Thanks very much. I shall try it. I have farmed 2 tracks out to grown ups and will attempt one myself when I get it back from the trombonist. Of course, then I have to actually do something with them!
I am certain that if the pickups are naff then there are any number of UK winders who could rewind them to our heart's content. Wire is wire and magnets are magnets.
The Roscoe Beck CAR matching headstock haunted me for years. I eventually had a J5 resprayed and have now scratched that itch. I still look at every RB advert that comes up just in case!