Conklin basses......any good?

All the ones i've played were pretty solid basses. Give it the twice over and if you like the feel and sound, go for it.

 

I have a GT-7 shortly and it was a really nice bass for the price, although it could have used better fretwork (it had a couple of high frets, that was all.)

Some people seem to think that the stock preamp (made by Mighty Mite) is the weak part, but it sounded decent/functional to me.

The best part about Conklins is the long upper horn, which makes a super comfortable and easy-playing bass.

 

I had a GT5 and loved it. A very solid bass with a wide range of tonal possibilities. It is a great bass for the price. I don't think you will find a more comporable bass at that price. Add the fact that they are made with Wenge & Purplheart make them even more of a value.

Mine had the MM electronics & pups. The sound was an unbelievably good.

Bill Conklin told me the new ones made in the last 3 years have Bartoini's electronics/pups with an added slap switch. The thing is their contract with the manufacturer ran out, and wasn't renewed so they are not being produced right now. There is still stock availiable, but when that runs out it's gone.

+1 on the upper horn. I loved it.

 

I have a GT-4, and it is really nice. The feel and playability are really good, but it did have some sprouting frets, which was an easy fix. The MightyMite pickups and electronics are okay, but I am putting EMG pickups in it, which should really make it sound huge.

 

I have a GT7, it sounds and plays GREAT, I'm only considering selling it cause its too many strings for me, I wanted to give it a try, and took it to a few rehearsals and a gig, and I couldn't play it for too long, I have SUPER short fingers.

 

Yeah, I like the basses. Very nice and Bill Conklin is a really helpful guy. The man replies to his own emails, which is pretty great in my book.

I'd say have a look see whats on ebay. If you were to venture to 7 strings I would highly recommend the GTBD-7 bill dickens model. (ebay.co.uk)

Coupla guys I know have had 5 strings and the build is pretty good. I would echo the comments about the mighty mite pickups etc.

 

While we're on the topic Conklins, how are the necks on them, especially the GT-7 or the BD-7? I don't mean the width of the fretboard, but the thickness of the neck. Do they play fast?

 

I asked Bill about the dimensions of the GT-7 and he told me that it's 2 1/2" at the nut and 4" at the end, and the rest they build buy hand. So I guess they're a shot in the dark. The one i've played is, seriously, the best bass i've ever played.

Mark Wilson

 

Groove Tools basses are nice for the money.

 

The action on mine is INSANELY low, literalyl almost at the fretboard, no buzz or whatever (well unless I dig in hard.)
It plays REALLY well, but I have short fingers and its hard for me to manuever around it.

 

My GT4 is a nice player. Only a couple issues with it. The action is stupid low closer to the nut, but toward the body the action gets much higher. Seems to me the neck needs to be pitched back, but I"m not sure how to do that, or if it's even advisable (and I don't mean relief, the neck is pretty straight). Plays great for fingerstyle, I play fairly hard, so it buzzes a bit, but not nearly enough to make it real bothersome for the one band in which I play it. Although because of the strange discrepency in action down the fretboard, tapping is impossible. Even when I had the action even lower, it seemed that notes choked off.

Overall though, it's so much better than my old Carvin.

 

My Rocco Prestia sig is a superb instrument in every way. I'd expect the other GT's to be nice as well.

 

Sorry if I was unclear, but I actually mean the thickness of.. the neck.. from the fretboard to.. the part of the neck that's closest to you. I have no idea what you would call it. Basically, I mean the thickness of the neck like this

Oh, and how does the GT-7 differ from the Bill Dickens sig? It only seems to be a few hundred more, so why not get a sig while you're at it?

 

On my GT4 the neck was very thin and somehow flat. Indeed a very fast neck.
I changed the preamp for a 3-band Seymour. The improvement was stunning!!!
I miss that bass. GT basses are incredibly good basses for the money.

 

I have a converted GT-7, the neck is very thin and comfortable.

 

if theyre good enoughf or rocco you should have no problem.

 

The GTBD-7 is insanely thin. all the way up to the dusty end!

I don't want to get into trouble with the moderators, So I won't advertise the details, but mine is for sale (UK) . I am PM 'able


The electronics are really flexible too. I would say that you don't even need on EQ on your amp, there is so much control available on board the bass it self. very handy if you DI all the time.