I have it together and settling. The action height is enormous and I will have to think about what I do from here. With a normal Bass I would use a cut up business card deep in the neck pocket to try and reduce some of this.....not even close on this build.
I think I may have to make a wooden veneer full length neck pocket shim this time.
Nice thoughts with the E string...thanks. But my A substitute sounds just fine at the moment.