Conklin GT-BD7 Bill Dickens Seven-string: Price Drop

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #1 09-19-2006, 10:58 AM

After paying for my new amp setup I'm going to be a bit short on cash with four birthdays and Christmas coming up, so this one's up for sale. Just had a local pro glue, stone, and dress the frets, so the playability is great. Has a nick in the headstock and on the bottom at the butt of the bass- excellent condition otherwise (I'll go over it with a fine-tooth comb later to make sure nothing was missed). These are great basses- this is actually my second one- but I may have gotten it at a bad time. It also has a homebuilt removable ramp on it that I made (attached with non-marring double stick tap), although it's not a great quality one.

Price is $850- buyer pays shipping and PayPal fees (or a USPS money order). It does not have a case, but I will pack it extremely securely.

jady · #2 09-19-2006, 04:11 PM

I would totally buy that if I had any cash whatsoever......

ElBajista · #3 09-19-2006, 07:34 PM

Can you explain the control layout?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #4 09-19-2006, 07:41 PM

Sure. The two closest to the strings are volume and pickup pan. The one below that is a four-way brightness control- it selects between four sets of frequencies. The other three are bass (which has a push-pull bass boost), mids, and treble, and the switch is a three-way mids selector. Lots of tonal range.

**Mark Wilson** · #5 09-19-2006, 08:00 PM

Bryan,

How would this compare to the GT-7?

-Mark

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #6 09-19-2006, 08:23 PM

I've only played one GT-7, but the differences I remember are these: the electronics are pretty different, and I definitely preferred the tone on the Dickens model much more (the pickups and pre on it are both the American Bartolinis, while the GT-7 had Mighty Mites and at one point I believe it had the offshore Barts- don't know which model I played). The neck is a little narrower at the nut on the Dickens model. I'm not a fan of the giant neck heel on the GT-7's bolt-on neck, but that's a strictly personal thing. I'm not sure I remember much in the way of other differences- the GT-7 had a wenge/purpleheart neck, but I don't recall if it had any balance issue compared to the Dickens, which (somehow) balances perfectly. They both are have a very easy reach to first position.

**Mark Wilson** · #7 09-19-2006, 08:37 PM

Then PM sent!!

**Mark Wilson** · #8 09-19-2006, 11:53 PM

Any pics of the neck joint and back of the bass?

-Mark

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 09-19-2006, 11:58 PM

Yup- it's got a nice deep carve to it:

**Mark Wilson** · #10 09-20-2006, 12:03 AM

PM Sent

-Mark

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #11 09-21-2006, 03:32 AM

Forgot to mention that the bass comes with chrome Dunlop straplocks, and that it is currently strung B-F, although I also have an additional low F# hanging around somewhere that I can throw in at no charge.

velvetkevorkian · #12 09-21-2006, 12:08 PM

Would you consider shipping abroad?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #13 09-21-2006, 12:12 PM

Problem with going aborad is that my local post office won't ship anything over 44" tall. Since I can't unbolt the neck, I'd have to ship it UPS or FedEx. I can do that, but it would be entirely at the buyer's expense, and it can cost $200-$300 or more to ship overseas through them.

jtlee · #14 09-26-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Problem with going aborad is that my local post office won't ship anything over 44" tall. Since I can't unbolt the neck, I'd have to ship it UPS or FedEx. I can do that, but it would be entirely at the buyer's expense, and it can cost $200-$300 or more to ship overseas through them.

Just to let you know, Airmail Parcel Post to the UK has a 60" length limit (108" length plus girth) so they your post office can't deny the package. It's only Global Express Mail that has the 42" length restriction to the UK. And most other countries have 60" limits on Express Mail (like Germany, Spain, etc). All the length restrictions are different per country. Here's a list: http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/Immctry.html

Shipping would only cost you around $100 via USPS Parcel Post (extra for insurance).

Just trying to help your deal...not interested myself and I'm in the US. But I've shipped dozens of guitars internationally and never had a problem. Good luck!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #15 09-26-2006, 12:58 PM

Thanks for the advice. I tried shipping a bass to Italy in its case and they wouldn't take it either Parcel or Global (and I won't ship Economy)- maybe the person at the office was confused.

jtlee · #16 09-26-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Thanks for the advice. I tried shipping a bass to Italy in its case and they wouldn't take it either Parcel or Global (and I won't ship Economy)- maybe the person at the office was confused.

Yeah, that guy was wrong. Have him check the book and always make sure he's checking the latest version of the book (the restrictions change every few months) and make sure he's looking at the proper method of shipment (since the length/girth restrictions are different for every method of shipment). If he gives you crap, tell him to check the USPS website, since it's the most up to date.

Global Express Mail is always preferable to Parcel Post and Global Express Mail Guaranteed is also a good choice since the allowable lengths are a little longer. It's about $50 more than standard Express Mail, but since it's handled by Fedex from start to finish (instead of being handed off to the locality's post office), it's faster and more reliable. AND it's cheaper than actually going through Fedex. USPS Airmail Parcel Post is a crap shoot as far as time is concerned (I've had it take anwhere from 3 days to 25 days to the same country), but I've never had a guitar lost/damaged.

Again good luck...an overseas sale would probably net you a little more $$$.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #17 10-05-2006, 12:00 PM

Okay, still for sale, so I'll take $850 for it. Buyer pays shipping and PayPal fees or uses a Postal money order.

Pruitt · #18 10-05-2006, 03:12 PM

Ugh... This is killing me. I really want a 7. And you even live in CT! Gotta think about this. lol...

Pruitt · #19 10-05-2006, 04:55 PM

A couple of quick, obligatory questions. Do you know what the string spacing is? It looks about the same as my main 6er, which is 16.5mm at the bridge. Also what's the scale and approximate weight?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #20 10-05-2006, 05:13 PM

Scale is 34", weight is about 11lbs on my bathroom scale, spacing is 16.5mm. I should mention I've got a potential buyer for $850 plus shipping at the moment, but nothing is set in stone yet.