1. find/cut some 6mmx10mmx65mm steel, round ends to half round, slightly file top to a curve, lightly prime and paint. Hey - new pole blade.
2. Remove pickup, remove pole piece screws (won't be used again), and back off the 2 screws coming up from underneath, just enough to release the uppermost plate which the original pole pieces passed into, and these 2 screws are tapped into. Note the screws come through the pole piece plate a few turns... this will catch the new pole blade.
3. Remove the top pole piece plate, use this as a template to drill and tap 2x 3mm holes in the pole blade.
4. Using angle grinder/dremel/files slot pickup cover to match. It is chromed brass, so it's easy to fashion. Just use the original holes as a guide, extending them to a half round ended slot to the total of 65mm (or as needed to suit pole blade)
5. Reassemble, using the 2 pickup screws coming up from underneath to match the holes you tapped in the blade.
6. Reassemble to bass and test height. You may need to adjust pole blade height by filing thinner. This worked a treat on a Chinese bass I bought - 5 string with 2x artec mudbuckers w/4 pole pieces. Clear tone, and quite useable. And a damn sight cheaper than the alternatives....
