Hi Paul, what a study. This is indeed the way an Alembic works. I don't know if all the details are correct, perhaps Mica can fill that in.
But there are also other things to consider about a bass-sound! First of all: YOU, YOURSELF and YOU alone!! I've ownede both a S2 and a 'conventional' Alembic. And indeed they sound different. It's the personal taste what makes it happen. What kinda sound you want? On a S2 you have a very, very big variety of sounds at your disposal. The S2 sounds very big, also depending on the woods you use.
I also have a Spoiler, which has much less knobs to tweak, and still has a very big variety of sounds onboard. And very strange somehow I've always preffered the sound of the Spoiler. It had that 'twang', that 'Pop', and that agressive 'bite', but also that 'zoooooom' which I couldn't make with my S2. On the other hand, with my S2 I could make a 'wall of sound', and drive the rest of my band nuts (Ha, ha, ha).
So what I mean to say is, try all kinds of Alembics. They all sound very different, but they all have that specific 'Alembic-voice' in their tones. I'm sure a world of Bass-sounds will open itself to each and every-one. I've done it, and played on every Alembic I could lay my hands on. From the Essence's, Elan's, Persuader's up to the Series 2. And I can tell you, you think you're in Bass-Heaven....
Mattheus