Thanks for the 'welcome back to bass', and the detailed response
For now I'm planning on using the little Ampeg as I already own it, possibly will mess with my Helix in to the FX return and use the Ampeg as a power amp. The Ampeg does 250W @ 8 Ohms, 350 in to 4 ohms.
Gone totally in to the FRFR approach with guitar, Helix to PA with a dB technologies FM10 as a monitor, and it works great. Bass sounds good through the dB at home volumes, but suspect it would blow up if used in anger. Just spotted a TKS 112 in the classifieds and seriously considering that. The Eden TN110, looks great, is cheap but I suspect wont be enough on the oomph front