Multiscale bass guitars used to be a boutique item. You’d pay custom shop prices for a fanned-fret instrument and it was mostly players in progressive metal or high-end studio work who bothered. Then Ibanez released the SRMD200 and brought the concept into the budget market. That’s worth paying attention to.
I spent time with this bass and came away with a clearer picture of who fanned frets actually help — and who they don’t. If you’ve been curious about multiscale instruments but couldn’t justify the price, the SRMD200 is an accessible entry point. Let me break down what you actually get.
What “Multiscale” Actually Means
The SRMD200 uses a fan-fret design — the frets are angled rather than straight across the neck, and the scale length varies from string to string. The low B string has a longer scale (35″) while the high G string is shorter (32″). This is the core idea behind multiscale design.
The theory is sound: longer scale on lower strings gives better tension and definition on the low end, shorter scale on higher strings keeps the feel comfortable in the upper register. On a standard 5-string bass at 34″ scale, the low B can feel loose and undefined. The fanned fret design addresses this directly.
In practice, the low B on the SRMD200 is noticeably tighter and more defined than on a standard 34″ 5-string at the same price. That’s the actual benefit. 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
Every review of a fanned-fret instrument mentions the learning curve. Most of them either overstate it (“it takes months to adjust”) or dismiss it (“you won’t even notice after an hour”). My experience was somewhere in between.
The first 30 minutes felt genuinely strange. The angled frets created a visual and tactile experience that my hands weren’t used to. Chord shapes and position shifts required conscious thought rather than muscle memory. I made more errors than I usually do picking up an unfamiliar bass.
After two hours it was becoming natural. After a full day of playing I stopped noticing the fret angle entirely. Going back to a standard bass after a week with the SRMD200 felt briefly odd in the other direction.
The adjustment is real but it’s measured in hours and days, not weeks and months. 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 a multiscale instrument as on a standard SR. Basswood body, maple neck, jatoba fretboard. Standard SR spec for this price tier.
The frets are well dressed for a budget instrument — better than I expected given the added complexity of the fan fret installation. 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 — functional 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 humbuckers — passive, dual-coil, mounted at neck and bridge positions. The control layout is two volumes and a master tone, passive throughout.
The tone is clean and modern. These pickups have more articulation than the budget single-coil options on similarly-priced Squier or Cort instruments. The low B in particular benefits from the extended scale — it sounds defined and usable rather than woolly and lost, which is the typical complaint about budget 5-strings.
Active electronics are noticeably absent at this price. If you want EQ shaping on board you’ll need to look at the higher SRMD models. The passive setup is fine for most playing contexts but recording players who want tone shaping without an outboard preamp may find the single tone knob limiting.
Who Should Buy the SRMD200
The SRMD200 makes most sense for two types of players. First: the 5-string player who has been frustrated with loose, undefined low B strings on standard 34″ basses and doesn’t want to spend boutique money for the fix. The extended scale genuinely solves that problem at an accessible price.
Second: the curious player who wants to experience fanned frets without committing serious money to find out if it works for them. The SRMD200 is a low-risk way to answer that question.
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. And players coming from a 4-string who haven’t spent much time on 5-strings yet might find the combination of 5-string technique and fanned frets a steeper learning curve than necessary.
Start with a standard 5-string first. Add fanned frets once you’re comfortable with the 5-string layout. That’s the more logical progression.
Value Assessment
The SRMD200 offers something genuinely unusual at budget pricing. Fanned fret instruments with this build quality typically cost significantly more. Ibanez has done good manufacturing work here — the execution is clean, the instrument plays well, and the core concept delivers its promised benefit on the low B string.
It’s not a perfect instrument. The passive electronics limit recording versatility, the pickups have a ceiling, and the adjustment period is real even if manageable. But as an entry point to multiscale bass, it’s a legitimately interesting option that I’d recommend to the right player without hesitation.
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FAQ
Is the Ibanez SRMD200 hard to play because of the fanned frets?
The adjustment period is real but shorter than most people expect. Most players feel comfortable within a few hours of practice. The visual difference is more jarring than the physical one — your hands adapt faster than your brain does.
Does the multiscale design actually improve the low B string?
Yes, noticeably. The extended 35″ scale on the low B produces a tighter, more defined tone compared to a standard 34″ 5-string at the same price. If an undefined, woolly low B has been your frustration with budget 5-strings, the SRMD200 directly addresses that problem.
Can I use standard bass strings on the Ibanez SRMD200?
No — multiscale basses require multiscale strings due to the varying scale length. Several string manufacturers now produce multiscale sets (D’Addario, Dunlop, Kalium). Availability has improved significantly as fanned fret instruments have become more common.
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 will find Jazz-style basses with bridge single-coils more satisfying for that technique.
Should a beginner buy a multiscale bass?
I’d generally recommend starting on a standard 4-string first. Learn the fundamentals on a conventional instrument, then explore multiscale once you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for tonally and ergonomically. The SRMD200 is better appreciated by a player who already knows what problem they’re trying to solve.