UPDATE; I just proved " You can have the tools but it doesn't make you a mechanic"
I went to Guitar Center to return 'Special'; also a good friend works there as a tech he is very sharp and excellent Tech.
So as the manager was arranging for return I asked him to take a look in less than 8-10 minutes he had it setup to my specs E action 5/64ths G 4/64 and played and sounded great

He did a lot of pulling on strings [since I didn't sliped my senior mind they were new]
Set relief by feel/tapping while checking fretting above 12th fret.
He told me maybe after making significant truss rod adjustment out of box I didn't give it enough time to set
[let it sit for about 20 hours before doing my 'ineffective' setup attempts.
Was in case about 54 hours before I got to store.
I have done my own setups and maintenance tweaks on 4 different Basses since 2002
BUT all had some time on them and one was setup by dealer I just tweaked it
Manager asked me if I wanted a setup when I told him some of my problems with Bass
I smugly said I know what I am doing; I lied
I apologize to all here and EBMM; as to my last few posts NEVERMIND
Also saw the video with the Guy whom built his own 2 band and 3 band copy's of Stingray preamps
which showed 3 band had HPF around 70hz and spike at 4k
With my Mesa WD 800 with it's HPF and Para EQ I could mimic that and yes sound was very similar to
Pre-Special 3 band EQ's