Ah, memories. I put a couple of Black Widows in mine when the original drivers died. Not light, but what a sound. Couldn't carry it now at my advanced age.
He's pretty astonishing, isn't he? I don't like the band (not old git's music), but he's dynamite. I remember Ed Friedland did a piece on him on his YouTube channel and said he reckoned he'd (Ed) have tendinitis within a couple of weeks if he tried to play like Steve every night.
I have no problem with someone singing through my PA. I'd prefer it if they brought their own mic, but many do anyway. If not, they get my well used old SM58 that I keep for such eventualities (I don't loan them one of my condensers). As long as they're not head-bangers, it's not a problem. I'd just say fine if I was you.
"What's the least you'll accept?" is the chancer's line. They're always hoping to find someone who is desperate or who has no idea. The only answer is "What are you offering?" as others say.
If just for putting in the car and you're confident nothing will fall on it, the cheaper one should be fine. Googling "bass gig bag" will turn up plenty of options.
I think if you want aggressive, the amp will have more influence. Before spending Vand/Berg money on a cab, I'd visit the shops and compare some stuff.
Great basses those Thunders. For the money, there was little to beat them at the time. Agree with others about avoiding cheapies. Gotohs great value for what they are. CD Guitars in SE London v good for Gotoh. Google will find them. Get all my bits from them.
Just to add a further complication, a decent, accurate hi-fi sub is not cheap. Rather than get a cheapo, if you put the money you would have spent on it towards upgrading your hi fi speakers, the result will almost certainly be better.
Rehearsal 8 - 3 out of 5 arrived with no money???? Surely they knew there would be a room fee to be paid. Notice 2 were the singers, presumably the same singers who also missed your most recent to "take daughter to an audition". The p1ss is being taken, I suggest. Time to move on, imho. Don't bother to complain - they've heard it before and know they can continue to mess you about. Just say "See yer".
Have to agree with Alex that isobaric arrangements are not necessary with modem driver and cabinet design. The considerable extra weight and cost does not translate into a proportionate increase in performance.
Phil's right. Your NAD won't drive the bass cab in addition to the regular speakers and you'll have no control over it. You need proper sub (which in itself will be something of a compromise in a modest, low powered hi fi)