Thanks, I don't believe the Fender warranty is transferable being a second hand purchase. It turned out to be an issue with the PCB after all of that, so I have a replacement part (full PCB assembly) getting shipped out to me in Australia. Funny, Fender Australia would not respond to any of my emails. USA was very professional.
I was contemplating a John East preamp, but I decided to keep the bass as original as possible. Even though, the blend control when it is working operates on a very narrow band from the centre detent. You'd expect more from such an apparently "high end" Fender instrument?
Over and out!