Thanks, I'll sort out some fretboard wax /lemon oil, it will probably be good for my other basses too.
Chuck, it was your customised Bass VI body that gave me the idea in the first place so, as you've posted here, I had no choice...

Also, I have some questions already - they are in bold type below, any thoughts would be appreciated.

So, with much trepidation I took the jigsaw to the lovely ash body this morning. The decision was made slightly easier by my lovely, and supportive, better half telling me to pull my finger out and just do it, and if it all went to poo she'd buy me a replacement. Got to be happy with that!

So, first some rough pencil guides and clamps


Then after a few very enjoyable hours I have something i'm definitely happy with:




These pictures are after reshaping and sanding to P180 grit, then wetting down to show up any imperfections. I almost stuffed up the tight curve where the top horn joins into the neck pocket but I think it's all worked out well in the end. The obvious reshape is the front end but I also gave the whole bass a bit of a reshape to round and soften all the edges and shape transitions. You can;t really see it in the pics but it does change the 'slab sided' look of the body. I've also widened the bridge pickup cavity screw recesses to fit the new p/ups.

Next step is to work out exactly what I'm going to do with the pick guard/control panel/ bridge pickup channel. Would there be any problems if I use a plastic control panel rather than the metal one in the kit? I've got an idea for a shape that is different and plastic is easier (thanks to pablopepper).

Then I'll sand to 240 grit before mocking up the bridge, p/up and neck alignment and drilling all the attachment holes for down the track.

Then I'll start finishing the body with dark timbermate sanded back to pop the grain. is it right to sand to 240 grit before applying the timbermate or is 180 grit better to keep the grain open? The colours in the wet shots above are pretty much how I want the finished wood to look - I'm thinking of getting clear finish dingotone and mixing it maybe 70:30 with the coolongatta gold rather than straight coolangatta gold?

While the various finish coats are drying I'll work on the neck

Anyway, thanks for the comments to date and until the next update - keep sanding!