Dream 8 string...with midi?

[Brian Dupre (copperheadlxxix)]

I've been snoping around for some time looking for a company to build me an 8 string bass, and I've pretty much settled on Alembic.  
Anyway, I have a couple questions/concerns that I hope someone can answer: Does Alembic ever install piezo/midi pickups with a 13 pin outlet to run to synths such as the Roland V-Bass? If so, about how much would this add to the base price of the instrument? And does anyone know how feasible this would be on an 8 string(not one of those beasts with 8 primary strings, but a bass with 4 primary & 4 paired octave strings.)because I've seen midi installed on 4,5,6, strings but never an 8.
One final question-what is the difference between the electronics on the essence and the rogue? Is the essence a single pickup with volume, bass & treble while the rogue is dual pickups with volume, bass & treble? Sorry if I sound amateurish and in the dark about things Alembic, but I'm hoping to have the 8 string of my dreams become a reality within the next year. Thanks to anyone who can help me sort these things out!

[mica]

We've done experiments with piezo pickups before and weren't happy with the sound for basses.
 
We've installed various Roland pickups in both basses and guitars, each job is quoted separately as there are no fixed costs since these items change frequently and how you integrate them into the onboard electronics can vary.
 
I'm not familiar with any systems that will accomodate midi for 8-string basses. I have a feeling that tracking the individual strings would be quite a challenge.
 
Electronics differences:  
 
Essence: 2 pickups, volume, pan, filter
1 internal trimpot: overall gain for output
 
Rogue: 2 pickups, volume, pan, filter, Q, bass cut and boost switch, treble cut and boost switch
2 internal trimpots: gain for each pickup