Thanks @steubig and @emjazz for your thoughts on finishes. The amount and range of knowledge on this thread is incredible. The #1 4-string I mentioned before is roasted maple neck with a tru oil finish, but the body is plain old alder with a pretty thick piano black urethane finish. I had a modulus bolt on that was great and felt resonant (and acoustically LOUD) but heavy. I have an acoustic bass guitar -- an Emerald -- but I'd say the neck feels less resonant. It's a glue-on so that works with the glue theory.
Nitro is a no-go in Montreal. So many weather changes it'll crack in no time and I don't love that look. But I will talk with the finish guy on Tuesday (he also does wiring and setup and cuts the nut). And to @emjazz's point, I think I will take their advice about the relationship between tone and finish, as well as asking Jacques, who does the bodies. I still might go for a stain, though, unless that also affects tone. We'll see.
As to touch instruments vs basses, they do sound different, but in a mix, or as you add processing, the difference is minimal in many cases -- I'm thinking less the Stick than Warr guitars and Touch guitars models. I was honestly shocked. I think the different tunings and fingerings are more important tonally, as what's hard on a bass is easy on a touch style instrument and some easy things on bass are really difficult. The Chapman sticks are different in that they all have this very particular twang in the upper range, which I think results from the construction, materials, electronics, and what he wanted to go for tonally. The low end also is also distinctive, especially in the hands of someone like Tony Levin, I just happen to like that sound better.
It's also technique. I often alternate fingers and hands, which makes it more fluid sounding than the Chapman "free hands" technique to my ears, at the expense of being able to piano style melody and bass at the same time -- which is also a valid if that's what you want to do. For instance, I have a little bit in a song where I turn on a delay and do a riff, and originally I did it with a pick because I am strumming right before and after (I wear a thumb pick and cut the thumb off my glove so I can quickly switch). I started doing the little riffs touch style instead and with the amount of searing distortion and delay, I would be honestly surprised if anyone could hear the difference.
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