As to pickups, I find that the K&K Pure Mini is the best I have heard at reproducing the actual tone of the guitar.  The simplicity is also great as there is no battery.  I have pulled out hundreds of LR Baggs and Fishman systems and replaced them with the humble Mini, and nobody has been disappointed. That is not to say that if Ron applies his magical sense of tone to an Alembic acoustic pickup,  it won't be the greatest thing ever....just like the bass pickups and circuitry.  In the meantime, I strongly recommend the K&K.  Oh, and strap buttons are an option. 

I see it is now listed as SOLD! 

Today Eddie's Guitars is doing a live demonstration of the Alembic Element guitar as part of their 99th Acoustic Showcase:


4:00 Central Time, June 19th.

Matt leads off with the Element- 

https://www.youtube.com/live/-Lg7I5DVj2c?is=eRP1KnK_U5yeTmlC

The Alembic demo was nicely done, though I wish he had done some fingerstyle playing like he has with the others.  Caught some of the comments viewers were making about the Element, and they seemed to love it.  I'm enjoying watching the whole show; I'm about 2/3's the way through.  Makes me want to go visit their website.