This was at the tail end of another discussion, but important details should each have their own thread so they aren't lost or overlooked.
 
The Signature Deluxe models come standard with hollow core construction these days. I've checked your work order, and it's marked as hollow core.

The hold is not yet lifted. You've got a pending question as to the body shape.

The control layouts on the Erratic Zebrawood and the Amboyna Burl are the standard layout for adding Europa electronics to an Essence body. The Amboyna one has an added switch for LEDs, and is a little cramped for my style. We have a program to route this already. Usually we route the electronics cavity and the holes for the controls with our CNC  machine. If we do it by hand, it takes more time. We still cut the backplate with the CNC, but the hole placement is done with a hand drill.  
 
On the Essence of Life bass, it looks like it originally had Essence controls, then the Europa, including side jack was added later. This was certainly drilled by hand.  
 
If you want a custom control layout, it will probably be drilled by hand, and it may involve an additional charge, it just sort of depends.  
 
The wiring you've specified would be custom and have a minimum bench charge associated with it. Usually we connect the Bass and treble switched adjacent to each other with the Q switch on the end.  
 
Here's what I think you were getting out with your sketch:
 

 
This isn't the body shape you have under consideration, but I've made it symmetrical, and also noted that the output jack has to live somewhere.

We've made literally thousands of basses with 3 tailpiece anchor screws. It will have to be custom milled for you to include more. What are you trying to achieve with the additional screws? I ask only because it's not something that comes up often. In recent memory, only https://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/411/16123.html?1164396900"> Bob's custom Rogue had more than three anchor screws.   Just so I don't misundertand what you're asking for, the block usually refers to the bridge block which is the chunk of brass that the bridge mounts to. This is attached to the body with one wood screw.   This is a bar tailpiece:

  This is a half-moon tailpiece:

  This is a bird tailpiece:

That's funny, I don't even remember asking for that. I did ask for two in the sustain block, but that was only because I was planning to try some much lighter blocks.
 
I just don't recall having any concern about the tailpiece coming off, and certainly have never heard of such a case. I'm not sure there's any point here, Mark.
-Bob

Valentino-- always mugging for the camera.  Hah!

He looks a bit more inspired on the BalK.  Must be the Ebony in the neck.

Thanks a bunch, Mica.  I'm pleased as punch with the way it looks, with the proportions and also how the overall colors and contrast meet the specifications I requested.  I'd hoped for a little darker Mahogany, but it looks far too awesome for me to be able to be anything other than completely pleased.  (And just for the record, Valentino DID advise me -actually I think you did too- that there were many different colors of Mahogany, and that if I were to be really picky, it would most likely entail additional time and expense.  So even if there were a snivel on my part, it'd be groundless, 'cause I knew going in that the Mahogany would be based on availabilty and best judgement of the builders.  But this is just to give Valentino credit for making this clear, the fact is, I'm thrilled with the appearance!)
 
But I'm even happier now, because the inner core is wider than the minimum I'd requested.
 
So... double thanks!
 
Long-windedly yours, Mark!

Gotcha.  Thanks.  But this issue is resolved!  Yay!

Awesome!  Thanks for the confirmation on that Mica.  One important thing I can check off and not worry about!

Thanks Mica.  I'll look forward to seeing the pricing options.
 
First of all, there simply isn't any room in my mind for doubt that, if it's an Alembic pickup, it sounds great.  So I'm sure both the AXYs and the FatBoys sound awesome.  There simply isn't any other possibility.
 
Club members clearly show enthusiasm for both; and is seems like there are strong opinions that if one doesn't go for dual FatBoys, one can get a lot out of mixing a FatBoy with an AXY, and swapping them to experiement and gain there own perspective.
 
My intuition is that I should get one for the bridge, with the wiring long enough so that I can swap the 2 pickups to experiment.
 
At this point, my plan is to ask for an AXY for the neck pickup and an Fatboy for the bridge.  This assumes equal cost of/for pickups.  If the FatBoy is more, I'll have to think about it.
 
Blah blah blah, you said you'll get Val to get me pricing info tomorrow, so I'll look at it then!

Cool, thanks Mica!

Mica, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you.  My interest in having 5 screws... you could maybe sorta call it paranoia -which is probably a little too strong (but in the general ballpark)- or perhaps more just a certain mentality... an overbuild mentality.  3 screws doesn't seem like much.  If one of the 3 is ever comprimised for any reason, the pressure on the remaining two...
 
Please don't be insulted.  I know Alembic... I know you folks know your stuff, and I strongly suspect you've most likely never even had one only 3-screw-related problem with a tailpiece.  It's just to cater to my not-necessarily-justified ideosyncratic quasi-paranoid concern.  (But no one charged me a catering to my 'not-necessarily-justified quasi-paranoid concerns' fee on my quote, did they?)
 
So lookie here.  The request for more than 3 screws was predicated on the assumption that it would be very simple to accomodate, and would involve little more than the cost of a couple extra screws and a minute or two of time.  If this is an incorrect assumption (as my sometimes dense/thick self is currently getting the impression it is...?) then please withdraw the request, and I'll just get over it.
 
While I'd feel a little better if my preferred bird (or alternatively, the bar) had 5 screwholes like my Europa or 4 screws like Bob's Rogue or Jeff's Dire Wolf,  I know Alembic'll give me an instrument that'll most likely never have an issue, and that'd you'd take care of if it did.
 
Let's cut to the chase.  It would make me feel better to have 4 or 5 screws -BUT ONLY IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S EASY FOR ALEMBIC TO DO.  I realize the pricing structure for your instruments assumes certain standards, and any/each deviation may decrease your profitability.  I DON'T WANT THAT.
 
So let's be clear.  I know full well that whatever you get me will be awesome, that there's little likelyhood of any problem -due to your awesome standards and quality control- and that any problem that did occur would be fixed.
 
I get the impression it might be an imposition, if so, consider the request withdrawn.
 
I DO NOT want Alembic experiencing anything other than smooth sailing with this custom.  This bass is pretty much all standard Alembic options, and it'll be awesome with those options.
 
Please be clear, ANY and ALL additional REQUESTS I've made are MINOR DETAILs subject to your discretion predicated on the assumption that any such details entail little to no effort on Alembic's part.
 
I'm CERTAIN I'll be 100% satisfied with the bass with the specifications already listed on the intitial order.  This is my main issue.  The second is making sure it's a good experience for Alembic.
 
The 5 screws, and the control configuration -which thread I'm headed to next- are a distant 3rd concern, much less important than the 1st two things!
 
(I'm not going to bring up this topic again.)

Thanks, Mica, I sure appreciate your detailed response.
 
If I've understood you correctly, you've got a program for the machine to route for Europa/Rogue controls in an Essense-Europa configuration, and that would be no extra charge.
 
My preference, then, would be for one of two things.  The Essense-Europa configuration would be the default preference -if what I'm about to propose would either be extra $ and/or significantly increase production.
 
I wouldn't want to pay extra for bench time -to custom wire as it were; but... question... what if you followed the (diamond) pattern, but just placed the specific switches at your discretion...?
 
You see, I REALLY love the aesthetics of your mock-up... (you did a GREAT job with it, by the way).  However, 90% of the oodles (units of mental gratification) lie in the configuration, and only 10% in the specific order.
 
So, punch line here, if this diamond configuration were something that Alembic could easily do for no extra headache nor extra charge for me, I'd be psyched, and the minor lack of oodles for not getting my precise ideal configuration would be instantly forgotten as I'd still prefer the diamond shape (with the electronics in whatever configuration) twice as much as the Essense-Europa configuration -which I'd prefer twice as much as the standard configuration!
 
Bottom line: this is a MINOR detail... BUT...
 
If the cost/labor is equal/not extra, let's go for the Essense-Europa configuration...
 
UNLESS... the cost/labor -for the diamond configuration (specifics position of controls at Alembic's discretion) was equal/not extra -in which case THAT would be my preference (assuming it was all nice and symetrical).
 
That's it.  Minor detail.  You've got all you need to know what I want, and how feasible everything is.  I know I'll be extremely happy regardless, so I'm not going to bring this up again, either.  I won't be disappointed with whatever you come up with; the only question will be if I'm super-duper satisfied, or merely super-satisfied!
 
Thanks again, I appreciate the work you put into this, the detailed explaination and mockup made everything totally clear!

Oh, duh, and regarding the jack position...
 
I couldn't find a price difference on the quote generator... I seem to dimly recall/believe that it's 2 or 3 hundred retail extra for the side jack I'd prefer, so I think I'm just defaulting to the standard front jack, which is no biggie.
 
I'd pretty much defer to your recommendation regarding jack placement.  The only objections I'd have were if the jack were placed in a place that interfered with the controls or practical function -and I can't see you coming up with anything like that!