Bob,
Yes, as Oliver has noted the body shapes are different. Even John Entwistle's Exploiters were each a bit different. The one I'm having built is much closer to JE's than the Exploiters above, but that doesn't tarnish what fine instruments they must be.
For me, I didn't want my pickups placed as close to the end of the fretboard as with the first Exploiter above, so mine are going to be more like where the pickups are placed on my Essences, which I find very comfortable for slapping and popping (I'm not great at those techniques, but I do throw a few in occasionally). JE used to pop in between the pickups, one of the things that I think made his technique so unique.
Oliver and I have discussed the body shapes at length, and it looks like the one he posted above is pretty darn close to JE's Spyders listed in his book, Bass Culture. I think mine is too - the folks in Santa Rosa have done a great job from what I can tell at this point. JE's were much thinner at the waist, and the cutaway on the lower horn went slightly below the end of the fingerboard from what I can tell.
Alan
