Well, mip, it's great you found us, and believe me . . . you'll get lots of opinions and even a few answers!
1) I play a long-scale, Series shaped instrument. I had to have it, as the shape IS Alembic to me. It does NOT balance like a conventional shape, BUT it is certainly NOT uncontrollably neck-heavy. I use a broad strap, play it about chest high, and park my right elbow/forearm along the top edge and it's fine. Doesn't require constant up-pressure to keep it in hand. Of course, the longer-horned shapes (Balance K, Rogue, etc.) balance better. Or if you get a medium scale Series shape, it's no concern at all.
2) The electronics are a funny thing inasmuch as they're so unbelievably clean yet smooth. The sigs are a handy setup for two pickups, would NOT sweat the bal vs. two volumes, Alembic does it right. The biggest adjustment is filters, and once you find your way in them, you'll quickly forget treb/bass cut/boost: Leave that stuff to your amp/preamp. The Anniversary or full-tilt Series packages build on this, a Spoiler setup distills it. It's amazing in that you can switch the filters/Qs out of the circuit and have passive tone AND active electronics.
3) A Mark King would do really well at what you're describing. But so would any of them from this standpoint: There are no cheaper or de-contented Alembics. They all are built to the same spec wood-wise and electronically: The price goes up as the woods/construction/electronics combinations become more and more expensive. I always recommend neck-thrus over the set necks. But having said that, you could hardly go wrong with an Excel or Orion.
4) Crown or QSC? Hard to go wrong with either, though I think a lot more of us use QSC. But K1s are a real E-ticket for bass, so it's up to you. Of course an F1X will pack a crossover if you would want to add a subwoofer later, and it's got tone for days. And don't overlook the SF2, unbelievably different and irreplaceable for what it can do.
I don't know what you're playing now, or played previously. But the change to Alembic is an experience. You are quite suddenly going to hear things in your technique, the sound of each note, be able to hear huge differences from one brand of string to another, your amp will sound different, EVERYTHING is going to change. It's a very cool, hifi sound. And the instruments are just different. Virtually no wood screws. Workmanship seldom found anywhere else. You quickly have a sense that these were REALLY built by someone who knew what bass was supposed to be. You turn it up, it just gets louder and louder and the tone doesn't change. The knobs feel like they're spinning in oil. The finish, the woodwork, the metal work (they make their own bridges, tailpieces, pickups/electronics, and the adjustable nut).
And they're built by the nicest people on earth who treat even used instruments as their own children.
What are you waiting for?
J o e y
