Changing my Alembic?

[powdered_toast_man]

Hy guys. This is my first post, even though I've been an Alembic user for years (more than 10). I have an Epic 98 5 strings that was my first professional bass and have a lot of affection for it.  
The thing is, I'm not using 5 strings anymore and with the passing of the years and buying other basses, this baby has been almost in the closet for a long time. I'm from Argentina and you don't get to see too many Alembics here, so I always thought if I would change ti (I could never sell it) it would be for the same bass on 4 strings. Recently I found a guy who is selling a 94 Epic 4 strings, just the same as mine, and I asked to change it, and he seemed interested.  
The thing is I really love this bass, been on the road with it, used for recordings, I can always rely on it and know he's gonna make the trick. Would you change an instrument you really love, even for an almost identical one, just to keep using it?
It's a simple question, but for some matter I find it very hard to answer.  
 
Anyway, just thought if anyone was going to understand this, it was going to be here.
 
Best regards!
 
PTM

[tbrannon]

I understand the sentiment of instruments, but in my opinion, they are ultimately tools that are meant to be used.  
 
If you've switched to 4's and the Epic 5 isn't getting played, why not get yourself a 4 string Epic?  If you were to make the trade, would the Epic 4 get played regularly or as your primary bass?  If so, then I say make the trade.  If the 4 string epic wouldn't be your primary bass, then perhaps keeping the 5 makes sense.  
 
Toby

[jzstephan]

Why don't the two of you have a trial separation? If the bass swap doesn't work out in let's. say a month, trade back. You won't really know until you've lived with the instrument for a period of time.

[David Houck]

Hi PTM; welcome to the board!
 
If you are finding the question hard to answer, and if you keep coming back to the fact that you really love this bass, then perhaps that's enough of an indication that now is not yet the time to part with the bass.  Sometimes it is good to trust what you feel in your gut; and it sounds like your gut is telling you to hold on to the bass, at least for now.

[powdered_toast_man]

Thanks a lot for your comments! they were all really helpful. I don't know if it would be my primary bass, I have another basses and just bough one I like, though they doesn't have the quality of the Alembic. But I don't want to keep taking this baby out to the streets so often, to me it's like a special case.  
Im gonna get with this dude and try this bass. Then gonna come back and think about it. And then finally, make a decision. I'll let you guys know.  
I'd love to have the opportunity to buy another Alembic, I dream about the Spyder or Exploiter cause it rocks.
 
Cheers!

[eligilam]

Powdered Toast Man---hah, I haven't heard that in a while.  Brings me back to the ole dorm room days.

[germansal]

NO MEJOR QUEDATELO,YO TAMBIEN SOY DE ARGENTINA Y TENGO HACE 21 A?OS UN SERIES 1,SE LO Q SE SIENTE POR ESTOS BICHOS,ABRAZO LOCO??AH POR CIERTO ME LLAMO GERMAN SALVATIERRA PERO NO ESTOY ALLI DESDE 1998

[powdered_toast_man]

Ya... Im a great Ren and Stimpy fan
German que bueno leerte! ahi te agregue al facebook. Tenes razon la verdad es que no puedo hacerlo/ just can't do it
 
Abrazo / Cheers! thank to you all!

[terryc]

Ren & Stimpy..hard to believe it was a kids cartoon...my favourites (as well as my 25 year old son's) are the ones where they throw the babies out and replace them and the dog show. It was very extreme and maybe not politically correct anymore but what a series!

[cozmik_cowboy]

Ren & Stempy was no more a kid's cartoon than Rocky & Bullwinkle - maybe less so!
R&S was aimed squarely at the 20-something with a bong in his hand.
 
Peter

[tncaveman]

WOW - That's why we loved that show!
 
We also liked Topper - remember him?
 
Stephen
 
PS Sorry for the hijack!  Just some old memories surfacing.