Thanks all. Earlpilanz on Ebay will make me a scratchplate. I am (someone else is for me) mocking up a Stingray scratchplate and stretching it to get the Bongo bridge placement correct (extra 18mm if anyone is interested). I am fine with not much space between the neck pickup and the fingerboard because I will NEVER EVER slap in anger. And if I ever find the need to, then I have......(the shame)..... several other basses which will cover that.