Dan Dare

Which D'Addarios did you use? I find Chromes to be long lasting. I do keep them clean, which helps to keep them fresh. Perhaps you got a dud set or one that had been sitting on the shop shelf for too long.

Find a decent repairer and pay them to do the job.

Correct. No such thing as "export duty". If you're being asked for it by a buyer, I'd give them the body swerve. Likely to ne a scam. Doesn't bode well for your being paid safely.

As an old git, I love rhythm and blues, blues and soul. I find the misogyny/attitudes in some lyrics questionable. I'm not a woke warrior or anything like that, but as a father with a daughter, I'm not happy to sing certain stuff. Shame, as I've had to steer clear of some otherwise decent numbers as a result.

Such a "simple spreadsheet" would be impossible to produce. Too many variables. For it to be in any way useful, one would need to audition every conceivable combination of cabs, drivers, etc. Probably better to just try things and see whether they do the job for you or not.

Exactly. Nobody complains that Tesco is still called Tesco, despite the fact that none of Jack Cohen's family or original owners have any connection with the business nowadays.

There are so many cheap decent active desktop speakers around these days it's really not worth building your own. The PreSonus Eris is well reviewed and can be had for 80 quid. Spend a bit more - on the baby Adams, for example - and I reckon you'd be hard pressed to better them with any self-built speaker unless you spend a lot more.

I didn't know the newer one had an internal PSU. Shame. I'll definitely have to hang onto my older one. You're right about avoiding used battery packs. They do deteriorate and lose the ability to hold charge.

Strings aligned perfectly over the pole pieces...

Use both then.

The PJB Double 4 can be battery powered with a portable chargeable laptop power supply. It's nice, but not a cheap option.

I've an idea Fender flats are re-badged D'Addarios (probably Chromes). They feel very similar and have the same coloured ball ends.

I've no doubt that Shane McGowan spends his £400k wisely each year. He's probably on his Peloton bike right now 😁

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen beat you to it.

Sell the Ampeg and use one 2x10 at rehearsals?

You're so right. How foolish of me.

Care to post a description/illustration?

Do you have "big hands"? There's a luthier (ahem) whose work sometimes features on here who may have just the thing for you 😊

Handy things to have if you have a real fire at home, too. Prevents the coals from falling out of the fireplace and setting light to the floorboards.

I'm a J bass fanboi. I have a PJ, too, but in my experience, nothing does P bass like a P bass, and it needn't cost a lot. If you want that sound, buy a used Squier and improve it. I know you are unlikely to get your money back if you upgrade extensively, but if you are selective (you only really need better pickups, pots and wiring), you should end up with something decent for less than £400. My Bitsa P is a Squier body and neck, with the basic Seymour Duncan P pickup (not worth getting the high output or vintage versions, imho), a Gotoh bridge, new pots, wiring and socket It cost me around £350 to build. With a set of knackered La Bellas, it does the job very convincingly.

Your prerogative to believe me or not. You say yourself that the Spark and the THRII-10 both seem to be very marmite. The only thing to do, really, is to get out and try a few things to see if they'll do what you want of them. Buying on the basis of recommendation alone is an almost sure route to disappointment.

It isn't realistic to expect classic bass tones and or clean/crunchy guitar tones in something compact for little money, I'm afraid.

Any amp will produce hum/buzz at full volume and gain. Your other amps are probably more powerful, meaning you don't have to run them flat out, so the noise floor stays further below the signal. That won't be the case with the Joyo because it has to be maxxed just to give sufficient volume. The fact that buzz deceases when you touch the strings/bridge suggests an earthing issue, too. There's a limit to what you get for 35 quid.

A sad day. I saw the news on my FB feed this morning (I was following him). A great character and distinctive and original musician. His autobiography is well worth a read. I'm so glad he had those extra years and he certainly made full use of them. RIP Wilko.