Dan Dare

As long as they're looked after/not abused, they don't seem to deteriorate - dynamics at any rate. I have a SM58 that must be at least 30 years old it still works fine. Not sure about condensers, although you see some of the old Neumann valve mics going for crazy sums, so I guess they must last too. If they still sound right, they must be OK, I guess.

There's another gem in the listing - "new string (singular) recently fitted"...

All true and one further reason for B Friday, which is to clear the shelves of unsold stock to make way for Christmas tat. Bah humbug.

Restraint.

It's a tad over-priced. Love the use of the word "custom" (so often code for "homemade sh1t". 500 sovs? Bargain...

Is it a travel bass because you can row a boat with it?

Correct. The original seller should have done his homework.

Jamerson, no less, reportedly used open strings whenever he could, although with ancient flats and a high action, it probably didn't sound any different to a fretted note. I use a mixture, like most. If I want a mellow/less bright sound, I do prefer a fretted note, especially on the D and G strings, however.

Interesting topic. I've made a conscious decision not to buy anything made in China/the Far East in recent years if I can avoid it. Not because I feel workers there are "exploited" (I believe they are to an extent, but the point that they are able to live well on the wages they are paid because the cost of living in those countries is much lower than ours is a fair one), but because I don't want to contribute to the further decline of industries in the West. I'm fortunate, in that I could afford to buy a German PA (I tried to buy British, but the choice was between crap and really expensive stuff I couldn't justify), although I did have to buy a Chinese-built mixer - there was nothing else available (it is an Allen and Heath, but they manufacture in China). I appreciate not everyone is in this fortunate position. My main worry about buying from China et al is that we may get some bargain-priced kit in the short term, but if our economy goes down the tubes because nobody is buying home-grown any longer, we'll lose out in the long run.

A pal has a guitar harness that sits on both shoulders (like rucksack straps). He's had shoulder issues and says it helps a lot. He had his made, but this is the sort of thing - https://www.slingerstraps.com/harness-strap-guitar-strap.html. They're not cheap, but if you like your bass and want to keep it, may be a good option. 13 lb is pretty heavy, incidentally.

Stories of enormous fees for NYE are usually exaggerated. I remember a lot of musicians holding on for big bucks for NYE 1999/2000 and plenty ended up not working. Unless it's a one-off, out of the blue booking from a place you've never dealt with/heard of, I'd start double your usual fee at most. However, if it's a place you play regularly (and which looks after you and pays you happily even if the audience is thin on the ground), surely it makes sense to quote the usual, plus a tip if takings are good. The suggestion above of the usual, on the understanding that you get regular bookings during the year is a good one. No sense in getting one well-paid job and nothing more for the rest of the year.

Enjoy it. Great amp. I used to use a Y lead to route the bass into both channels of mine. I felt it improved the tone.

"Passion vs ability"? False dichotomy. You need both. As for: ... one cannot be described as a "great player" if one cannot keep time. It all sounds a bit defensive.

About the same percentage of guitars aimed at the cheap end, I suspect. The bottom 3 frets may be be worn a bit and that will be it.

If you don't like playing social clubs, there's always a nice job shovelling sh1t for minimum wage going somewhere... Counting one's blessings and all that.

Looks as if it's been used to sweep the chimney

AER Amp One is small, but the Three is quite beefy and not light. How about the baby Markbass - the 801?

A true monument to desperation. Love it.

A big flight or rack case looks good and protects your kit, but can be a sod to move around, get up and down stairs, etc. At my advancing age, I've separated my kit into smaller cases - several lightweight rack cases rather than one big one, etc. More trips, but easier on the back. Camera cases - alu' ones from Maplin at al - are fine for cables, mics and small stuff and cheap.

Agreed about Powercon. It is becoming more a standard fitment in pro audio My PA (Fohhn) uses one. The only possible downside is that you can't borrow an IEC to get out of trouble should you forget/lose the cable, so remember to carry spares.

If you like the Ampeg sound, look out for a SVT210HE. You'll have to get a used one as they're no longer made. I had one and it was a great sounding cab, reasonably portable and US built. I was tempted to get another for a larger rig, but it was a bit awkward to get up the narrow stairs to my flat at my advanced age, so I sold it and went lightweight. Can't fault the sound, though.

From Santa's little elves

I like "custom built" or "rare/one off" for a Bitsa. Or "grab a bargain" for something that is being offered for about £50 less than full retail. Then there are the pals of sellers, who post comments such as "Why is this still for sale? Bargain of the century", etc. To which the response is "Why not buy it yourself, then?"...