I recalled a couple of occasions previously when using the Sire that things had mysteriously cut out (but nowhere near as badly as Sunday with the P though), so to be thorough I took the pickguard off the P and gave all the wires a good tug to make sure the connections were still sound, and they are. So I think it's the Elf that's actually the problem. So it's going back to PMT tomorrow for testing and repair/replacement. Just have to use the ABM for the time being I suppose - oh no, what a shame, etc.