So... I have some interesting news to report on my order. I've waited to post updates while I have tried to figure everything out.
Both Frenchy and Matt R. give me crap about having horrible luck with my bass orders, and this is no exception.
First of all, the volume pot was bad... and I simply do not like the design of the '58 pickup. The staggered pole pieces are way too high causing the A string to be too loud. Truth be told, I replace all my pots anyway, and the pickup thing can be easily fixed.
As far as everything else goes...
The bass obviously looks amazing... and it also sets up and plays unbelievably (hands down the best playing p-bass I've ever touched)... AMAZING playability... no exaggeration... but, after I really had a chance to sit down with it, I ended up noticing that it's not what I even ordered.
To make a long story short, I ordered a "Vintage" ADE build, choosing all of the typical '58 parts, (vintage body, vintage bridge, '58 neck with 7.25" radius, vintage reverse tuners) but I ended up with a modern neck and body, put together as a typical classic.
So, it's basically a modern neck with the graphite bars, 9.5" radius and easy access hex-key truss rod adjustment, but it has the vintage decal, vintage reverse tuners and vintage tint. The body is a perfect match for the modern neck, complete with the small route for access to the truss rod. However, it has the 5-hole vintage bridge instead of the modern 3-hole with string-through design.
In other words, it's a huge fuck-up, but it's also completely one-of-a-kind... an anomaly... there's not another lefty OR righty like it.
I've called Fender and they can't explain how it happened. My guess is that whoever procured the neck and body mistakenly grabbed a set of modern pieces from the bins and the rest of the workers finished it correctly as a Vintage bass without ever questioning the body and neck that were pulled.
Anyway, Fender was embarrassed beyond belief, incredibly apologetic and we're working together for the best possible solution. It's obviously not what I ordered, but it also happens to be an amazing bass and it is completely one-of-a-kind. I'm bummed I didn't get what I ordered, but I also feel kind of lucky in a way...?
It's an odd mix of feelings, but Fender is basically telling me I can do whatever I want. I can hold onto this bass while they build me a new one... they'll send me a new neck... or I can keep this bass and they'll make it up to me in some other way.
What would you guys do?