Ibanez SRMD200 Review — Is a Budget Medium-Scale Bass Worth It?
Most Ibanez SR basses use a standard 34″ scale. The SRMD200 — the SR Mezzo — takes the same SR idea and puts it on a 32″ medium-scale neck at a budget price. That’s worth paying attention to.
I spent time with this bass and came away with a clearer picture of who a shorter scale actually helps. If you’ve been curious about a medium-scale bass but couldn’t justify the price, the SRMD200 is an accessible entry point. Let me break down what you actually get.
Rating: 5/5
Verdict: The Ibanez SRMD200 (SR Mezzo) is a budget 4-string with a 32″ medium scale, a thin, light SR body and Dynamix P/J pickups with a 2-band EQ. Fretwork, nut and out-of-the-box action are good for the price, and the tone is clean and modern. It suits players who want to try a shorter scale without spending much. It is less suited to players who want tonal warmth and vintage character.
| Spec | Ibanez SRMD200 SR Mezzo |
|---|---|
| Scale | 32″ (812 mm) medium scale, single scale (not multiscale) |
| Body | Poplar, SR Mezzo shape |
| Neck / fretboard | Maple SRMD4 neck; maple fretboard, black dot inlays, 22 medium frets |
| Pickups | Dynamix P (neck) and Dynamix J (bridge), passive |
| Electronics | Ibanez Custom Electronics 2-band EQ |
| Controls | Volume, balancer, bass boost/cut, treble boost/cut |
| Bridge | B10, 19 mm string spacing |
| Strings | 4 (D’Addario EXL165, .045–.105), tuned E-A-D-G |
| Best for | players who want the SR feel on a shorter 32″ neck without spending much; players who want a low-risk way to find out whether a shorter scale works for them |
| Not for | players who prioritise tonal warmth and vintage character |
Free: Slap Bass Starter Pack
5 video lessons with slow-motion takes, drum loops and tabs. Enter your email and download it right away.
What “Mezzo” Actually Means
The SRMD200 is not a multiscale or fanned-fret bass. It’s a 4-string with conventional straight frets and a single 32″ (812 mm) scale — 2″ shorter than the 34″ scale used on most SR models. Mezzo means medium: this is a medium-scale bass.
The shorter scale puts the frets a little closer together than on a 34″ bass. Ibanez’s own claim is that the Mezzo still delivers a powerful low end despite the shorter neck.
Everything else about playing it — the feel, the technique, the approach — is essentially the same as any other bass once you spend a few hours with it.
The Learning Curve — Honest Assessment
There’s no fanned-fret learning curve here, because the frets are straight. The only adjustment is the scale. On a 32″ neck the frets sit closer together than on a standard 34″ bass, so if you switch between the two, your hand positions shift slightly.
For most players it’s not a significant barrier.
Build and Hardware
The SRMD200 uses the SR body shape — thin, contoured, lightweight. It’s one of the more comfortable body designs in the budget market and it works as well on the shorter Mezzo neck as on a standard SR. Poplar body, maple neck, maple fretboard with black dot inlays, 22 medium frets.
The frets are well dressed for a budget instrument — better than I expected at this price. The nut is properly cut. Action out of the box was playable without adjustment, which isn’t always the case on instruments at this price.
Hardware is basic Ibanez stock — a functional B10 bridge, standard tuners. Nothing remarkable, nothing problematic. The weight is light, the balance is good when strapped on. Long practice sessions don’t create shoulder fatigue.
The Pickups and Electronics
The SRMD200 uses Ibanez’s Dynamix pickups in a P/J layout — a passive Dynamix P pickup at the neck and a passive Dynamix J at the bridge. They run into Ibanez Custom Electronics 2-band EQ. The controls are volume, a balancer between the two pickups, and bass and treble boost/cut.
The tone is clean and modern.
The 2-band EQ gives you bass and treble shaping on board, which covers most playing contexts.
Who Should Buy the SRMD200
The SRMD200 makes most sense for players who want the SR feel on a shorter, 32″ medium-scale neck without spending much. It’s a low-risk way to find out whether a shorter scale works for you.
It’s less suited to players who prioritize tonal warmth and vintage character — the SR body and pickups lean modern and clean, which is the design intent but won’t satisfy everyone.
Value Assessment
The SRMD200 offers a medium-scale SR at budget pricing. Ibanez has done good manufacturing work here — the execution is clean and the instrument plays well.
It’s not a perfect instrument. The pickups have a ceiling, and moving between this and a 34″ bass takes a little adjustment. But as an entry point to medium-scale bass, it’s a legitimately interesting option that I’d recommend to the right player without hesitation.
Want to Level Up Your Bass Playing?
I’ve put together courses and resources that cover everything from slap fundamentals to advanced groove techniques.
FAQ
Does the Ibanez SRMD200 have fanned frets?
No. The SRMD200 is the SR Mezzo — a 4-string with conventional straight frets and a single 32″ (812 mm) medium scale, 2″ shorter than a standard 34″ SR.
Does the shorter 32″ scale cost you low end?
Ibanez says the Mezzo still delivers a powerful low end despite its 32″ scale. Note that the SRMD200 is a 4-string tuned E-A-D-G, so there is no low B string.
Can I use standard bass strings on the Ibanez SRMD200?
You don’t need multiscale sets — the SRMD200 has a single 32″ scale. It ships with D’Addario EXL165 roundwounds (.045/.065/.085/.105). When you replace them, choose a set made to fit a medium (32″) scale.
Is the Ibanez SRMD200 good for slap bass?
It can work for slap but the SR body profile and pickup voicing lean toward a modern, clean character rather than the snap-heavy tone that works best for slap. Players focused primarily on slap technique may find a bass voiced specifically for slap more satisfying.
Is the SRMD200 a good first bass?
It’s a conventional 4-string with straight frets, so there’s no multiscale learning curve to deal with. The main thing to know is the scale: at 32″ it’s shorter than the 34″ standard, so it will feel slightly different from most other basses you pick up.