When it comes to basses, altho' I might look like one I'm so for the most founded and reflected upon aspects, put to test for almost my last 2 decades as a bassist and after lots of trial and error and owning MANY other basses. No better playability in any 5ers, no better cutting-thru' sound, no higher authority in a band context.
As per amps, everything I need is lots of clean volume and oomph in a reliable pack, that's why I own Peavey stuff (mostly combos, TKO-75 & 80, a couple TNT-150s, also a good old 410TVX + 115BXBW stack). I use a crunchy sound but that comes out of a SansAmp RBI or some more portable device that emulates it, which takes us to... Zoom. Been a loyalist for a couple decades too, I've gone thru' the BFX708, 708II (still own this), B2.1u and currently use the MS60B mostly. Once again, I use them because they're inexpensive yet more than enough for my needs (the MS60B is superb, haven't used my RBI onstage for years, only single reason why I keep it is because it's my main tool for recording bass -haven't used amp/cabs on a record for more than a decade-). Couldn't care less about brands themselves but I get hooked when a company repeatedly puts out products that suit my needs/preferences without abusing my wallet (not exactly the case with EBMM lately, still pretty resonable in the 2nd hand market).
EDIT: as per strings, well, after having Ernie Ball and Magma (argentinian) free sets endorsement deals (now gone) I use the cheapest nickels I can find that aren't a joke. I change them often, don't let them die much. Nowadays it's Warwick Reds (I insist, NICKEL, not the crappy steels that are the more widespread variety -and suck terribly-). I get 5-string sets from thomann for 11.60€/set, a no brainer. Only string brand I've been really partial for in my life was Smiths, back when I liked steel (and could afford them).
