Like Kris sez, it's cool that you take criticism and respond like a civilized man, so I take you at your word, and also would also echo David's comments.
And I also hope you enjoy your instruments.
And I'd like to hear what you're planning, and end up getting.
I actually thought about/considered getting as many as 10 strings (F#-Eb) with 40 frets!!!
It would have been interesting, but I'm very glad I got what I did. I think the range of a B-F 7-string with a 3-octave neck is perfect... for me, I'm completely satisfied with that range.
I've played a nice custom 7-string with a 24 fret neck made by a guy named... I think it's Michael Koonzt or something like that... and also a Sidewinder and another bolt-on Conklin.
The Koonzt was really awesome -both playing and sounding- but I've never seen any others and have no other frame of reference about them in general.
The bolt-on didn't impress me at all as anything special other than the 7 strings, and I think 28? frets, if I recall correctly.
The Sidewinder was pretty nice overall, but again didn't strike me as anything special in the sound department. This isn't a put-down. It was a nice instrument which was easily superior to a long list of other less instruments... it just didn't strike me as anything special soundwise. But it was well-designed and constructed, and it played well and sounded well, certainly adequately or better. And of course it was only one instrument.
Good luck with whatever you choose, and, should you be so inclined, I'd like to hear what it is.
To echo what John said, Alembic can make whatever you want. If you know exactly what you want, they can make it happen. Again -as John said- they have great experience and can likely offer you some ideas you might really dig and not even be aware of.
The thing is, WHATEVER you want... they can do it, and to be blunt, they'll do it better than anyone. But, it'll probably (almost certainly) cost more. But, as you yourself have observed, they're most capable of duplicating specific features that people want.
A lot of people don't know some basic -but significant- knowledge about Alembic that club members take for granted.
We take it for granted, but it's worth mentioning occaissionally -for the benefit of those who do/may not know.
When you get a quote from Alembic on a neck-thru, you get a pretty significant range of CUSTOM options included in the quote at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Basic things of significance in this context include custom fingerboard dimensions within a flexible range of specs, usually a half-dozen or more attractive standard wood choices, no charge for fretless or lefty, and the ability to often swap (some) body shapes, and also choose the body woods (I think some options do have upcharges).
That's a LOT of pretty significant options for no extra cost.
These are built-in to the quote.
I don't think the custom quote offers 7 or more strings, or more than 24 frets as options (although I could be wrong).
But if you were to say, get a quote for a six-string Essence, and then just have 'em tell you how much more for however many additional strings and frets you might want... be aware that they would make the instrument with the scale length and fingerboard dimensions of your choice (extra long and other extremes are extra, I think), and also offer you several choices and combinations of attractive and functional woods at no extra cost.
If you were to get a 7 string essence with an extended fingerboard and only one pickup, it probably would actually be fairly competitive pricewise to anything else you're likely to find, and far more satisfying.
In any case, best wishes, and I'd like to hear what you choose.
