Flip, as an Alembic brother in cyberspace, let me just say:
Your bass is with the best hands in the business, and believe me, the wait is hard because you know just what you are getting... An honest Hand Made Alembic original.
The best support we could ever give our Alembic professionals, are patiences, and maintaining a solid kindred spirits of forbearance.
Try reading other past FTC threads, and as you read them, you will find others expressing, and having the same exact concerns.
However, as you continue to read through their thread, (up to the point the product is finished) those same people, also became extremely pleased of the results, and very happy. Some were so happy, it brought tears of joy of memories of great joy from childhood.
Remember, I to have a FTC thread, and I know what it means, I am not going to lie to you, it hurts sooo good to wait for a kick ass guitar that says ALEMBIC on it!
I am going to enjoy your thread Flip!