I'll make an offer of what I think is a price I'm happy with. Then it's up to the seller to accept, reject, or suggest a new price. I can then accept the outcome or stop the negotiations, any further haggling I would consider rude. In this process everyone has had a chance to name their price point and that's that.
What strings are you using and how old are they?
What's the rest of your signal path, preamp straight to desk or to an amp? If so what amp and cab? What other effects on your board if any?
Hellzero has a good point about the ears, ever done a hearing test?
DR strings like the low riders are a bit stoffer. Gauge has very little to do with it, the shape of the core of the string however is relevant.
A hex core string feels different than a round core even though they are identical on the outside.
Any strings that have something like "higher stiffness" in the description will work nicely.
Looks as valid as all the other wear and tear forgery jobs, but a little more creative.
"Relic" is the same as in Californication where Duchovny smashes the headlight of his Porsche. Fake sentiment.
But what I think is rubbish others will like, so there's that.
Cioks is fine as is Voodoo Labs. I recently switched from VL to a Harley Benton iso unit because it has a form factor that works for me. Zero complaints.
I have a Harley Benton Block 800b as a backup amp. Surprisingly capable and very reliable, for not that much money.
Most "800w" amps will have the same ICE class D poweramp and even audiophile amplifiers use them (often a lower wattage). The character is made in the preamps.
The Dutch shop might have been https://www.tfoa.eu/en the Fellowship of Acoustics.
Bass specific would be https://www.bassmatters.nl/nl/home Paul's bass matters.
And https://www.connectionbult.com/wp/ Edwin van Huik's bass connection.
Bax shop is Thomann competition: https://www.bax-shop.nl/
Tom Morelo of RATM fame has a bachelor's degree.
My two guitarist both have PhDs, lead guitar has several, the rest of the band are accomplished tradesmen.
My friend who fronts a local indierock band is a Professor in Physics at the local university (ranked 66th Times World University in 2023).