discreet

I know from bitter experience that people are lazy and will try to get away with minimum effort. A mediocre player who imagines they are doing a good job will not improve regardless of how much you want them to. They are just wasting their time, and yours.

I have experience of neither, but this may help: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-rumble-25-vs-rumble-40.1232935/

Not unusual for sure, but acceptable? Having said that, I know how hard it is to find (and keep) a decent drummer.

Let us know how you get on. The fact that the drummer still hasn't got back to you doesn't do him any favours. In my opinion, you should walk as it sounds like you've got all the skills and you're doing all the work. It's bad enough when you have one passenger in a band - but if you've got two or three, there's something very wrong. And that's without mentioning their musical competence, or lack of it. Life's too short to pander to flakes and fantasists. But as I said, just my 2p. Play it your way for sure and good luck.

I love to start a debate and then just bugger off.

Mine is still my go-to bass... though I do have GAS for a Mex 50s P... on and on it goes.

I for one welcome our Ashdown overlords...

Yes, but what you gain on the bass you lose on hair dye and girdles...

Have used 15s in the past and liked them. But there are still those who think that frequency response and transient response are linked to cone size, which is not necessarily the case. I've used 10s that can vibrate the building and hit you in the chest - admittedly they were in an 8X10 cab being powered by an SVT-CL, but you get the point...

That is a crucial consideration, certainly.

I've usually had enough after seconds. Urp!

Er... I'd take both, just to be on the safe side...

Fishing for a YOB bass for my 60th. The family know this, but as yet have little idea of the cost... ...surely 1960 P Basses can't be that expensive, can they? They're second-hand, old and battered! Like me.

That doesn't prevent progress, by the way.

+1 Fender Rumble Combo. The range is extensive and caters for every purpose and budget. Light, loud and toneful.

Just a light going-over with a Scotchbrite pad first. No clear coat for rapid wear and a vintage look. Front of headstock sanded after shaping to remove original decal.

+1 This fabric tends to loosen over time anyway thus making it a sympathetic and accurate restoration...

Me too. But for all-time overall inspiration it has to be CAN. Rarely have one set of people covered so much stylistic ground and influenced so many across such a wide range of genres, albeit practically incognito. One of modern music's best-kept secrets.

Er... by which I mean a side placement firing across the stage, not with its back to the audience. Just to be clear. Doh.

In our band that would result in extreme verbal followed by a punch in the hogans. And quite right, too.

If you have an amp directly behind you firing into your calves it may be OK out front but you won't hear it. You don't have to have your amp facing front - if it's placed away from you somewhat and facing you (and the drummer) you'll have a much better chance of hearing what you're doing - especially if you can find a way to tilt it back a bit.. The audience will still hear you, don't worry about that.

They're not exactly rare. Or unobtainable. Or expensive. You famously can't buy Wal pickups, but Herrick do this spiffy 8-coil number. Not cheap, but can you imagine what the bass would sound like..? https://www.herrickpickups.com/products/split-8-coil-mm-humbucker/ I think just one of them, wired and switched for various configurations and with a top-range pre-amp, would be fairly orgasmic.Full-on active electronics versatility but with a vintage look and feel. Does it get any better..?

Actually the easiest way to do that would be to mod a HB PB-50. The new pickguard would cover the existing pickup rout, so you'd only need to rout for the two new pickups (and new electrics) and solder them in. And reshape the headstock and refinish, which is par for the course. Hmm, now you've got me thinking...

So put one together! That looks killer, but of course I'd need it to be in vintage white, cream, or TV Yellow. Suh-weet!