When I ordered my five string P/J Elan, I purposely spec'd the maple neck-thru with pinstripes laminations (in Cherry, thanks Susan!) and ash body wings, topped with flame maple.
I purposely went with that menu inasmuch as I wanted to approximate a typically 'white wood' build as you'd see on a Fender or Sadowsky. I too had concerns after the saws had begun their work that just maybe it might get a bit harsh . . .
In practice it hasn't been the case. Susan suggested Signature electronics, so I have a filter on each pickup, and with that, of course it goes from organ pedal tone to clavinet-ish with no problem at all, just like most Alembics.
Of course, as pointed out above, you can tailor things further with your amp settings, string choice, how you play, etc.
My other five is a Series shaped Spoiler with the deluxe (three purpleheart stripes) lamination, with mahogany wings topped in quilt maple, running FatBoys. My brain tells me this should be a warmer, rounder tone than the Elan, and I may hear just a bit more mellow in it, but then with the FatBoys, it just rumbles like an exceptionally clean MusicMan. So I suppose I hear the 'larger aperture' of the FatBoys' magnetic spread more than I hear the wood.
The Elan runs P/J Activators, and even though the J is a stack, it can get quite pointed if required.
I have noticed this, though: The Elan with all that maple has the clearest, firmest low C's and D's of any other five I've ever owned or tried.
Of course this is all SO subjective, and as they say, your ears' results may vary.
I don't know what all you've owned/played in the past, but neckthrus (and Alembics in particular) tend to carry the fundamental and first several harmonics thru to the pickups better than any bolt-neck instrument. In lots of cases, that 'interruption' between body and neck can still make a good five- or six-string bass, but something about that two-piece system tends to rob the very bottom of the notes, and tends to make alder or maple Fenders just have that white-wood 'squawk' that is part of their signature tone. I'd dare say my Elan is utter proof of this neckthru Alembic difference.
J o e y
