Owen

If getting the right size is an issue then you could look at using the present ones rewound using the physical cases. No routing, no mess. New magnets, new wire. Job done. https://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/ has done some great work for me, and it will be significantly cheaper than any of the "big names". Pickups do not have magic in them. Right magnets, right wire, job done.

All the strings you crave, just not in the right order.

Thanks. Not a bad price for sparkly goodness!

Yummy! My MTD Kingston has the most comfortable neck I have played. I am old and have played a lot of basses.

Asymetric neck carve?

Excellent news!

Out of interest, because I REALLY NEED a 4 string bass, what do they go for in the shiny finish?

That was Silver Sparkle and it has been painted red? What is wrong with people?

I cannot deny, I am proper gutted. In my mind's eye you were 6'5" and probably wearing some sort of platforms on stage becasue of your screen name.

He had a thing, I fancied it. I paid, it came. He is a professional packer!

YES! Right there!

There is a lot of it about. https://reverb.com/uk/item/52022127-fodera-wal-emperor-2003-crotch-walnut

Excellent news. I do not actually like them, but I am in a minority of 1 in my close and broader family. The rest live for them. I get the process and the way the flavours morph from one to the next, but coriander is not for me.

I am a bass tart and will go with any bass.

Bass Police are coming for you.

70cm and not tight together shoulder straps.

I hope not, I am waiting for the first new bass I have ever bought in my life.

I am happy to measure mine if you like.

I have a bit of a thing for gig bags. I have a Protection Racket one at the moment which sits nice and high. I have a Gigblade one which sits over one shoulder but to the side which is very easy to carry.

If you have a competent keys player handy, then they play them in. However, songs that are older than 10 year old are likely to be available as midi files for free. You can download them and mute everything but keys, IF you are DAW friendly. However, commercial tracks might well be just less hassle.

Whenever I have played a fretted bass in an orchestral setting, the intonation has been interesting. An orchestra will intonate within itself. Frets don't do that.

Very easy

£50 2nd hand. Then sell it for £50 if you do not like it. Nothing not to love about that.