PaulThePlug

1st thing and cheapest option... change the strings.

Try @taddy... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124895054584?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Tazg4AriQ9e&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=daj_hJ6fSo-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Done 2 good cutom jobs for me...

Roundabout - Yes

Old fenders etc used bits of silicon tubing... Or how about a small rubber grommet? Rick often used these under the pickup and above the body...

Meant to fit both... Orange: Small Gig Bag The Small Gig Bag is designed to the Pedal Baby 100 or the Little Bass Thing. https://www.thomann.de/gb/orange_gigbag_pedal_baby_little_bass.htm https://britishaudio.com/products/orange-gig-bag-for-pedal-baby-little-bass-thing https://www.andertons.co.uk/orange-little-bass-thing-500w-amp-hepo 8.5cm x 27.6cm x 25.1cm (3.35” x 10.9″ x 9.9″) https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitar-amps/power-amplifiers/orange-pedal-baby-100-a-b-amplifier 30CM X 7.7CM X 19.5CM (11.81″ X 3.03″ X 7.68″)

Yamaha Session Cake?

I was already think 'what now' as i hit the link... Unfortunately i actually like the original body shape... any idea what it was, what the thing should be?

@attackbass Shame, but if you have Rear Route in the order, i'd be wanting a replacement... or if ya happy-ish a hefty discount. I've got a P and a J in Rear Route for more wood.

GSR200 Black GSR200B Walnut SR300E Iron Pewter SR600 Natural

Nice... Body and Neck for £40? Neck no longer fits? from the top on a taper? I'd wait a while... warmish body / coldish neck... like doing wheel bearings. Love the SR... Here is my '10 SR600 I'd go plain natural wax finish. So wished they did a Passive Single P pickup, so If you run out of fun or patience drop me a message!

^ Unusual... Don't often see a scarf joint on a straight F-esq neck... usually only on layed-backed angled headstock. EDIT: Wow... looks so regular triangle shaped break i thought it was a scarf-ed in headstock.

Motorway City - Hawkwind

'Rickenfakers' over on Facebook...

Ibanez SR300-a-like with a single Split P and Passive.

Guilty - Alice Cooper

They sieze or the nut / allen key hole gets rounded...

A fettle with good fitting tools when things go as they should is one thing... A fix when they don't - mainly truss rod - is another... Well done for sorting yours and ya mates basses... as you say bit of research and the correct tools and an appreciation of how things should react... engineering background, sorted! Maybe get a cheapy or an old broken neck of the bay and try fret leveling how it feels etc, nut file etc.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpE4G-_7dYb8&ved=2ahUKEwinm-i7_bX7AhUKZsAKHcQPACAQo7QBegQIBxAE&usg=AOvVaw0qzufo03G1lMzKag-gFEXa

Or try passive...

but, it doesn't need a pick guard...

The wood has enough of a finish as a protective layer... Furniture Type Wax... I use Rust-o-lium Prolly give a satin sheen rather than shine with a light coat, but give a little protection.