Shaggy

Again a bit of a rare bird, but the late '70's Martin EB18 fits the bill, and has the very useful phase switch (my one pictured.....). As said above, most basses in this format tend to use the MM Stingray position with the pickup further towards the bridge. A self-build bitsa might be the way to go?

Absolutely stunning pair of 'bics, three - makes my old S1 look quite shabby by comparison......

Magnum 1 - eccentric "potato" shaped body (inspired by the Deacon and Breadwinner axe-shaped guitars), twin pickups, passive circuit with mono and stereo outputs. Magnum 2,- as above but with 3-band active circuit (6 graphic sliders supposedly keep volume output constant when adjusting EQ), mono output. Magnum 3 - as model 1 but with more traditional double cutaway body. Magnum 4 - as model 2 but with more traditional double cutaway body. Magnum 1 is my favourite (I have a factory fretless one) - love the original body shape, and the active circuit is known for being noisy and hungry with batteries. All fab bases though!

At the boutique end of the scale, there is Gus of course

Immensely cool.........

"Peaches" - Stranglers easy song, plus even though I'd just started on bass I was somehow the only bassist in the school, so got roped into the school rock opera production (which included Peaches) Happy days.........

Nicer one IMO - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-Wal-Mk1-Active-4-String-Bass-Guitar-with-Hardcase/164296079819?hash=item2640cf39cb:g:BEsAAOSwI-5fEw3j are they really fetching £5K + these days?

Need a front pic for that bit of bass porn please...... Back to the OP - refin looks stunningly good, and Chris Bowling was quite right about the body wood being an absolute cracker Ovation always used great tonewoods and the Magnums were made from 1 piece Honduras mahogany (NOT in fact chocolate coated ice cream.....) - I have a fretless Magnum 1, also in natural.

Pretty sure BM played a Telecaster on "Crazy little little thing called love"

I used to have a P bitsa I put a Kahler trem on (more correctly - a vibrato unit) - never used to to its full potential, but interesting and used subtly created some "fretlesseque" effects. Even heavier than a Badass 1 though.

Sold Harry a set of tuners - prompt payment, friendly guy to communicate with, and a smooth and easy deal. dank u boyo!

+1 Generally cited as the first "speed metal" song I think, before Motorhead and their ilk...

Plastic wood filler, from any DIY store

Many possible choices,, but a favourite of mine since the LP first came out is the Herbie Hancock keys solo on Simple Minds "Hunter and the Hunted" (album: New Gold Dream). As with all great solos; a beautiful use of space.

I guess the obvious names have been covered (no Chris Squire?), so I'll just mention - Gaye Advert: cool but probably not very inspirational Barry Adamson: cool and highly inspirational

I seem to have already acquired most of the basses I lusted after in my formative bass playing years, but wouldn't say no to: 1960's Rickenbacker 4005 semi in Fireglo 1970's Gibson Les Paul Triumph in white Alembic 4-string Mark King in either flame koa or buckeye burl - I'm not fussy which.....

Best 'Ray alternative I've tried is the Warwick FNA (Corvette body shape but same essential layout), not least as it has the very decent Seymour Duncan MM pickup and circuit as standard, which were intended as upgrades for the 'Ray. Liked mine so much I bought an LX Streamer Jazzman (and replaced the MEC pickups with Nordstrand / Bart). Used to have an OLP "Tony Levin" and was very underwhelmed by it.

Another vote for the Thumb. Plus my BC penny's worth.....most aggressive bass I've ever tried would be a Travis Bean TB2000

I think Gibson introduced the routine use of volutes on the headstock/ neck join from about 1973 onwards in a deliberate effort to strengthen that area (most of their guitars & basses switched to use of maple for necks at the same time), but have to say I'm not sure about the Thunderbird range, which of course being neck-thru design stayed with laminated mahogany necks. They did reduce headstock size though, to reduce risk of damage. Those bicentennial 'birds are lovely and getting rare now; you should have kept yours! I have a 1965 Thunderbird IV, almost inevitably with the neck repair, and despite its flaws - to me it has just about the perfect tone

Yes, Gibson used Schaller made hardware (with Gibson logos) on the Explorer, although the bridge was a chunkier affair than the 3D. Pickups were the same excellent single coil units as used on the Grabber. The necks were maple so much less prone to snapping than the earlier mahogany-necked basses and guitars that gave Gibson their deserved "fragile headstock" reputation, but I'm with alyctes on this - it's a very poorly thought out mod. I used to have a Ferrari red '85 Explorer bass, one of the few basses I really regret moving on.....