I've had a Squier mini now for several months. Fitted with D'Addario 11's it holds standard tuning without a problem and has 5 really distinctive tones for each of the switch positions. It's the electric I now play more than any others that I have and for couch noodling it is unbeatable. The tone control is also excellent - unlike the one on my Squier Standard Strat which barely does anything.
Not a kid, not looking to buy a kid, just someone who gets really tired (annoyingly small) hands trying to play anything that needs much stretch. After dreaming of having the money for a Brian May, as it's a 24" and my lovely but straining Westone is 25.5, I've discovered these "minis" that a lot of people keep saying "It's not a proper guitar, it's for kids". Wanting to figure out which to go for, and was still indecisive until... The Ibanez comes in pink, you say? Sold!
*_My Wife’s boyfriend’s son couldn’t decide, so I bought him both. Turns out he doesn’t really like guitar, so my Wife’s boyfriend plays them most of the time._*
@@helena_5456 I bought a normal size Fender Squier affinity and my hands seem to fit just about right, I can't get a Lot of fret distance but I can make bar chords! If this is any help If you think about buying one, or just go to a store and test some out
@Abraham Sink I have practiced really little, I'm mad at myself but definitely feel more comfortable and looking back at it I'm glad I didn't get the mini one, the normal size feels about right, but I'm left handed and bought a right handed one so there's definitely some changes and s little uncomfortable but as soon as I get much better I'll invest in a left handed one
@Abraham Sink at least you got it! That's a start, my strat is the fender started kit, nothing fancy and was used so it was cheaper, hopefully one day I can come back and bring a good upsdste lmao
Thank you for this! I’m in the market for my first electric guitar. I finally bought an acoustic Junior Yamaha after having learned to play ukulele for a year. For a petite (5ft) adult beginner with small hands, the Mini Strat looks doable. I tried out a baby Ibanez in a local store and I could finally do a full F chord (with the thumb coming around the back though). Was torn between the Mini Strat and the Mikro, and you clarified a few things here. Thanks again!
I've had quite a lot of these 3/4 size guitars...and just put a full scale neck on my mini Strat...off an old Tokai... best of both worlds , a bit of adjustment and the neck fitted like a "dream" :)
I own one of each as travel guitars. The Squier Mini requied extensive modifications from filing down fret sprout to replacing the crap tuners and bridge as well as the electronics. The frets also needed to be dressed. Turned out fine. The Mikro required no modifications. I use .011 to .049 strings on both guitars.
Awesome! Thinking of getting the strat as a travel guitar, but do you reckon with some locking tuners and some elbow grease on the frets it would be reliable enough to gig with? Mainly will it ever stay in tune for more than 10 seconds? Haha
@@zacktheripper89 I play a the Squier mini in my Misfits cover band and have never had any tuning problems. And that's 30 minutes of relentless pummeling.
McKee always does excellent reviews. Great info, great presentation. I'm tempted to get the Torino Red for myself just for a travel guitar. Love Torino Red but is not offered much on medium priced point regular guitars. I'd love to find one with a Maple Neck but then you're looking at $2K for a Clapton model.
@@skayhitdalotto453 yea let me just upgrade to a set neck, route out the body to add tremolo, drill bigger holes for gotoh tuners, refret the neck... on a $150 guitar thats made of poplar.
Fossil Draws see now thats like knowing you want a mercedes and u get a honda , im referring to it like you can upgrade ur honda , better wheels , tints etc etc , and have it be higher end , but ina guitar way lol , im not saying u wrong bro i just got into guitars so im probably flat out wrong , but dont catch offense either
@@skayhitdalotto453 you're right, thats was a little aggressive and uncalled for. To better explain the problem instead of just being a dick, basically theres no mini Mercedes. No company builds high quality miniature guitars. They only produce Honda-level miniature (short scale) guitars, probably because they're mostly bought for children. You can certainly improve them with better electronics, but there's only so far you can bring them up.
@@EnvyOw Short scale guitars are not just for kids, they are a great alternative. I have one 3/4 electric and two 7/8 scale electrics. They are excellent the ones I have. They were set up by a pro. They all did not play well outta the box. I do have full scale also.
If any of you have any tuning problems I suggest replacing the factory tuning heads on it with (Grover Rotomatic Mini Self Locking Machine Heads...) About $100 online.
The Ibanez MiKro now comes with a 5-way switch, and it wins hands-down over the Fender. We tried both in-store and the Fender feels more like a toy compared to the MiKro, due to fit and finish largely. We bought a Mikro for our son 6 months ago and he loves it. Before I even gave it to him, I swapped the strings out for 11s, because as our man in the vid says, the strings either guitar come with are way too slinky. When I next change the strings, we will go for 12s as on short scales, you do need to be aware that the tuning is really touchy - 12s should stabilise the tuning out a little.
The Mikro is badass. I changed the bridge, to a $10 top loader off Amazon and built a custom 11-48 string set for it. Intonating them is a real challenge, but with the new bridge and strings, its got rock solid tuning stability. $15 Fleor bridge pickup and better electronics will make it sound bigger.
@@brooke1639 I just measured my son's Ibanez Mikro and it has a 4mm nut width, (which is .4 mm narrower than my fairly narrow Álvarez acoustic guitar). The Squirer Mini Strat is wider than both, with a 40.6 mm nut width according to on-line specs. The Mikro has a very slightly shorter scale length compared with the Mini Strat. Having done an in-store comparison at GuitarGuitar, there is no way I'd but the Mini Strat for anyone. Current UK prices are £139 for the Strat and £189 for the Mikro. It's honestly worth saving up the pennies for the extra £50. The Ibanez feels and handles and sounds like a quality instrument, whereas the Squirer Mini Strat feels like a toy. My son has had his Mikro for just over a year now (he's just turned 7) and he cherishes his Ibanez.
@@padrejohnruffle how very kind of you to go to this effort, I'm kind of a bit lost for words which is very unusual for me 😁 Your recommendations are most helpful as are the specs. Thank you so much for taking the time out to check and write all this, it is very much appreciated 🤗🎸
Bought a used mini strat for $100. The seller was a guitar play that bought it for his daughter, had it professional setup, frets dressed, and the daughter lost interest. Lucky me got a nice playing mini strat that's been professionally setup and doesn't have a scratch on it. Did not get a case or gig bag. Note; Not only is it a shorter scale but the neck is also slightly narrower and might take some getting used to. I like the sound and it's fun to play.
Thanks for the video. You are playing a Squier Mini V2, and I read a lot of complains about the tuners in previous version. I wonder if the V2 has got better tuners...
I got the Jackson minion,would not stay in tune for nothing. Found if I wrapped the last three strings backwards the strings didn't pull through the nut at such an extreme angle and put plenty of graphite in nut slots. Pretty happy with it now.
I got talked out of the Squier Mini & Ibanez miKro guitars, even though it was all I really wanted out of an electric guitar. But I found a used, Indonesian COR-Tek 2005 Squier black logo Bullet that has a slightly thinner/smaller footprint & is more agile than a full sized Affinity series Strat, yet has the full scale 25.5 fretboard,. It has 3 single coil, 5 way switch & 1 vol/2 tone knobs, so there are no real sacrifices. The Bullet neck feels skinnier, and the head stock is narrower. The Affinity Strat has that broader head stock, the tuner machines don't have as much extra space from the top most tuner to the tip of the head stock and that reduction of wasted wood might be worth 1/2 inch of total guitar length, but it makes a huge difference in the feel of the guitar. I put a set of PRS 9.5's on it & love it. My Bullet isn't the greatest guitar on the planet, but it's fine for my needs. My 3rd guitar is an Epiphone LP Special I with P90's. That one has a thicker body, just feels huge with the 12": radius fretboard and additional weight of Mahogany as a single cut out LP style. Another thing that effects feel is finish, stained vs polyurethane & similar coatings. The Epiphone feels and plays nicer for cleaner tones. The Affinity & Bullet have 9.5" fretboards, just that the Bullet's neck is narrower by 1/8" at the nut, which probably is that way up and down the length of the fretboard/neck.
We looked at the Jackson as well. Subjective I know but the MiKro seemed to have a better finished neck. Then the deal-maker for us was our son seeing a MiKro in a picture in blue burst finish. I pretended I hadn't noticed his enthusiasm, then 9 months later.. it was his Christmas Day surprise!
Tune, and please, please for the love of GOD, learn how to play. Get in touch I'll give you free Skype lessons. Please bud, I'll give all the knowledge I have, wich isnt much, but its lightyears more than you currently have. Please stop embarrassing yourself. You must own the store. Nobody would pay you to play like this on their channel. Hit me up. I'm here for you.
I just ordered the Ibanez but with a maple neck. I am an old man who has played over sixty years, but now my small hands have joined with my stiff old man fingers to really make it hard to play. I am hoping this helps me out. Thank you for the review even if I am seven years late to the party.
I thinking of getting one and tuning it at least a whole step higher. Even put on lighter strings and tune it a 4th higher. Kind of an alto guitar. Any reason why it can't be done?
I have a candy apple red ibanez mikro guitar 🎸I just had Dave guitar luther tec at KSM music in Logan Utah put black winter humbucker pickups in it and locking tuners on and new amber speed knobs on it
Dang it man! I wish I knew about these guitars before I bought my latest 2 cheap guitars. I have a Ibanez Gio much like this mini one except mine is standard size when I much rather have the smaller scale because of my small hands and to practice finger exercises to have better dexterity. I bought it for about the same price as this mini is. But I bought off EBay and it was originally listed as a left handed guitar which was my main reason for wanting another guitar because I’ve never actually owned a left handed guitar. I just learned how to play on right handed guitars upside down for several years before switching the nut and string around to be stringed like a left handed guitar. So when the Gio was shipped to my house that’s when I realized it wasn’t a left handed guitar but a right. And then later I bought a cheap brand guitar by Glarry guitars it’s left handed, it’s a Strat style body in a cool green finish with maple fretboard. But I’m just learning how smaller scale guitars mean easier to play for people with smaller hands. I always assumed smaller scales like a Les Paul just meant it didn’t have as many frets as say like a 24 fret guitar so I was never into them. Wish I could resell this right handed Ibanez Gio so I could buy a mini Ibanez like the one in your video! Everything about it sounds perfect for me with the smaller scale than even the Squire Mini AND still has 24 frets!I’ve rarely owned a guitar that just fit me perfectly so I could play at my best with comfortability. But sucks it would even be harder to find a cheap one for left handed like I want. I used to own a Dean ML mini that was grey in color but I ended up selling it because it was right handed and I wanted a left handed. And didn’t even realize that guitar scale was shorter or I would have kept it.
Ordered one strictly because all my other electrics are either pricey or cumbersome to take places. For the price this thing is a no brainer to throw in the trunk with my Spark mini (and soon GO) and have tasty licks on the go in a small and also carefree package that I won't be so worried about.
How can they but great guitars if they don't stay in tune? I have the Fender and just ordered Fender locking tuners , hopefully that will help it. The links don't work.
What about the small guitar with the tuning stability? I don't need the vibrato lever and could attach the string block with an additional spring ... would that help in terms of tuning stability? I'm looking for a guitar like this because I'm looking for a small, light guitar because of back problems. I mean the Squire Guitar
"upcharge" - new one on me and sounds decidedly non PC ... but excellent comparative review and demo. Squier still sounded way out tune unless you were using some freaky avant garde scale. Ibanez sounded much better than I expected when played clean but for many folks who demo this guitar, it's for shred and they whack everything up to max which disguises everything in the way of basic tones. You don't do that from the outset, and for that alone you deserve a gold star and a free cup of coffee. Thanks.
It shouldn't take you much time to get used to the difference but once you get used to the normal guitar then pick up a mini guitar it will feel tiny and really easy to play
I have the metallic purple ibanez mikro with the 5 way switch. Had sweetwater install locking tuners, grathtech nut, and plek the neck. I then put in a set of gfs vintage liverpool pickups to brighten the sound. Easily the equal of my gibson Firebird and Godin Ct.
FWIW, I enjoy both guitars. A blues player I know toured the South using only a stock Squier Mini - long story, but the upshot is he made that "toy" SING. It's also the easiest way for anyone who swears by the Strat to try a hardtail version without all the jangly vibrato hardware. And I just bought a used Mikro for $50 and am really enjoying it. However, I'm really VERY done with the "kids NEED short-scale guitars!"/"short-scale guitars are for kids!" nonsense. I'm an adult with small hands, and I've been playing 1:1 guitars since I was 13 - as well as 12-string, mandolin, and bass (short- AND long-scale). Want to help out us small-handed people? How about maybe making a few instruments with NARROWER necks? All you sausage-fingered throwbacks (😁) might shrivel at the thought, but maybe some of us would like to maybe ONCE wrap our thumb around like Jimi. 👍
I got that ibanez one and I bought my 12yr old neice that pink strat I'm teaching her guitar atm so it's cool we both got a lil guitar going hhahah. Plus she likes it so lol. What matters.
The tuners on these tend to be the weak link. Any recommendation on replacement tuners that don't require routing out the holes? Check out Phil McKnight moding a 3/4 scale guitar, he polished the frets and put on thicker strings.
I've got students that own both the Squire and Mikro, as well as stringing them up with heavier gauges, you can also avoid pressing down hard when chording. Overall the Mikro is better IMHO. The Squire is also annoyingly fiddly to restring.
Planning on buying a Ibanez mikros small scale guitar really reasonable used with nice gig bag for$85 what do you think? I have2 other ibanez's one is a gio I like, second is the gioDX170? I also like! I Bought both guitars used the gio got from muscian friend if I remember correctly $40+s/h. The gio DX170 I DON'T REMEMBER was $80+s/h. I usally buy used for the lower price! This mikro is from a private owner, like I said he wanted $90 w/o the gig bag, said to make an offer! I offered $70 then he asked if I wanted gigbag at $20 told him didn't need, I have a few bags myself then we decided on $85 total asked if he could wait til 1st of month yes was the answer! so gonna take a lil road trip about 60miles or there about, 1st of NOV. will be my birthday present this year! Lol who else am I going to spend my money on? Being retired is sweet who new 60yrs old could be so fun? Worked all my life after retiring from the NAVY, damn I'd almost do it all over again! Who the hell said that? Shut your mouth, do not want to hear that nonsense! Lmao! Time to enjoy life, mobile home paid for! Both cars paid for! At least when I received my social security I put most of the payment to good use and did not blow it! Yes I retired from life at 50 yrs. Find a good paying job save and scrimp and get most of what you want and everything you need now time to enjoy! That's me in a nutshell, life is good most of all give praise and glory to GOD! WITHOUT GOD I AM AND HAVE NOTHING! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE GOD, AND YOUR SON MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST OF NAZERETH! I GIVE YOU MY HEART, SOUL AND LIFE! THAT I PLACE IN YOUR HANDS AND LOVING ARMS. AMEN!
especially love the last part of your statement - Jesus all the way!!! p.s.: I only play minis: I have two full sized, but now they just sit in their bags ...
I was looking at the Squier minis... right up until I saw the Paul Stanley Mikro from Ibanez. If I'm going to get a fun little travel rig, it should look that ridiculous.
You can tune most guitars up to Nashville tuning by just using the octave strings off of a 12 string set but if your asking if you could just tune this up with standard strings to a Nashville tuning then no this wouldn't work
I have basal joint arthritis and these mini guitars have been a godsend! So, my Fender was not set up from the factory. It would have been nice if they got it close, but I could have flown a plane under the strings. And the intonation…. Also have right handed volume and tone knob.
I got a Squier Strat Mini and upgraded all the parts. Full size pots, nice switch, alnico pickups, new bridge & tuners and it is an awesome guitar. I put super light strings on it and tuned it way up to G or A standard. Really interesting tones and fun to play and record with.
"A manly colour of pink." Funny you should say that. I was about to comment that I have a silly bias against pink guitars, but the more I see men playing them on youtube, the more I think maybe I should wise up. I'd like to point out that children are not the only ones who may need small guitars. I am an older adult with short arms and fingers (and arthritis) and when I get a small scale guitar, I will (unfortunately) not outgrow it, so it would be nice if they put more quality into small body guitars instead of assuming they will be temporary.
its got a longer scale length than a rickenbacker 325 by 1 3/4 inch if such a short scale was enough for john lennon its good enough for anyone its good enough for me...i want one skol Wulf
@@AlamoMusic hey, thanks for the reply. When you say standard for the models do you mean any rg? Or standard for a mikro? If the later I probably couldn't put a regular rg pick up on there right?
There can be a few exceptions. All of the under saddle pickups should work but direct contact pickups and soundboard microphone pickups can have issues with smaller bracing patterns.
As this guy said, do scales that stretch out your hand and you will see progress in within weeks and months. i couldnt even do thunderstruck before because my stretching was pretty weak
@@davidkastin4240 how do you differentiate 3/4 and 7/8, as those terms are such misnomers. Like this strat mini is actually around 8/9 of a regular strat scale length.
@@juicysuit7195 Example, a full size Strat is 25.5 scale lenght, 7/8 is 24.75, 3/4 is 24 and mini is about 22 inches. All measurements are from the nut to the bridge
Paul Gilbert used to play a pink guitar in the 80s . Pink is not a Girls colour i can prove it as remember Bret Hart used to dress in Pink back in the old WWE days
I wish this video was more like a Squire vs ibanez like title says" rather than an Advertisement, It's clearly an advertisement and the title should be changed, As soon as he said this manly color of pink" I already knew I'm wasting my time watching this, I'm trying to figure out which guitar to buy for my kid and I've already bought 2 of the Squire minis And both of them would not stay in tune When playing a chord, You can tune it 5 times stretch out the strings do a whole guitar set up on it And the tuner will say it's in tune but when you hit a chord it will still sound out of tune because the intonation sucks maybe my luck I got to badd straws of this brand but I highly doubt it, And from other videos I watch where thee really compare these two showed the ibamez is a lot better, This title is misleading, And for people looking up this video this video does not help.
I've been playing most stringy things for a long time. Steel guitar is probably my MAIN line now (though I don't know any country). But I started looking at five-string octave mandolins - tuned C-G--D-A-E low to high. Tuned in fifths it's easy to get BEE-EEG intervals. The custom mandolin guys can build them for $1500+, OR you can convert a little guitar. SO FAR, the only one worth the effort is the ESP LTD Juniors. Now discontinued... Jesus dude, the Squires and Mikros are GARBAGE instruments. The ESP surprised me with the workmanship. Oh well, at least I'm learning which retailers will say ANYTHING for a sale.
the plan is, having a kid, waiting 7-8 years, buy him the ibanez, play it myself.
Seemz fair
super fair
Well it’s been a year? What’s the update?
This kind of plan works in my own experience
I’m there now lmao my kid is 1 and I’m already telling my wife he really needs one hahahaha
I've had a Squier mini now for several months. Fitted with D'Addario 11's it holds standard tuning without a problem and has 5 really distinctive tones for each of the switch positions. It's the electric I now play more than any others that I have and for couch noodling it is unbeatable. The tone control is also excellent - unlike the one on my Squier Standard Strat which barely does anything.
I bought the Ibanez for my son but I seem to play it more, it’s just so fun to use.
ikr
Ik, it has a really nice metal tone. My friend has one im looking to buy from him. It also basically just plays itself because of its size.
Not a kid, not looking to buy a kid, just someone who gets really tired (annoyingly small) hands trying to play anything that needs much stretch. After dreaming of having the money for a Brian May, as it's a 24" and my lovely but straining Westone is 25.5, I've discovered these "minis" that a lot of people keep saying "It's not a proper guitar, it's for kids".
Wanting to figure out which to go for, and was still indecisive until... The Ibanez comes in pink, you say?
Sold!
Glad to hear it!
*_My Wife’s boyfriend’s son couldn’t decide, so I bought him both. Turns out he doesn’t really like guitar, so my Wife’s boyfriend plays them most of the time._*
What
Did he make you sleep on the couch too?
dude..
Sicko
I have many questions
I'm not a child but my hands are lmao, I think Imma get one of this
@@helena_5456 I bought a normal size Fender Squier affinity and my hands seem to fit just about right, I can't get a Lot of fret distance but I can make bar chords! If this is any help If you think about buying one, or just go to a store and test some out
@Abraham Sink I have practiced really little, I'm mad at myself but definitely feel more comfortable and looking back at it I'm glad I didn't get the mini one, the normal size feels about right, but I'm left handed and bought a right handed one so there's definitely some changes and s little uncomfortable but as soon as I get much better I'll invest in a left handed one
@Abraham Sink at least you got it! That's a start, my strat is the fender started kit, nothing fancy and was used so it was cheaper, hopefully one day I can come back and bring a good upsdste lmao
I think I'll get one just because it's cute.
im a bass player, i wan't something just smaller
Thank you for this! I’m in the market for my first electric guitar. I finally bought an acoustic Junior Yamaha after having learned to play ukulele for a year. For a petite (5ft) adult beginner with small hands, the Mini Strat looks doable. I tried out a baby Ibanez in a local store and I could finally do a full F chord (with the thumb coming around the back though). Was torn between the Mini Strat and the Mikro, and you clarified a few things here. Thanks again!
Which one did you go for? :)
Hope you went for the Mikro - ours is in blue burst and it's awesome to look at, awesome to play and it's got the feel of a mini-grown-up guitar.
I don't know if you already made the choice, but if not , go with the Mikro. Just looks and feels great.
I've had quite a lot of these 3/4 size guitars...and just put a full scale neck on my mini Strat...off an old Tokai... best of both worlds , a bit of adjustment and the neck fitted like a "dream" :)
I own one of each as travel guitars. The Squier Mini requied extensive modifications from filing down fret sprout to replacing the crap tuners and bridge as well as the electronics. The frets also needed to be dressed. Turned out fine.
The Mikro required no modifications. I use .011 to .049 strings on both guitars.
Awesome! Thinking of getting the strat as a travel guitar, but do you reckon with some locking tuners and some elbow grease on the frets it would be reliable enough to gig with? Mainly will it ever stay in tune for more than 10 seconds? Haha
@@zacktheripper89 I play a the Squier mini in my Misfits cover band and have never had any tuning problems. And that's 30 minutes of relentless pummeling.
@@juicysuit7195 If you play it as physically hard as Doyle does, that's impressive.
@@zacktheripper89 Strat: Short (scale) answer is: "no". MiKro: Short (scale) answer is: "yes".
*8:05** Sound Start*
Thanks
@@fxexpert4541 okay
McKee always does excellent reviews. Great info, great presentation. I'm tempted to get the Torino Red for myself just for a travel guitar. Love Torino Red but is not offered much on medium priced point regular guitars. I'd love to find one with a Maple Neck but then you're looking at $2K for a Clapton model.
I got one for my birthday and I love it.
I have a Paul gilbert ibanez mikro. Its become my main guitar.
I just wish that there were higher end models available in the shorter scale.
Reasons why you’re able to upgrade parts on your guitar , to make it high end
@@skayhitdalotto453 yea let me just upgrade to a set neck, route out the body to add tremolo, drill bigger holes for gotoh tuners, refret the neck... on a $150 guitar thats made of poplar.
Fossil Draws see now thats like knowing you want a mercedes and u get a honda , im referring to it like you can upgrade ur honda , better wheels , tints etc etc , and have it be higher end , but ina guitar way lol , im not saying u wrong bro i just got into guitars so im probably flat out wrong , but dont catch offense either
@@skayhitdalotto453 you're right, thats was a little aggressive and uncalled for.
To better explain the problem instead of just being a dick, basically theres no mini Mercedes. No company builds high quality miniature guitars. They only produce Honda-level miniature (short scale) guitars, probably because they're mostly bought for children. You can certainly improve them with better electronics, but there's only so far you can bring them up.
Plan on changing tuners nut and sometimes saddles because they do not stay in tune.
I have chronic pain in my wrist i have a mini acoustic and now im planning on getting a mini electric.
Is a short scale electric an alternative to full size?? Or are short scales only for kids
@@EnvyOw Short scale guitars are not just for kids, they are a great alternative. I have one 3/4 electric and two 7/8 scale electrics. They are excellent the ones I have. They were set up by a pro. They all did not play well outta the box. I do have full scale also.
Cbd oil is actually helping me a bit.
If any of you have any tuning problems I suggest replacing the factory tuning heads on it with (Grover Rotomatic Mini Self Locking Machine Heads...)
About $100 online.
The Ibanez MiKro now comes with a 5-way switch, and it wins hands-down over the Fender. We tried both in-store and the Fender feels more like a toy compared to the MiKro, due to fit and finish largely. We bought a Mikro for our son 6 months ago and he loves it. Before I even gave it to him, I swapped the strings out for 11s, because as our man in the vid says, the strings either guitar come with are way too slinky. When I next change the strings, we will go for 12s as on short scales, you do need to be aware that the tuning is really touchy - 12s should stabilise the tuning out a little.
The Mikro is badass. I changed the bridge, to a $10 top loader off Amazon and built a custom 11-48 string set for it. Intonating them is a real challenge, but with the new bridge and strings, its got rock solid tuning stability.
$15 Fleor bridge pickup and better electronics will make it sound bigger.
I am considering getting the mikro. I have small hands but it appears that the neck is extra thick (width wise) have you noticed this?
@@brooke1639 I just measured my son's Ibanez Mikro and it has a 4mm nut width, (which is .4 mm narrower than my fairly narrow Álvarez acoustic guitar). The Squirer Mini Strat is wider than both, with a 40.6 mm nut width according to on-line specs. The Mikro has a very slightly shorter scale length compared with the Mini Strat. Having done an in-store comparison at GuitarGuitar, there is no way I'd but the Mini Strat for anyone. Current UK prices are £139 for the Strat and £189 for the Mikro. It's honestly worth saving up the pennies for the extra £50. The Ibanez feels and handles and sounds like a quality instrument, whereas the Squirer Mini Strat feels like a toy. My son has had his Mikro for just over a year now (he's just turned 7) and he cherishes his Ibanez.
@@padrejohnruffle how very kind of you to go to this effort, I'm kind of a bit lost for words which is very unusual for me 😁 Your recommendations are most helpful as are the specs. Thank you so much for taking the time out to check and write all this, it is very much appreciated 🤗🎸
Bought a used mini strat for $100. The seller was a guitar play that bought it for his daughter, had it professional setup, frets dressed, and the daughter lost interest. Lucky me got a nice playing mini strat that's been professionally setup and doesn't have a scratch on it. Did not get a case or gig bag.
Note; Not only is it a shorter scale but the neck is also slightly narrower and might take some getting used to. I like the sound and it's fun to play.
My Squier Mini is actually Red but I kinda made some modifications to it to make it sound more rocker style
Such as?
Thanks for the video. You are playing a Squier Mini V2, and I read a lot of complains about the tuners in previous version. I wonder if the V2 has got better tuners...
There is a Mini Jazzmaster review that bags out the new Squier Mini.
@@Mark70609 bags out? Not being sarcastic at all, just wondering if that means the jazzmaster is much better?
I am smaller sized so these guitars would be awesome for someone like me!
I got the Jackson minion,would not stay in tune for nothing. Found if I wrapped the last three strings backwards the strings didn't pull through the nut at such an extreme angle and put plenty of graphite in nut slots. Pretty happy with it now.
I got talked out of the Squier Mini & Ibanez miKro guitars, even though it was all I really wanted out of an electric guitar. But I found a used, Indonesian COR-Tek 2005 Squier black logo Bullet that has a slightly thinner/smaller footprint & is more agile than a full sized Affinity series Strat, yet has the full scale 25.5 fretboard,. It has 3 single coil, 5 way switch & 1 vol/2 tone knobs, so there are no real sacrifices. The Bullet neck feels skinnier, and the head stock is narrower. The Affinity Strat has that broader head stock, the tuner machines don't have as much extra space from the top most tuner to the tip of the head stock and that reduction of wasted wood might be worth 1/2 inch of total guitar length, but it makes a huge difference in the feel of the guitar. I put a set of PRS 9.5's on it & love it. My Bullet isn't the greatest guitar on the planet, but it's fine for my needs. My 3rd guitar is an Epiphone LP Special I with P90's. That one has a thicker body, just feels huge with the 12": radius fretboard and additional weight of Mahogany as a single cut out LP style. Another thing that effects feel is finish, stained vs polyurethane & similar coatings. The Epiphone feels and plays nicer for cleaner tones. The Affinity & Bullet have 9.5" fretboards, just that the Bullet's neck is narrower by 1/8" at the nut, which probably is that way up and down the length of the fretboard/neck.
we've had both and the mikro is way better quality.
but even better is that Jackson mini V. very good quality
We looked at the Jackson as well. Subjective I know but the MiKro seemed to have a better finished neck. Then the deal-maker for us was our son seeing a MiKro in a picture in blue burst finish. I pretended I hadn't noticed his enthusiasm, then 9 months later.. it was his Christmas Day surprise!
Please tune....
Tune, and please, please for the love of GOD, learn how to play. Get in touch I'll give you free Skype lessons. Please bud, I'll give all the knowledge I have, wich isnt much, but its lightyears more than you currently have. Please stop embarrassing yourself. You must own the store. Nobody would pay you to play like this on their channel. Hit me up. I'm here for you.
Pliss
Don Ball *_LOL_*
@@dball5243 ill take that offer for free skype lessons :)
I just ordered the Ibanez but with a maple neck. I am an old man who has played over sixty years, but now my small hands have joined with my stiff old man fingers to really make it hard to play. I am hoping this helps me out. Thank you for the review even if I am seven years late to the party.
I thinking of getting one and tuning it at least a whole step higher. Even put on lighter strings and tune it a 4th higher. Kind of an alto guitar. Any reason why it can't be done?
Good idea to get the nut files out on the squier when going up string gauges. That’ll be why it’s tuning is erratic after bends.
I have a candy apple red ibanez mikro guitar 🎸I just had Dave guitar luther tec at KSM music in Logan Utah put black winter humbucker pickups in it and locking tuners on and new amber speed knobs on it
Dang it man! I wish I knew about these guitars before I bought my latest 2 cheap guitars. I have a Ibanez Gio much like this mini one except mine is standard size when I much rather have the smaller scale because of my small hands and to practice finger exercises to have better dexterity. I bought it for about the same price as this mini is. But I bought off EBay and it was originally listed as a left handed guitar which was my main reason for wanting another guitar because I’ve never actually owned a left handed guitar. I just learned how to play on right handed guitars upside down for several years before switching the nut and string around to be stringed like a left handed guitar. So when the Gio was shipped to my house that’s when I realized it wasn’t a left handed guitar but a right. And then later I bought a cheap brand guitar by Glarry guitars it’s left handed, it’s a Strat style body in a cool green finish with maple fretboard. But I’m just learning how smaller scale guitars mean easier to play for people with smaller hands. I always assumed smaller scales like a Les Paul just meant it didn’t have as many frets as say like a 24 fret guitar so I was never into them. Wish I could resell this right handed Ibanez Gio so I could buy a mini Ibanez like the one in your video! Everything about it sounds perfect for me with the smaller scale than even the Squire Mini AND still has 24 frets!I’ve rarely owned a guitar that just fit me perfectly so I could play at my best with comfortability. But sucks it would even be harder to find a cheap one for left handed like I want. I used to own a Dean ML mini that was grey in color but I ended up selling it because it was right handed and I wanted a left handed. And didn’t even realize that guitar scale was shorter or I would have kept it.
thanks for the info! any idea which of these guitars is lighter? :)
Acccording to Guitar Center,The Ibanez weighs 9 lbs and the squier is 8 and a half....seems kinda heavy.
11 gauge string is a must for this mikro guitar to set the intonation right
Same for the Squier - I fitted 11's and there have been no problems at all with standard tuning. I also changed the tuners, just in case.
Ordered one strictly because all my other electrics are either pricey or cumbersome to take places. For the price this thing is a no brainer to throw in the trunk with my Spark mini (and soon GO) and have tasty licks on the go in a small and also carefree package that I won't be so worried about.
How can they but great guitars if they don't stay in tune?
I have the Fender and just ordered Fender locking tuners , hopefully that will help it.
The links don't work.
Exactly, not staying in tune is a deal breaker.
What about the small guitar with the tuning stability? I don't need the vibrato lever and could attach the string block with an additional spring ... would that help in terms of tuning stability? I'm looking for a guitar like this because I'm looking for a small, light guitar because of back problems.
I mean the Squire Guitar
"upcharge" - new one on me and sounds decidedly non PC ... but excellent comparative review and demo. Squier still sounded way out tune unless you were using some freaky avant garde scale. Ibanez sounded much better than I expected when played clean but for many folks who demo this guitar, it's for shred and they whack everything up to max which disguises everything in the way of basic tones. You don't do that from the outset, and for that alone you deserve a gold star and a free cup of coffee. Thanks.
If I learn on the Ibanez, would it be an adjustment switching later to a standard size?
It shouldn't take you much time to get used to the difference but once you get used to the normal guitar then pick up a mini guitar it will feel tiny and really easy to play
No. I'm a kid and I'm just fine with a normal guitar. I'm getting a MIM strat in a few months, tried it and it's really not hard
I have the metallic purple ibanez mikro with the 5 way switch. Had sweetwater install locking tuners, grathtech nut, and plek the neck. I then put in a set of gfs vintage liverpool pickups to brighten the sound. Easily the equal of my gibson Firebird and Godin Ct.
WOW!
I was wondering if both guitars can be tuned to a standard E tuning or are you forced to tune A-A because of the short scale. Thanks!
I have the ibanez and I have mine tuned down a half step and it stays perfectly in tune...
They are designed to hold standard e-e tuning
Gonna play a little guitar,.........funny!
I have sore, stiff fingers these days. Just wondering if these do work with 11s?
FWIW, I enjoy both guitars. A blues player I know toured the South using only a stock Squier Mini - long story, but the upshot is he made that "toy" SING. It's also the easiest way for anyone who swears by the Strat to try a hardtail version without all the jangly vibrato hardware. And I just bought a used Mikro for $50 and am really enjoying it.
However, I'm really VERY done with the "kids NEED short-scale guitars!"/"short-scale guitars are for kids!" nonsense. I'm an adult with small hands, and I've been playing 1:1 guitars since I was 13 - as well as 12-string, mandolin, and bass (short- AND long-scale).
Want to help out us small-handed people? How about maybe making a few instruments with NARROWER necks? All you sausage-fingered throwbacks (😁) might shrivel at the thought, but maybe some of us would like to maybe ONCE wrap our thumb around like Jimi. 👍
I got that ibanez one and I bought my 12yr old neice that pink strat I'm teaching her guitar atm so it's cool we both got a lil guitar going hhahah. Plus she likes it so lol.
What matters.
The tuners on these tend to be the weak link. Any recommendation on replacement tuners that don't require routing out the holes? Check out Phil McKnight moding a 3/4 scale guitar, he polished the frets and put on thicker strings.
PLANET WAVES AUTO-TRIM TUNING MACHINES
They're like 200 bucks but
Or the Grover mini tuners
Get the Grover ones
do you use a noise gate or is that just the amp that is making those buckers sound extremely single coil (in terms of tone, not hums).
im 16 and my 7 year old brother has as big hands as me 💀💀 ibanez would acc be such a good solution TT
Wait so what’s a normal size electric guitar you recommend for metal
I've got students that own both the Squire and Mikro, as well as stringing them up with heavier gauges, you can also avoid pressing down hard when chording. Overall the Mikro is better IMHO. The Squire is also annoyingly fiddly to restring.
My ibanez is white. It's good for heavy stuff. It's so far awesome. Its lasted for years
do you sell Alamo Amps? I got mine in a pawn shop just off post of Fort Sam. Back in 1975
Is it play like normal Stratocaster electric guitar ?? Anynone reply please. I'm beginners
I own both. The Ibanez is way better, BUT you must put slower tuners on it (21:1) or you'll have trouble getting it in tune. The Strat.... It's a toy.
Planning on buying a Ibanez mikros small scale guitar really reasonable used with nice gig bag for$85 what do you think? I have2 other ibanez's one is a gio I like, second is the gioDX170? I also like! I Bought both guitars used the gio got from muscian friend if I remember correctly $40+s/h. The gio DX170 I DON'T REMEMBER was $80+s/h. I usally buy used for the lower price! This mikro is from a private owner, like I said he wanted $90 w/o the gig bag, said to make an offer! I offered $70 then he asked if I wanted gigbag at $20 told him didn't need, I have a few bags myself then we decided on $85 total asked if he could wait til 1st of month yes was the answer! so gonna take a lil road trip about 60miles or there about, 1st of NOV. will be my birthday present this year! Lol who else am I going to spend my money on? Being retired is sweet who new 60yrs old could be so fun? Worked all my life after retiring from the NAVY, damn I'd almost do it all over again! Who the hell said that? Shut your mouth, do not want to hear that nonsense! Lmao! Time to enjoy life, mobile home paid for! Both cars paid for! At least when I received my social security I put most of the payment to good use and did not blow it! Yes I retired from life at 50 yrs. Find a good paying job save and scrimp and get most of what you want and everything you need now time to enjoy! That's me in a nutshell, life is good most of all give praise and glory to GOD! WITHOUT GOD I AM AND HAVE NOTHING! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE GOD, AND YOUR SON MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST OF NAZERETH! I GIVE YOU MY HEART, SOUL AND LIFE! THAT I PLACE IN YOUR HANDS AND LOVING ARMS. AMEN!
Got all you need and can just chill and play guitar the rest of your life... sounds pretty sweet.
especially love the last part of your statement -
Jesus all the way!!!
p.s.: I only play minis: I have two full sized, but now they just sit in their bags ...
Am I right to say that the clean tone (without the dirt) is very thin on BOTH guitars?
8:06 wht not tune it again? the higher strings were out of tune. Maybe some 11s or 12s
Thank you so much. Very helpful
I was looking at the Squier minis... right up until I saw the Paul Stanley Mikro from Ibanez. If I'm going to get a fun little travel rig, it should look that ridiculous.
Can I have a code for Fender Academy?
Best advice from a pro!
Can these be tuned up to say Nashville tuning?
You can tune most guitars up to Nashville tuning by just using the octave strings off of a 12 string set but if your asking if you could just tune this up with standard strings to a Nashville tuning then no this wouldn't work
I replaced the tuners of the mini Squire with regular Fender tuners. Other than that there isn't much to complain about.
How much those string trees affect the sound?
I have basal joint arthritis and these mini guitars have been a godsend!
So, my Fender was not set up from the factory. It would have been nice if they got it close, but I could have flown a plane under the strings. And the intonation….
Also have right handed volume and tone knob.
Which one do you think is better overall? GRGM21M or PGMM31?
I got a Squier Strat Mini and upgraded all the parts. Full size pots, nice switch, alnico pickups, new bridge & tuners and it is an awesome guitar. I put super light strings on it and tuned it way up to G or A standard. Really interesting tones and fun to play and record with.
What bridge and tuners should I get for mine
The Squier does sound out of tune when he plays it.
I just want to be able to play it while in my car on break 😆
what is the neck radius on the ibanez?
thanks for the review !
Shark TOOTH inlays on the Ibanez. Shark FIN is Jackson. ;)
$140 guitar played through a thousand dollar amp.
Mood 😂
Yeah man needs a better amp
very good review
Does anyone know the first song he played?
I just can’t deal with the intonation issues with mini guitars. If there were higher tension strings available…
Put .011 or .012. gauged strings on one. Works great.
It's standard E Tuning, right?
Yes
The Ibanez has a 5 way switch. Just bought one.
Update: it sounds way to muddy. Hardly to play any clean. So I am selling the Mikro and go after the Squier mini.
The only thing I find a slight issue with the ibanez is that I would impale myself on those horns😂
Yes it might perforate your stomach if you're not careful haha
I might get one and file those fuckers down round and safe
"A manly colour of pink." Funny you should say that. I was about to comment that I have a silly bias against pink guitars, but the more I see men playing them on youtube, the more I think maybe I should wise up. I'd like to point out that children are not the only ones who may need small guitars. I am an older adult with short arms and fingers (and arthritis) and when I get a small scale guitar, I will (unfortunately) not outgrow it, so it would be nice if they put more quality into small body guitars instead of assuming they will be temporary.
its got a longer scale length than a rickenbacker 325 by 1 3/4 inch if such a short scale was enough for john lennon its good enough for anyone its good enough for me...i want one
skol
Wulf
My thoughts exactly! Learning to play All My Loving got me liking a short scale for faster complex chord changes.
Are the scratchy frets something you could polish out?
Chris Franklyn Yeah.
Chris Franklyn r
F
R
Hey in 2020 the mikros have 5 ways, at least on the purple one
are the pick ups regular size?
Standard for the models
@@AlamoMusic hey, thanks for the reply. When you say standard for the models do you mean any rg? Or standard for a mikro? If the later I probably couldn't put a regular rg pick up on there right?
There can be a few exceptions. All of the under saddle pickups should work but direct contact pickups and soundboard microphone pickups can have issues with smaller bracing patterns.
@@AlamoMusic darn that's unfortunate. The mikros look so much cooler than regular rgs. At least the kind that are on the market right now.
I bet the mikro is great for shredding
unfortunately im doomed to playing 3/4th size guitars... I cant play a majority of chords...
All you can do is play a full scale guitar and stretch out your hand
As this guy said, do scales that stretch out your hand and you will see progress in within weeks and months. i couldnt even do thunderstruck before because my stretching was pretty weak
I suggest you try a 7/8 scale electric. They are excellent. I have 2 of them
@@davidkastin4240 how do you differentiate 3/4 and 7/8, as those terms are such misnomers. Like this strat mini is actually around 8/9 of a regular strat scale length.
@@juicysuit7195 Example, a full size Strat is 25.5 scale lenght, 7/8 is 24.75, 3/4 is 24 and mini is about 22 inches. All measurements are from the nut to the bridge
that neon pink is hot fire. colors don't have genders
I wouldn’t feel my masculinity challenged by a pink guitar. Not many people would.
The back of the Squier's neck is slightly thicker than the Ibanez's. My Ibanez Mikro feels a lot better in my hands.
That pink strat really compliments your skin tone :)
"a little guitar".... man I must be tiny then cause my Squier mini is big to me lmaoo
Paul Gilbert used to play a pink guitar in the 80s . Pink is not a Girls colour i can prove it as remember Bret Hart used to dress in Pink back in the old WWE days
I have one and it can shred
m'y Squier is white
Nice video.
My ibanez is red
0:42 lol
I wish this video was more like a Squire vs ibanez like title says" rather than an Advertisement, It's clearly an advertisement and the title should be changed, As soon as he said this manly color of pink" I already knew I'm wasting my time watching this, I'm trying to figure out which guitar to buy for my kid and I've already bought 2 of the Squire minis And both of them would not stay in tune When playing a chord, You can tune it 5 times stretch out the strings do a whole guitar set up on it And the tuner will say it's in tune but when you hit a chord it will still sound out of tune because the intonation sucks maybe my luck I got to badd straws of this brand but I highly doubt it, And from other videos I watch where thee really compare these two showed the ibamez is a lot better, This title is misleading, And for people looking up this video this video does not help.
Squier Mini Strat Pembe Elektro Gitarda Geri Vokalde Squier Murat Boz İbrahim Ayhan Aktar
The squire was still out of tune
i have that to
I've been playing most stringy things for a long time. Steel guitar is probably my MAIN line now (though I don't know any country). But I started looking at five-string octave mandolins - tuned C-G--D-A-E low to high. Tuned in fifths it's easy to get BEE-EEG intervals. The custom mandolin guys can build them for $1500+, OR you can convert a little guitar. SO FAR, the only one worth the effort is the ESP LTD Juniors. Now discontinued... Jesus dude, the Squires and Mikros are GARBAGE instruments. The ESP surprised me with the workmanship. Oh well, at least I'm learning which retailers will say ANYTHING for a sale.
my fingers can do a 4 fret span on a fender strat. (im 11)
Mini is more than the mikro in canada but 10 bucks
Tuning was awful on these guitars - was tha the best you could achieve?