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I’ve consulted a pictorial guide from an old guitar magazine I cut out when I was 15 or something, but it’s no help in this instance. Any here you can take inspiration from? Or are these too rudimentary (classic rock poses for beginners)?

When I bought my (nor former) Stingray 5 in an eBay auction, the seller (the bass player of IONA) let me know his band would be coming to a venue near me in a few weeks time. Rather than shipping the bass to me, he suggested he'd put me on the guest list so he could hand it to me personally. I gladly accepted! To add to that, I was allowed to bring a friend, and he suggested I pay him my winning bid in Euros rather than Pounds (saved me about €100), plus I got a live DVD from their merch shop with the bass in action. The bass came in a well-traveled aluminium Stagg case with many airline stickers which I still have (I later bought a real Music Man case for it because the Stagg would leave sticky residue on the bass every time I used it). Very cool experience! The band played folky prog rock and I greatly enjoyed the evening, even if the band were very vocally christian and I'm usually not into religiously themed music. It was a wonderful bass too, that I kinda wish I still had.

Green Earrings - Steely Dan

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any playing videos online and I have to admit I’ve been a little nervous about sharing this. For the past couple of years I’ve been doing a lot more playing and singing and it feels great! But it’s been pretty challenging trying to reach a point of actually enjoying the sound of my own voice. Not to mention trying to play bass and sing at the same time! Anyway, here’s my arrangement of ‘May you never’ by John Martyn, I even threw in a short bass solo and some whistling for good measure!

Yeh, impressed but with the comment that you wouldn't want it as your only bass. For 3k. And he isn't sure who it is for, but it is certainly for someone.

Been there. Trust noone.... Do what's right for you, because you can be sure that the rest of them won't care if it were you who was up for the chop.

Nice looking bass, what is it?

Our usual hall put up its prices, so I suggested using the rehearsal rooms at Absolute Music. These are well-equipped, but one of the guitarists insisted on taking his amp and the drummer said he did not like playing other kits, so would have to take his own. However, they have good rigs, TC, Orange and Blackstar. The College close by used to hire its music rooms out, and I used that with my previous band. They had Ampeg combos. Not my favourites.

Yeah those old Peavey - think TVX? - 410s were great cabs, but agree with Muzz, I`d never be able to shift one, I had the 115 version about 25 years ago and that was over 90lbs, wasn`t the ideal cab for living in a second floor flat (without lift).

Never been in this precise situation but I've been close enough (several times) that you could see it from here. In all of my experience, removal/replacement of any band member is only acceptable is everyone is on board right from the start. If everyone in your anonymous band agrees that 'B' has to go, then he has to go. If it's just 'A' who's pushing for it, then all the non-B members need to go to the pub and have a chat with Frank and Ernest.

It all sounds much like our current and previous governments.........

Bit surprised at his comment about the fret ends! Spend that much on a bass, you wouldn’t expect to have to have the frets dressed. Otherwise he seems pretty impressed! Cool if you have that much money to spare.

If the band has stalled, start a new band with 'B'?

Options: 1: Fire A for the same reasons he has about other people. Replace him. 2: Leave the toxic environment completely, but throw that grenade on the way out - "I am leaving the band. I cannot believe A is secretly plotting to bin B and even set up an audition for C. That's is appalling. A band should be like a marriage - if it's not working you end it. Not try out a side piece first" 3: Seduce A's partner. (Seems to be a rule).

Thank you!

As you've noticed I'm a straight person, so if you don't want to definitely destroy your pickup by, for instance, reverting the polarity (even if I'm quite confident Rob installed a diode in all his preamps) as you absolutely don't know what you're doing (you can't follow a wiring diagram, remember), go to someone who know what they are doing and save a lot of time and money. Sometimes admitting ones own limit his the biggest step forward. You'll thank me later (after swallowing the pill, I know).

Indeed. It could be your turn next. I would guess that most of us have experienced both sides of this particular coin. If A isn't that good then the band is unlikely to improve overall. I'd consider your own situation carefully.

I have a 2003 stingray 5 and the neck needs to be adjusted quite often...just learned to live with it.

Last time I used a rehearsal room rig it was an ancient Peavey...it was great for the room, but you couldn't have paid me enough to move the thing... 🙂

Sky Arts trails programme about bass(ists), but for general consumption, not the 1% of the audience who are bassists... The 1% who are bassists:

Sometimes you can't be arsed to drag your rig out of the car and walk into a room thinking "I'll use whatever's in there tonight". Last night was such a night, and what a pleasant surprise it was, OK, the lows needed a bit of pulling with some push to the mids and highs, but wow, good old Peavey, and good old Orange 👍 Had a similar surprise with a rehearsal room Ashdown ABM a few years back, I'll see if I can did that pic out also 👍

With friends like this who needs enemies mate. Personally I'd call it a day as these situations have a tendency to implode or at a minimum leave a sour taste in the mouth going forward.