Considering a Trade

[rockbassist]

I have a 1997 Epic 5 String that I have had for several years and absolutely love. The problem is that I rarely if ever use the low B. (I also have a 5 string Fender Jazz) I am considering trading it for a 4 string and obviously want to stay with Alembic. However, I recently received a tempting offer. A Fender Precision with 1983 body and a 2007 neck, a Musicman Bongo Bass (which lists for $2,000 and sells for around $1,400) and $550 cash. I'm wondering if I should make the trade and then sell the Musicman. Since the Fender is not original, I could always modify it with a P/J setup and use the cash from the Musicman sale to buy a 4 string or another 5 string Epic or Excel. What would you do? Does anyone here have a 4 string Epic or Excel that they would trade for a 5 string? Or should I just keep the Epic 5 string?
 
 
Thank you

[white_cloud]

Try your hardest to get a trade here at the club on another Alembic!
 
Neither trade offered to you appeals to me at all to be honest. I really dont like the fender neck/body combo and I hate Musicman Bongo's...just my opinion!
 
Get a four string Epic!
 
John.

[white_cloud]

Get a trade here at the club for another Alembic!
 
I really dont like the sound of the Fender neck/body combo - 83/07 sounds like a strange mix - and am not a fan of Musicman Bongo's either...sounds like someone is hoping to get the better of you out of the trade really. Just my opinion but get a four string Epic!
 
Oh, the evil of the double post...aaaaaagh
 
John.
 
(Message edited by white cloud on September 04, 2008)

[jacko]

John Myung was using a 6 string Bongo on last years Dream Theater tour and to my ears it was the most lacklustre bass I'd ever heard.
 
Graeme

[2400wattman]

Bongo's seem to be going for around $1200.00 on EBay and it's always a pain to try and sell something. why do you think your friend is willing to give you two basses and some cash?  
Hold out for the right trade and while doing so you'll still have your Epic.  
There is a 4 string Epic at Bass North West www.bassnw.com

[funkyjazzjunky]

I read many posts from members sorry that they sold their Alembic or traded for something that they did not truly want.

[longhorncat]

Bongo's can go for as low as $600 on eBay.
I just sold a mint black one for $800.
An all original '83 P is worth $1000, but half that for one with a replacement neck.
Add the $500 cash and that gives you a trade value of $1800 for your Epic 5.
That's better than you could do on eBay right now (unless you have some really fancy top wood).
Four string Epics can be had now for under $1000.
If you are willing to put in the time to sell the Bongo, you'll come out much better than a straight trade for a 4-string Epic.

[basstard]

Actually, there is a lot of common sense in what Bill (longhorncat) has said. You might want to go for the trade, sell the hideous Bongo, keep the P-Bass as a backup and you'll still have the cash to get an Epic 4. If you're lucky you could even find a Spoiler in that price range (provided you like the 32 scale and tighter string spacing).

[rockbassist]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I was thinking that I could use the PBass as a back up and sell the Bongo bass and use the money to get another Alembic. I might hold on to the 5 string for a while. I'm not sure that I want to go through the hassle of selling the Bongo.

[basstard]

Selling the Bongo shouldn't be much of a problem - they seem to be quite popular nowadays (beats me why though - not only do they look like hi-tech toilet seats, they also sound like a bathroom appliance... I can't understand how in the world such abomination could be created by a company that was made famous by very good StingRay basses). You should be able to find a buyer quite quickly if the price is acceptable.

[2400wattman]

From what I understand the Bongo design was in partnership with..........BMW! They should stick to cars, hell they'd have better luck designing a truck!

[basstard]

Adam - but look at the (soon to be replaced) current 7-series... Are you really that surprised?