Dan Dare

Find a used Line 6 lowdown 110. Well within budget (sold one for less than £50 on eBay recently) and make a decent noise.

Another vote for the Armstrong family. Kent did my J Bass pickups 20 years ago. Charged me a pittance and returned them within a week. Can't go wrong.

In common with FinnDave and Hiram, I'm crazy. Bought a new Mex P Bass Special last year which sounds excellent and plays very well. Had to sort a few minor issues - dress the fret ends, adjust action, etc - but I expect to do that sort of thing with any instrument.

There's a PB300 for sale on the 'Bay as we speak. A separate power amp and bass cab will give you far more options, mind.

Maybe the need to be a Scientologist puts people off...

If you have a gigging amp, Markbass may be overkill for home use (although they will certainly do the job and sound nice at low volumes). Then again, it's nice to have something decent if you can afford it (my practice/home amp a PJ Flightcase). Try a few before deciding?

I keep a bass and a guitar on stands in my lounge. Will pick them up and play them even if only for 5 minutes at some point every day.

Cabs - Roqsolid covers, bass - Fusion gig bag, leads, mics, etc - Maplins ally case, head - Gator gig bag, PA - padded covers it came with.

I sold a head a few months back. Buyer asked what sort of guarantee. I said none, am a private citizen, etc. Demo'd and got him to declare himself happy before taking. End of story.

Great player. RIP

I'm a Gotoh fan. 201 mainly, but they do the 203, which is a more solid version of the traditional BBoT, which works well. Have one on my fretless. Don't like the Badass - seems to rob the instrument of warmth.

As others suggest, you could stick with current band for the social/fun side and do something more satisfying too. Have you actually tried saying to the current band "love you dearly, chaps, but cannot carry on like this". Might wake them up to the need to improve. Or are they a lost cause?

On speakers with cloth or rubber cone surrounds, the surrounds can deteriorate with age. Sunlight doesn't help - keep 'em in the shade.

The catch is they're bloody brilliant.

I reckon Sunburst Jazz's suggestion is the best one. Why not make a filthy low budget vid' with the old GoPro along the lines he suggests and email it to your rivals? Should make 'em think a bit...

I built a cheapo P - Squier body, no name neck, s/h Kent Armstrong pickup. Cost about £250. Does the job and nice to play. Pleasant change from the vintage Jazz.

Always a load on evilBay. Any of the decent makes - Crown, Crest, QSC, Peavey, etc - will do the job. Avoid El Cheapo disco makes and you'll be fine.

You can make foam bungs to fit a lot of round ports with sponge paint roller refills - available from DIY stores. They have a small hole through the middle for the roller shaft, so don't completely block the port.

I like Bill's idea. I use a Phil Jones 4x5 cab with my 15. Adds mid-hi clarity without that tweeter sizzle I hate.

Slaving a very good thing to do. Gives you more headroom and oomph. Also, if you have a small amp you like the sound off, is a good way to get that, but louder.

Ah, still miss my old Bassman 135. The closest equivalent sound made by a modern mini head I've heard was made by a Little Mark. Was still some way off, mind.

He did stamp his little foot rather, didn't he?

All up full and then roll back the bridge vol whilst playing a note until the sound thickens - usually only takes a smidge.Classic Jazz Bass sound

BigRedX - love your suggestions. Intend to follow your excellent plan - I like the idea of giving the guitar player a 4ft mic cable, so he has to sing on his knees by the mixing desk...

Anyone else struggle to get bandmates to act/look pro'? You know, ensuring equipment - not just the main instrument and backline, but cables etc - is of good quality and works (and looks decent and not held together with gaffa tape), having proper cases, not cardboard boxes, carrying spares - cables, pedals/fx, fuses, a few tools for running repairs, arriving early and so on? Drives me up the wall, especially when people complain you're a fascist/control freak when you ask why they're late and point that they really ought to carry a mic cable rather than constantly scrounging one of yours. You can't refuse, of course, because it affects the quality of the result. Oh well...