Putting up my Conklin GT-7 for sale -- asking $750 OBO plus actual shipping (SKB hard-case included).
I'm the original owner -- bought it at GC Hollywood in the late 90s, when I actually had a chance to use its full "extended range" potential with a trio that I was playing with. Played 1-2x per month for a couple of years, but has been sitting in my closet since ~2002.
The wood combo is great -- the wenge neck (purpleheart stringer and fretboard) really give the sound a modern edge.
Playability -- the neck is wide, but thin -- actually very comfy to play, even if your hands aren't as big as Shaq's.
100% stock -- everything except the strings is original equipment.
If you're so inclined, the action can go very low on this bass. I set up my basses with a "medium low" action -- so I have a bit more room to dig in when needed without fret noise.
Condition -- 9.5 / 10 -- a couple of very minor scratches on the finish, but barely noticeable. Even has the original plastic on the control cavity.
Lower back warning -- this is a heavy bass -- it did not bother me that much when I was younger, but those days (regretfully) are now gone. Approx 12 lbs on the low-tech bathroom scale.
Here's are the specs from the original product literature:
For all you bass virtuosos out there who’ve dreamed of owning a custom-made Bill Conklin 7-string bass but just couldn’t swallow the price tag, here’s your chance to get all those custom features that made Conklin famous at less than one-third the price!
Specs:
34” SCALE
24 MEDIUM JUMBO FRETS
16” FINGERBOARD RADIUS
BARTOLINI MKI PICKUPS
7PC WENGE/PURPLEHEART NECK
PURPLEHEART FINGERBOARD
SWAMP ASH BODY
FIGURED MAPLE TOP
DUAL TRUSS RODS
The GT-7 features a swamp ash body with a natural figured maple top. The 7 piece wenge and purpleheart neck bolts to the body with one of the most innovative and comfortable heel contours you’ll ever play, giving you full access to all 24 frets. The neck joint on this bass is super tight, which allows the neck and body to really resonate together. The harmonics literally just JUMP out of this bass, and with seven strings, you’ll be plucking harmonic chords even Jaco could never have dreamed up!
For all you bass virtuosos out there who’ve dreamed of owning a custom-made Bill Conklin 7-string bass but just couldn’t swallow the price tag, here’s your chance to get all those custom features that made Conklin famous at less than one-third the price!
