The Last Bass Outpost

did these come stock with both volume controls closest to the selector switch, with the tone controls closest to the jack plate?  This one is certainly arranged that way.

My V63 came that way.

I'm looking forward to hearing if the neck is thicker like the 2013

I certainly hope not.

I have wondered if it is somehow transferred over from bowed instruments, where the bow requires strength, finesse, endurance.
Not very confident of this idea though.

I think you are on to something there. With guitar the right hand just does the strumming and the left hand does all the intricacies of creating chords.

BTW, I am left-handed. In about 1964 or so some of my school mates wanted to start a band and asked me to take up the bass. I started playing lefty, but when I tried to buy a bass the options were play an upside down bass or pay bunches for a left-handed bass. I chose to learn to play right-handed.

That could be just the finish checking where the laminate seams run

Looking at this view, below the E on the sticker and to the left, I would say it is a repaired headstock.

Shouldn't be the cover mounted in the other direction? 

Yes, it should.

I would buy an NR if it had a thinner body and neck. I was so disappointed when I received the blue NR that I sold my Bach NR to make room for. the Bach was so much more to my liking.

There are no unbiased news networks in America.

I haven't watched SNL in years, maybe decades. All the late night talk shows have become infected with political overtones. I am missing Johnny Carson.

The bass on Lovely Rita is amazing.