I have replaced the hardware and I'm now very happy with the result. Drilling was required due to USA Hipshot being different from Licensed Hipshots.

That's a beauty.

Wow - that looks amazing. I'm a little surprised on the gold straplock, but at the same time I sympathize - I have a chrome set on order for my Fender...
 
I know you have probably already given the details of the bass in the original thread, but is the fingerboard ebony? That thing is just sleek. I used to be more of a non-more-black guy myself - but even my black-trim jetglo Rickenbackers have the standard bubinga/rosewood/whatever it is fretboards.

Thats just the strap. Black straplocks too.I swapped them out first.  24 fret. brass nut, ebony board, 6 bolt neck, hum cancellor, vol pan tone, bass mid treble, bright sw, mid freq switch, now with blk hipshot hardware. I have other black straplocks new for such emergencies, ie maker not offering black. I still have my  wood showing Alembics but I enjoy black. Goes with everything.