We have a winner!
Fairly major mod obviously, and cost me more in parts and labour than I actually paid for the bass itself, but I **REALLY** like the way it’s turned out and now intend to follow through with a new preamp, aged brass knobs and a new pickguard... possibly aged brass too?
Kudos to Tom at Feline Guitars who did the work - it looks like it was originally designed and built this way.
Photos added to original post.