Generally, I think doing maintenance and caring for your Alembic yourself is a good thing. I think you should read everything you can here on the site about whatever it is you want to do. For instance, until they've read it here, most folks probably wouldn't know that brass polisher should only be used on the bridge and not on the plated surfaces like the tailpiece. And knowing how to treat the fretboard is another example.
I've never completely stripped a bass all at once. I have removed a tailpiece; I took my time and did it carefully. It's not something that happens often, so if you're careful, it shouldn't be a problem. But yes, I'm not inclined to remove the tailpiece unless I have to; I figure everytime you do, it loosens that connection a little.
Everytime I've disassembled a bridge for cleaning, oiling and polishing, it's taken me a couple of days. My fingers get fatigued polishing all the little parts.
Always be careful removing the truss rod cover; it's easily scratched. If it's stuck, resist the urge to pry it up with a screwdriver.
In fact, anytime you're working with a screwdriver on your bass, you should focus and take your time; it's easy to slip and scratch the instrument somewhere.
When removing the knobs, know what you are doing before hand. The different styles require different methods. If you need to tighten the nut that holds the control to the body, do so carefully, mindful not to scratch the body.
So, think through what it is you want to do; run searches and post questions.
