looks like i might have lucked out and found a band to my liking and vice versa
Am not sure yet if my fender 15 rumble is going to be enough for playing out.
guessing i might keep an eye out for an alembic preamp
but i need a good place to go for speakers and amps
appreciate any help you folks can offer
thanks
jeff

Rudy's Music on 48th Street has an entire floor dedicated to Bass Guitars and amps.  Plus if you must, you are near the Sam Ash 48th Street empire. You also might want to check out 30th Street Guitars in NYC, they havd a great vintage vibe there.  Good luck, and let us know how it went!

For CT....  
 
Ron's Guitars in Groton has a decent selection of Mesa & SWR bass stuff....  
 
G Guitars has a nice selection of Aguliar, Eden, and usually a FX-1 in stock....  
 
I havent been to East Coast Music Mall (Danbury) in a while, but they usually had a good selection new & used.  
 
If you want a good laugh, go to Banko's in Ansonia~ the place is crammed full of stuff (guitars hanging from every inch of  the 8' ceiling) and really hard to manuver through.
 
My favorite non-music places to shop are Superior pawn in New Haven, TC's pawn & gun in Waterbury, and there were a couple of other seedy shops in Bristol.  
 
Didnt you pick up a Nemisis combo recently?!?

Good luck with the band Jeff!  I tried to grab Direwolf last week to see how the neck felt, but it was in spray.

yes i did
10 inch and i didnt like the sound
no fat bottom end
but i should give it another shot....

jeff a couple options not mentioned yet...
 
  - check out the DR BASS thread. a 210 & a 115  
    cab. plus pre amp & amp???
or
  - check the eden dealers (CT) i think its the  
    one in hamden, nice prices FWIW.
 
And, congrats on the band.