Dan Dare

Tricky to verify a Fender from photos, as they can be completely dismantled and re-assembled by unscrewing 40 or so screws and bolts. Parts can easily be weathered/antiqued to look original - firms such as Limelight offer new "vintage" Fenders, as does the Fender custom shop. I'd tread warily if you can't get to see it in the flesh (should that be wood?). If you are not experienced, the only way to be certain is to have an expert look it over. Even then, there are no guarantees.

Material is less important than how well a nut is cut and fitted. My '72 J bass is still on its original and none the worse. Perhaps if I used rounds and constantly cranked the tension up and down, it would wear, but I don't and it doesn't.

Not always possible to do without drums, depending on the type of music you're playing. Why does anyone put up with a bad drummer? Because there aren't enough good ones to go round. Those that are good are a) in demand and b) expensive and/or booked up months in advance. Ask me how I know.

Has to be keyboards. They have enormous harmonic range and can play up to ten notes simultaneously (more if the keys player uses a foot...). Fine if you're playing a solo piece. You can have a bass part, chordal accompaniment and melody all at once. In a band context, it can be a nightmare. We've been having this discussion with our keys player recently. He's good, but not very experienced. A a result, he tends to fill too much space, clashing with the other instruments. We're educating him slowly.

Bass amps and "sexy" do not inhabit the same universe...

Why isn't there a "None" option in the questions?

Didn't J Squiggle once play in The Searchers?

I know it means I'm sad, but that grates on me, too. On the topic of decals, it doesn't bother me. The decal on my bitsa reads "Dinky Toys". Perhaps some collector of diecast metal model cars might moan, but who cares?

Horses for courses. Fretted and fretless both have strengths, so use whichever best suits the job. I play in a soul band at the moment, so fretted works best for me in that context.

Ditto.

Definitely this. Paying someone for an hour of their time (If you have a pal who knows their stuff, buy them a nice bottle) will be enormously helpful and you'll learn the basics in that hour. It's so much easier when someone shows you, rather than tells you, how it works. It's not hard, but the initial learning curve, especially the effect of eq and how to use it effectively, can be a little steep. Good luck.

You could always get a quality full range bass cab - LFSYS Monaco, BF Big Baby, etc - and a compact power amp from someone like GSS. That would be compact, light, powerful, seriously bass capable and would work perfectly with a bass preamp.

A punch-up or a blazing row on stage often helps keep things exciting 😁

It's for a retailer to decide what level of service they are willing/prepared to offer and for you, as a potential customer, to decide whether you wish to buy from them. Everyone has a different take on what is "reasonable". That's the long and short of it, really.

Better get it muddy and dirty quick.

Don't worry. Speakers will happily tolerate short bursts of as much as twice their rated power. Add to that the fact that an amplifier rarely if ever delivers its full rated power and you'll be fine. It will be obvious from the sound if you are pushing it too hard. Just back off the volume in the unlikely event that happens.

Please don't discuss or agree to any reduction. Add expenses plus a grief fee on top when you take her to SCC. Chancers like her bank on bands being afraid to pursue them so give her a good kicking (in court, obvs). Good luck.

Laudable (I also worked in public service), but the obvious points are: 1) Not everyone is as decent as your mum. Would she try it on as this buyer appears to be doing? I suspect not. Handsome is as handsome does. 2) There is no shame in denying a chancer the opportunity to put one over you. chris667 has it right above, imho There's no virtue in setting yourself on fire to warm others.

Does the seat come out easily? It was only 4 bolts on the MG.

Any quality cab should handle a 5. The key question is how loud do you need to be. Excursion is important at very low frequencies and you need some grunt in your amp (which your Quliter has). LFSYS and BF are safe recommendations, but even my PJBs will do the job at moderate volumes. A single one of anyone's smaller cabs will not blow the windows out with a low B. The laws of physics, Jim. If what you have currently does the job - you say you need to downsize slightly - can it be carried in the passenger seat of your MX5? I used to be able to transport a 1x15 bass cab in the passenger seat of my old MGB.

If someone examines and plays an instrument at leisure, pronounces themselves satisfied and buys it, surely that's the end of it. I'd be deeply suspicious if someone, having pronounced themself satisfied with and bought an instrument, claimed out of the blue that it was "not playable". Sounds like a chancer to me. The OP appears to feel a little intimidated by the purchaser. Offering remedial work in the circumstances is more than generous, imho. From the description of what he does - refurbing used instruments, adding Chinese hardware, etc - it seems he is not selling at high prices.

It's been three years since I left the Smoke. I guess the Gallery has changed since. They used to have a good selection. Whilst BF are undoubtedly excellent cabs, they do tend to be an automatic recommendation, when in reality, they're far from being the only option. Stevie on here offers the LFSys designs, which I like a lot. I also play in a soul band and use PJB cabs (with an AG700 rather than a TH head). They work very well for me, with a nice blend of warmth and clarity. The downside is that they're a bit inefficient and you need several to make a lot of noise.

The Gallery has quite a good stock. When I lived in London, I used to take a day off work and head for Bass Direct (straight up the M40, so not a bad journey) on the rare occasions when I wanted to make a major purchase. Go in the week when it's quiet and you can try stuff to your heart's content. Add a nice pub lunch and it's a pleasant, albeit pricey, day out.