Last night, I did a light fret end dress, just a smooth file, and then three grits of sandpaper, and then re-buffed the fingerboard edge, a big improvement.. then, I reversed the pot direction, because, I prefer clockwise on. I removed the stock capacitor, and put one I had in inventory. I soldered everything up and the bass did not work! I traced it to a nearly severed- at the factory! - pickup ground wire- not at any of the solder points- it was about an inch into the wire! Not good quality control. I'm glad I found it- it could have easily stopped working on a gig!
It was after putting it all back together that it occurred to me that on this bass, and likely other passive Sires- they use righty pots. The taper of both the volume and tone controls improved to a really noticeable degree! The tone works as it should now, and is very effective along the entire sweep not just the last 1/8" of travel! I still think I may install one of the many preamps I have in stock. Possibly an Aguilar- and NO visible mods to the bass. Two stacked pots with chrome knobs will 'hide' it if I do. I'm going to make two pick guards for it- a mint green, and a gold one. I think I will go with the gold one.. Even though I do like the tort, it's my bass, after all... I like these 'surf' and Fender style custom solid auto finish colors with lighter or gold anodized guards much better.
Photos to come.

Perfect! Looks classic, and classy. Really curious what it will look like with the gold!