Welcome aboard Paul,
As you will find out, we are a bunch of obsessed alembic bass freaks here. Is this your first 5 string? If yes it might take your hands and eyes some time to get used to. I frequently would fret the 4th string, but pluck the fifth, and get that fub sound - not so good on a gig! However, once you get the hang of it, you may opt to ditch the 4. You'll never have to detune the E string again. Playing in a cover band that gets tired real fast. The plus side of extended range basses is the similar tuning in 4ths, so your fingering is a natural. Wanna go down a 5th? it's right there. Key of E flat? No problem!You may need to rethink your bass cab though. A low B is meaty and needs to push some wind. A 15 is good for that, or better yet an 18. I have an SWR BigBen 18 Sub which has a real quick response and serious low end. Of course, that's what us bassists like best, right? Alembics do the low end right! In fact, your ears will thank you for moving up to one, I'm sure. Now, on the wife thing: God bless you! I mostly think of an Alembic purchase as a long term investment: 1. Prepare the wife. 2. Take out the equity line. 3. Take the wife to her favorite / dinner / Weekend getaway / Vacation. 4. Buy her her favorite / car / house / cosmetic surgery / or combination! 5. Order the guitar with a downpayment from YOUR own Credit card. 6. Make installment payments from YOUR gig money. 7. leave the Alembic catalog near her LL Bean catalog, open to the page where your dream guitar is pictured. 8. At night chant Honey, I want to buy you an Alembic for (insert holiday, b-day etc) because you deserve it when you know she is sleeping. Or you can record this on a cassette loop and put the ear buds on her pillow. Just make sure you pick them up before she gets up in the morning! 9. When she let's you know that it is HER idea to get you that fabulous Alembic bass, you got her! Then and only then you can order the ebony laminates, laser LED's and inlaid LOGO! See? A long term investment! Post some pics!