Happy to report everything's OK. 🙂
The bass was in an old-fashioned wooden-ish hardcase, which really isn't designed to be walked on, but somehow it all got through unscathed. The seller is pretty cross, and is taking it up with Interparcel.
(Incidentally, I video'ed the unboxing just in case)
Right... Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Maggie:
In what will be a huge surprise to none of you, it's an early 70s P. '71, to be exact.
I thought I was done with maple P's, but this one is just over 8lbs so I couldn't resist. Pickguard & wires / pots are replacements. It's been refinned (black over original black, apparently.) Everything else is original.
First thing that hits me... it's massively resonant. Feels lovely so far...