midrange bass

the cost of european white basses is getting up to where we are giving serious consideration to going into production on a mid range bass, somewhere in the $10k price range. I haven't started design on this bass yet, and thought it might be a good idea to take the pulse of the Bass World to see what would be the general parameters you would like to see in this range of bass were you planning on making and selling, or for that matter buying one.

I expect we will be using american wood probably less flamed, probably sitka tops. they will be made 100% in our shop in kc, just like our top line basses are now, but in a more production oriented manner.

I suppose the general questions are scale lengths, sizes, gamba or violin corner, are there acceptable trade offs which will strengthen the bass, for example laminated ribs, or neck reinforcement, or should we go completely traditional?

This may just be a big can of worms, but if you want to go fishing, what better to start with?