Hello Everyone:  My name is John Wrede  and I am brand new to this site so bare with my ignorance.  I'm getting on in years and have only recently picked up a bass guitar and started to play again after nearly a 50 year hiatus.  As a matter of fact, the band that I played in while in college back in the late 1960's was inducted into my State's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I had the distinct privilege of getting back on stage again, after 47 years, to play a short set with band members I had not seen in that length of time just last weekend. 

In preparation for that event, I had hoped to be able to find a vintage Ovation Typhoon Bass that I could buy and begin rehearsing with but the instruments I found available were a bit out of my price range so I ended up with a new semi-hollow body that I played in the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (The Typhoon II was the instrument I played back in 1968 through 1970 and I wanted to (still do) relive the past with it)  In the midst of all that preparation, I stumbled upon a reasonably priced Typhoon that had some pickup and tone/volume control issues but I bought it anyway thinking that with enough patience and investigation, I might be able to find replacement parts to restore the instrument to playable condition.  Structurally, the bass is in good condition so not much luthier work is needed other than to replace pickups and one volume potentiometer. 

Now to my problem!  I'm searching for a set of original, Schaller humbucker double wound pickups for the bass and I'm rapidly finding out that such things are as scarce as hens teeth.  If those pickups are no longer an option, can anyone advise where I might look to find suitable, drop in replacements of good quality.  They don't have to be Schallers but I would very much like to find chrome finished double wound pickups that fit into surrounds measuring 11 cm by 5 cm.   Understanding the rarity of these parts, will it be necessary for me to go to a custom craftsman for any of this? 

Also, while I have a good luthier to work with, he is quite hesitant to attempt refinish of the instrument.  The neck is in good shape.  The face of the body has several, very thin weather cracks in the finish but the wood is solid.  The back of the bass is almost pristine with no cracking or flaws.  Is there something I can do with the face of the guitar short of stripping the finish and starting over.   I'd rather not do that because I tend to think it might diminish the instruments value. 

Any help anyone can provide or make referrals will be gratefully appreciated.  

Thank you

John W