I am certain that if the pickups are naff then there are any number of UK winders who could rewind them to our heart's content. Wire is wire and magnets are magnets.
The Roscoe Beck CAR matching headstock haunted me for years. I eventually had a J5 resprayed and have now scratched that itch. I still look at every RB advert that comes up just in case!
I feel your pain. The ONLY thing I do not like about my DB is my machine heads. Of course, my problem is that the ones I have fallen for would be an £800 purchase and then there is fitting. That is never going to happen.
I have no idea if this has been done and I am afraid I do not have the time to wade through 107 pages! But I saw this and thought of this thread.
https://retrovibe.co.uk/product/retrovibe-t30-telecaster-bass-30-6-short-scale-surf-blue-stunning/
There are some DEEPLY weird headstocks out there. Someone has to design them. Some look as if they have been done in the dark.
Control plates which are wooden. What gives?