I have played the Ibanez basses, and for the money and the features they are great. I haven't been too in love with the Jay Turser. I feel the Epi Casady and the little Allman Brothers guy bass - with mini buckers and a Hofnerish control plate? - are nice and affordable. I love short, med, long and extra long scale basses for what they are. That being said, if I wanted the path of least resistance for buying strings, especially if you are a musician who goes on the road at all, get a long scale bass.