Maybe I'll try to sell one of mine and see if this one remains available. After six or eight years of playing 99% four string, I've been playing a five 99% of the time for the past year or so. I guess it's time to swap...
Is that string spacing on the narrow side? It looks more like standard taper than comfort taper, especially considering the shorter scale.
As far as the bridge block goes, with the variety of custom sizes, bridge spacing options and such, I'd have to believe that even a standard sized bridge block might appear to be larger or smaller in context. I agree that it stands out way more in chrome than brass, especially on the black body. The more typical brass on a natural wood has a lot less contrast.
Personally, I'd be a lot more motivated in the original finish or if the refinish were done with the stain look like on one of Danno's Excel basses where it was purple-black with a little wood figuring still visible. But, then, I'm a wood fan, not a metal god.
As far as the angled pickups go, I would hope that the result is a more even volume across the strings. I am interested in the answer from someone who has owned this configuration.
To my knowledge, there's no better person to trade with than Danno.
-bob