Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Blille

Blille

Well-known member
I'm looking for a 2/3 or 3/4 guitar for my daughters. I've already discarded the Squier mini and I'm now down to these two (in neon pink, of course). My first choice was the Ibanez PGM Mikro but I'm afraid white was too dull for them.

Does anybody have any DIRECT experience with these?

I'll probably out a JB on the bridge so I'm looking more for playability and finish.

Thanks!






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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

I have a micro that I bought when I was in a touring band so I could practice in the van. It couldn't get it to stay in tune to save my life. On the plus side it might help your daughter develop her ear. I wouldn't even bother with new pickups for it the ones that are in it are junk, but strong aggressive junk.
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

LOL, you mean you thru the Strat mini in the dumpster? Or that you aren't considering it... I had one for a while, and I got it sounding and playing surprisingly good with Duncans.
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Blille said:
I'm looking for a 2/3 or 3/4 guitar for my daughters.
Click to expand...

Sorry that I can't comment on the Ibanez or Jackson downscaled guitars because I don't have experience with any of them. But I wanted to point out that you seem a great dad! :fing2:
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

I have one of the Paul Gilbert Mikro's.... And, yes - they have a tuning problem. I think they put 14:1 cheapy tuners on them, and the shorter scale needs a slower gear. Didn't take me long to put some 18:1 tuners on it - but they cost half of what the guitar cost me new. On the basic Mikro, the pickups are crap. On the Gilbert - they are VERY hot, with a strong magnetic pull (more tuning problems). I lowered them away from the strings to kill that. If I was going to gig with it, I'd put some Lace Sensors in it.

However, all of that info doesn't help you much. Let me offer you a better idea. Check Craigslist, eBay, or even some local garage sales to find one of those older Hanna Montana mini-electrics (they're purple with a white pickguard). They are made by Washburn, and are very good quality. The pickups are like Tele units, but even cleaner. Great for young learners. I've bought several for less than $40 locally and upgraded them for players wanting something fun. I usually put Bill Lawrence units in them, a new bone nut, and a set of Gotoh tuners on them. Voila! You could play them on any stage in the world.
 
Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Thanks all for the comments! It looks like Jackson isn't selling many :)

Joey Voltage said:
I have a micro that I bought when I was in a touring band so I could practice in the van. It couldn't get it to stay in tune to save my life. On the plus side it might help your daughter develop her ear.
Click to expand...
ICTGoober said:
I have one of the Paul Gilbert Mikro's.... And, yes - they have a tuning problem. I think they put 14:1 cheapy tuners on them, and the shorter scale needs a slower gear. Didn't take me long to put some 18:1 tuners on it - but they cost half of what the guitar cost me new.
Click to expand...
Getting new tuners might not be that bad. If that's all it takes to make it playable. I wouldn't be putting top of the line Schallers :)

Clint 55 said:
LOL, you mean you thru the Strat mini in the dumpster? Or that you aren't considering it... I had one for a while, and I got it sounding and playing surprisingly good with Duncans.
Click to expand...
LOL no, no dumpster. That's surprising, it's the one I found locally and it was poorly finished. I've also read that these are made in different factories and no two are the same so it may be worth trying them in person. How was tuning?


The JEM Ghost said:
Sorry that I can't comment on the Ibanez or Jackson downscaled guitars because I don't have experience with any of them. But I wanted to point out that you seem a great dad! :fing2:
Click to expand...
You're very kind, thanks! They already other instruments but they seem attracted to my guitars so I want to foster that with hopefully and instrument that plays the part (pun intended).


ICTGoober said:
However, all of that info doesn't help you much. Let me offer you a better idea. Check Craigslist, eBay, or even some local garage sales to find one of those older Hanna Montana mini-electrics (they're purple with a white pickguard). They are made by Washburn, and are very good quality. The pickups are like Tele units, but even cleaner. Great for young learners. I've bought several for less than $40 locally and upgraded them for players wanting something fun. I usually put Bill Lawrence units in them, a new bone nut, and a set of Gotoh tuners on them. Voila! You could play them on any stage in the world.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this recommendation. I have to admit I saw this but didn't consider them because I assumed they were more toy like due to the licensing. If I can find one locally for cheap that looks like an option. It feels like it still needs to be upgraded though.


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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

If you get the white one, pick up a sheet of 600 grit sandpaper a roll of painters tape, and a pack of "Posca Pen" paint pens. Let her decorate the top.
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

PFDarkside said:
Do you tune these to A or something?
Click to expand...

I used to have a Squier Mini, and I put 11's on it and tuned to standard. The added tension seemed to fix the tuning problem, though I'd already put mini Grovers on it.

I ended up giving that Squier to a guitar-playing friend with kids.
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

I bought my nephew a micro and although he doesn't practice and can't play, i did think his guitar sounded nice when we blasted it through my amp last week.

T
I bought my other nephew a kerry king warlock from guitar center and the thing had parts falling off later the same night.


I'm also buying my niece a bright pink guitar for christmas. I was planning to go with the micro but the jackson you mentioned has my interest. Please let is know what you eventually decide and how it works out!

Thank you!
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

I have so many questions about why either one of these that have nothing to do with the guitars.

Tell us about the kid and music.
 
Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Well, in an interesting turn of events in the super discount event Amazon has going on I got a Squier mini for $50 new. Pretty incredible. If it's ok, I'll put Grovers like LPB on it and SD pickups (at least bridge, maybe neck) like Clint 55. If not, I can return it, order the other two and keep whichever plays better. There's not much about the Jackson online and I haven't seen it in stores.

Open lane said:
I'm also buying my niece a bright pink guitar for christmas. I was planning to go with the micro but the jackson you mentioned has my interest. Please let is know what you eventually decide and how it works out!

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I'll definitely update the thread and keep you posted.

Aceman said:
I have so many questions about why either one of these that have nothing to do with the guitars.

Tell us about the kid and music.
Click to expand...

Ask away :)

I grew up playing classical piano then classical guitar then electric. I wanted my daughters to have a chance to pick whichever instrument they wanted so I put them a gazillion YouTube videos of every imaginable instrument, recordings of famous soloists and we visited stores where they could play around with them. In spite of my advising against it my (now) 7yr old picked up the violin and my 5yr old the piano (drums were a close second, gotta say I'm thankful there). They both are interested when I practice and they see me play live (I play modern worship at Church) so bringing a tiny guitar home seemed like a good step and they were excited when I mentioned it.


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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

The Strat mini is nice. It's comfy and has good tone. The tuners don't work so replace those, plus a pup or 2. Finally, since it's short scale, you just have to adjust it for low nut action (E 0.020" - e 0.016") to get chords to intonate well. And that's it!
 
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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

My Strat Mini was probably ten years ago, so I don't know if they are still like this, but the pickups were slightly smaller than standard size single-coils. The ends of a regular Strat pickup basically cut the mounting screw holes in half.

The neck on that thing felt really good, though. It was scaled down in just the right way.
 
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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Clint 55 said:
The Strat mini is nice. It's comfy and has good tone. The tuners don't work so replace those, plus a pup or 2. Finally, since it's short scale, you just have to adjust it for low nut action (E 0.020" - e 0.016") to get chords to intonate well. And that's it!
Click to expand...

Great tip, thanks!

Little Pigbacon said:
My Strat Mini was probably ten years ago, so I don't know if they are still like this, but the pickups were slightly smaller than standard size single-coils. The ends of a regular Strat pickup basically cut the mounting screw holes in half.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. I'll wait to get the guitar first.


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Re: Ibanez Mikro vs Jackson Dinky Minion

Sounds like someone needs one of those Epiphone mini V's they had a little ways back. They had mini LP too but I think the V's were called Wee Vees. Seriously. They also had Zack Wylde editions. I have no idea whether they were junk or not.
 
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