Mudpup

If it's in stock at the distributor rather than on the floor in the shop you should be able to get any Ibanez dealer to get it in for you if you would prefer to go elsewhere.

I spoke to Guitar Guitar about exactly that bass last week. Apparently there are 2 in group stock at the Ibanez distributor in the UK. They wanted a 10% deposit to order one in for me to try it.....It's better to buy it online, try it at home and use distance selling regs if it isn't for you

I couldn't see the fret markers due to the dark roasted neck either - and this is my sticker job 🙂

Picked up a strap from Hutton. Dead easy and arrived quickly. Recommended.....

There are a couple of Genz Benz Streamliners in the classifieds here for an absolute steal. I would grab one of those.

I had the J one and probably needed the middle one....

I prefer them too. Don't know why but I've just ended up with my main gigging basses being HH ones. Of the mainstream ones available I can recommend the Cort A4 Plus. It's incredible vfm and easy to pick up used. A brilliant neck and great build quality with decent components. I've had some boutique stuff and this is easily up there with them. And if you like knob twiddling try a Warwick Corvette or Streamer $$. The switches add about a squillion tone options to the pickups. I too had a G&L L2000 USA and actually loved the sound in the band mix but couldn't get on with the neck on it. If it had a different neck I would probably still have it.

A Fender Rumble 500 combo seems to be the go to response for this type of post usually. They pop up used fairly frequently or a new one is a little bit over budget for you

Grabbed a bass from Phil. Great guy - easy to deal with and really knows his stuff. Deal with confidence....

I've got a Native Instruments M32 sitting in a box unused since COVID if that's any use to you? Used it for a bit of recording for a few months to stop myself from getting bored before the gigs came back. I doubt I'll use it again (and I'm a supporting member)

Sounds like a traditional Basschat relay is in the offing ...

Gotcha

You need wired headphines for this. It's a bluetooth connection to your phone and the app rather than the headphones. But it's a seriously good bit of kit regardless and a bargain price. I would just get this and a pair of wired phones personally. You're probably looking at a Boss Waza Air if you need bluetooth headphone connection (and a bank loan!)

The rising prices of new gear usually means the used market flourishes. Not in this scenario though.

And this is the issue - no one else seems to have any either.

If you fancied a trip to London then the Bass Gallery in Camden probably has the biggest selection of kit in store. Best to go on a weekday and maybe give them a shout prior to your visit. I popped in to PMT in Old St a few weeks back and there was just one Roland bass combo in there 😞