Ibanez TMB35-MGR Talman Short Scale

Ok, so I love short scale basses and I needed a five string for a project. Rather than stretch my lazy fingers on a long scale I bought this.

For the money it's an excellent guitar, and I don't think there are a lot of options when it comes to five string short scales. The string tension is very low but fret buzz isn't a problem. Intonation is good and it stays in tune. Pickups work well.

Build quality is really great, I've had a few ibanez guitars over the years and never had an issue. The setup out of the box was decent and only required minor tweaks to suit me.

Downsides - the headstock is really massive so neck dive could be an issue.

The quality of the material and craftsmanship is really nice. The width of the neck broadens towards the body, increasing the distance among the strings and improving playability up to the pickup zone.

The pickup's gain is very good, and the tone is bright and sounds good even without a preamp. The sustain in the bass band is not what you would expect from a long scale, but it's okay.

The mint color is pale, just as expected, and the look is very nice. The weight is much less than that of a long scale, and this, alongside the short scale, makes it more energy-efficient for people with small hands like me.

A really minor detail is a very small dent in the pickup holes, about 2mm long, but it's not a really big deal.

The fret finishing is a little sharp along the neck, but it's okay if you're not so picky; it's also a minor detail.

All things considered, and comparing the features to the price, make me give it a 4.8 out of 5. It is an excellent instrument! Totally approved!!