Dave, It's got Essence w/ Q electronics, and a TRS loop (jumpers set to pre-vol)..... the extra switch is a bypass for the loop.
Bob, this bass put my EBO and Jerry Jones bassVI into retirement. The Jerry Jones was 1.75 at the nut, and I could only play it with a pick. I placed the order w/ the JJ dimensions, but told Mica to err on the side of caution (bigger = better), but they wouldnt start until I figured out exatcly what I wanted & what would work.... We toyed around with a 2 nut and .45 spacing at the bridge, but the numbers wouldnt jive.... The bassVI string sets that are out there have an .084 for a low E (too thin, imo) and none of those strings were long enough to cover the length from post to tailpiece (the JJ is a 30 scale).....
Finally, I bought strings in bulk ( .095-.030) and figured the neck dimensions relative to the strings. The nut is 2.15, and the bridge is 2.25. String spacing is .50. All in all, I couldnt have asked for a more comfortable neck.
Once I use up all my strings, Im thinking about using a .100 for my low E.
Sonically, this bass has all the characteristics you would expect from the woods used~ the fundamental is in your face, and the sustain goes on for days. The timbre of the attack transients is way higher than my maple necks~ very brisk and percussive.
I could go on & on, but Im preaching to the choir. Simply stated: for my first custom I wanted to improve on a design that no manufacturer has really taken the time to get right. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Alembic has done well by me....