GSRM208.2
- Yamaha BB2348.3
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Specification by specification
| miKro GSRM20 | BB234 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Ibanez | Yamaha |
| Model | miKro GSRM20 | BB234 |
| Finish | Transparent Red | Yellow Natural Satin |
| Instrument | Bass | Bass |
| Fretline score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Value for money | 10 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.6 / 5 (1,986) | 4.3 / 5 (66) |
| Price | Under $300 | $300 - $500 |
| Type | Short-scale electric bass | Electric bass |
| Body | miKro solidbody | BB double cutaway |
| Body wood | Poplar | Alder |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on |
| Neck wood | Maple (GSRM4) | Maple |
| Scale length | 28.6" (726 mm) | 34" (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Bound purpleheart or jatoba, depending on production run, with white dot inlays | Rosewood |
| Radius | — | 9.84" (250 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 21 |
| Fret size | Medium | — |
| Nut width | 38 mm | 1.575" (40 mm) |
| Bridge | B10 with 19 mm string spacing | Vintage-style fixed |
| Tuners | — | Lightweight open-gear |
| Neck pickup | Dynamix P split single-coil (passive) | Yamaha V3 split single-coil (Precision style), ceramic |
| Bridge pickup | Dynamix J single-coil (passive) | Yamaha V3 single-coil (Jazz style), ceramic |
| Configuration | PJ | PJ |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive |
| Controls | Neck pickup volume, bridge pickup volume, tone | Volume (neck), volume (bridge), master tone |
| Switching | — | None |
| Weight | — | Around 8.8 lb (4 kg) |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Styles | Rock, Pop, Punk, Indie, Funk, Blues | Rock, Pop, Funk, Blues, Indie, Country, Punk |
| In the box | — | — |
A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Most versatile
Ibanez miKro GSRM20Highest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez miKro GSRM20Highest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Yamaha BB234Strongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Yamaha BB234Build and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.