Popularity always requires talent of one kind or another. There are very few popular and untalented people in the entertainment and music business.
As usual, other peoples' preferences are being dismissed.
I agree.
The volume thing has gone crazy. It always surprises me how many audiences put up with it.
I play with a couple of blues rock trios and my amp for those gigs has more watts than my first 3 bands put together. I'm also using industrial strength hearing protection when playing with those guys.
There have been no negatives in any my basses. . . . however, my last 2 basses had to be sold due to their weight.
I seem to be on a downward curve where x = age and y = weight!
Tricky bass lines are great.
They challenge us and force us to extend and expand our thinking, techniques and comfort zones.
Master one thing you find uncomfortable or difficult to play every week.
IMO it's down to your technique.
I would imagine rings would be more noticeable if you grip the neck like a baseball bat, but should be less of an issue if you position your thumb on the back of the neck and arch your fingers.
As a non pedal using player, my first thought is how important is the sound of the bass if you have that many preamps.
My guess is that you shouldn't have a problem getting the sound you want, but if you still want "more" I'd start with the pickups.
In his day, with Long John Baldry, Steampacket, Jeff Beck and the Faces, Rod Stewart was outstanding.
I thought the Sugababes band was good and the bass player was excellent.
It's my experience that the guys playing music for a living have a much better attitude to playing, other musicians and gigs.
Many of the problems posted on Basschat seems to relate to hobby bands.
The beauty of D class amps, together my two weigh less than my accessories case.
Same with Neo cabs, 2 are a doddle when they only weigh 21lbs each.
My lightest bass is so light that I have to check the gig bag to see if I remembered to put it in.
Carrying spares has never been easier.
I had a similar situation a few weeks ago with a band leader who chose to hassle me about one verse in a song that went wrong (I'll hold my hands up, my fault) and ignored the other 23 songs which I played perfectly, even though he was making mistakes all night.
The best thing is to ignore twots like this. Just prove them wrong with your playing.
You could use the Status Quo method. Break up the band and shortly after reform with one member replaced.
Replacing someone doesn't have to be nasty. As others have said, be kind, positive and firm.
You might not be abusing the cab but a previous owner might have. The new horn should be OK.
IMO 2 8 ohm cabs are always preferable to 1 4 ohm cab. Each driver is doing half the work and they combine with each other to produce more volume and more tone than a single cab can.