repair/rebuild question

I picked up a bass the other day and I liked how it looked and felt. I was not crazy about how it sounded. Not a big deal a new setup of pickups and a pre will take care of that. For what ever reason I didn't look that closely at the pickups. Well it turns out on this 4 string "custom" made base who ever built it put in pickup that are emg 645 size. There is over an inch of pickup over and under the strings. So I am stuck with it, but I like the way it feels and plays... I got it under 300.

This is what I am thinking. I am thinking of using a planer. Take off enough wood off the wings to replace the top. Then just route out the correct route for a 4 string pickup. As well the bass is a tank so I was thinking kill 2 birds with one stone. If I plane the top off I can chamber the bass to lighten the load.

anyone for see any issues or difficulties with this or have a better solution? I am not sure how hard it would be to separate the wings. The bass has a pretty heavy clear on it as well.

I have done wood working in the past. Making cabinets and such. I have never done something like this. I am itching to make my own bass. I picked up the wood that I want to put on the top. if this doesnt work out. I will use it in a build

 

here is the top.

 

it does have something like a butterfly on the headstock. I am not sure how I am going to remove that as of now. I know it is a fake fodera. I didn't care about that too much.

 

I cant take the neck off. I will have to see i can figure something out.

 

my original thought was to use a hand planer take off as close to the neck-through as comfy. then use a router to get right up on it. use a straight edge jig and a plunge bit with a guide. as long as the jig is true it would give me a good edge. once the top piece edge is planed flat it should fit nicely.

specificly on the router bit something like this http://www.toolstoday.com/p-5046-flush-trim-plunge-template-router-bits-w-upper-ball-bearing.aspx


where are you all getting black veneer? everything I can find is in small pieces.

 

I thought about that. But I could not figure out how to make it look nice... I. Had thought About just getting some custom pickups made as well. But I guess in the end it is gas to do something like building.