So popped into Dawsons Manchester today before a business meeting on Portland Street. Very impressed with the Ibanez range hanging up. Eye drawn to a beautiful blue flame 5-string, with all sorts of electronics going on and importantly, a very low action. Took a look at the price - £349! Rest of the range continued to impress... Beautiful fretlesses with strings hugging the boards. Multi-scale 4 and 5s too. Incredible. No I didn't try them but at prices like that for a good quality starter, you'd have change for a B3k and you're in business...
* stares at own £3k bass - "start pulling your weight fatty..." *
PS. Dawsons had an awesome range of stuff... worth a visit if you're in town.