Well guys thanks for all your input, it was all duly taken into account. So here's the update.
Sitting at home is a beau-ti-ful American Jazz Deluxe, 4 string, sunburst, rosewood, in short the bass i've had in mind for many years but denied myself for far too long, why? as my old drummer mate says, your a long time dead ! (i know it's not wise to listen to drummers, but it's ok if you pick n choose wisely
I saw it online for £1095 and considering it was the perfect colour scheme and all the others i saw were around the £1400 i had to investigate further. The mouse practically clicked itself not long after speaking to the guys and i was £1095 lighter.
Before despatching they give it a thorough check over, changed the strings to my spec and did a full set up and inspection, which i though pretty decent. The day it was due to be sent i get a call saying they found an issue with the neck pickup. With a thumb rested on it, it was shorting or buzzing or something, so they would have to send it to Fender. Bugger, but ok lets get it sorted. Fender "repair" the problem and are about to send it back, but find the problem re-occurs. The shop tells them, ok sort it and fit a new pickup. Which was all done within a couple of days.
The bass turns up with me a couple of days later. Pretty good service overall i thought.
I can't help wondering if the reason it was cheaper in the first place was somehow related to this dodgy pickup, i may be wrong, who cares i now know i've got a perfect bass with brand new pickup for at least £300 less than a typical price, so i'd call that a result.
Sound and playability ! thats a whole new chapter which i won't bang on about now, lets just say i am one very happy chappie, who is just itching to turn up at the next practice and blow those fookers away with some seriously active shock and awe !!
Itch finally scratched...... until the next time............... !