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Conklin, Wolf, or...? The search for a seven!

#24
There is an absolutely awesome Alfonso Iturra 7 string on reverb right now. I really don't have any desire to play a 7, but this one is so nice that I have been on the edge of buying it for days now. You would be doing my bank account a favor if you snapped it up.
 
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#26
FilCo said:
There is an absolutely awesome Alfonso Iturra 7 string on reverb right now. I really don't have any desire to play a 7, but this one is so nice that I have been on the edge of buying it for days now. You would be doing my bank account a favor if you snapped it up.
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HA!!! That’s about double my budget, but it’s darn sure a heckuva nice bass!
 
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#30
dBChad said:
Ibanez and Brice have some more affordable options.

I'm intrigued by 7 string basses also, just have to play several and see how the necks feel. Even in 6 string, Ibanez was the only ones that felt comfortable, with Peavy being tolerable in an "I could eventually get used to it" way.
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You know, I thought I was pretty sold on a Conklin Bill Dickens model, until I realized that Ibby makes the BTB747. I’ve played/owned numerous Ibanez basses and guitars, and it always seems to be the brand to which I come full circle. GC has two of em for $799 a pop, so papa might have a Christmas bass.

I looked long and hard at the Brice basses, but the guitar-style pickups didn’t do it for me.
 
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#31
Uncle Hanky said:
You know, I thought I was pretty sold on a Conklin Bill Dickens model, until I realized that Ibby makes the BTB747. I’ve played/owned numerous Ibanez basses and guitars, and it always seems to be the brand to which I come full circle. GC has two of em for $799 a pop, so papa might have a Christmas bass.
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I'd suggest at least looking into the Bass Workshop models. It's a better design IMO - it has the grooveline electronics instead of BH2s, a natural-finished back, and the older upper horn (that one is totally subjective). They were $1200ish new, but used ones are comparable in price to the 747s you're looking at. The 747 does have stainless frets, but that's its only advantage over the old ones IMO.
 
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#32
IronSpatula said:
I'd suggest at least looking into the Bass Workshop models. It's a better design IMO - it has the grooveline electronics instead of BH2s, a natural-finished back, and the older upper horn (that one is totally subjective). They were $1200ish new, but used ones are comparable in price to the 747s you're looking at. The 747 does have stainless frets, but that's its only advantage over the old ones IMO.
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Hey, thanks for the info! I’ll check those out!

I have to say that I *am* a big fan of Bartolini pickups, though.
 
#33
Uncle Hanky said:
Hey, thanks for the info! I’ll check those out!

I have to say that I *am* a big fan of Bartolini pickups, though.
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Though they seem to be an improvement over the MK1s used previously, I believe the BH2s are also licensed designs, not legit Barts made by Bartolini. But of course, all that matters is that you like the sound.

There are some really good demos of the Bass Workshop BTB7s and Grooveline basses with the same electronics on YouTube, as well as videos of newer BH2-equipped basses. I'd check out some clips to help decide which sound you prefer.
 
#34
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#35
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#37
Uncle Hanky said:
You know, I thought I was pretty sold on a Conklin Bill Dickens model, until I realized that Ibby makes the BTB747. I’ve played/owned numerous Ibanez basses and guitars, and it always seems to be the brand to which I come full circle. GC has two of em for $799 a pop, so papa might have a Christmas bass.
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I own the previous BTB 7 string, the one from the Bass Workshop series, the BTB7-NTF. It's a solid instrument and good sounding. Kinda heavy at 5.99 kg but I've tamed it a little bit by swapping the tuners with Gotoh Res-O-Lite GB350 to 5.85 kg. It may seem only a small amount, and this bass never had neck dive issue with the strap on to begin with, but with GB350s, it becomes more balanced between the neck and body when playing it while sitting even without putting the strap on.

My only complaint is that it doesn't really have forearm contour. It's more a beveled body than forearm contour which felt kinda sharp edges when crossing forearm there, especially when playing it while sitting. The newer BTB747 seems to have a larger bevel at the edges where the forearm would cross. I haven't tried it my self but it looks like that it's more forearm friendly.
 
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#38
Aidil said:
I own the previous BTB 7 string, the one from the Bass Workshop series, the BTB7-NTF. It's a solid instrument and good sounding. Kinda heavy at 5.99 kg but I've tamed it a little bit by swapping the tuners with Gotoh Res-O-Lite GB350 to 5.85 kg. It may seem only a small amount, and this bass never had neck dive issue with the strap on to begin with, but with GB350s, it becomes more balanced between the neck and body when playing it while sitting even without putting the strap on.

My only complaint is that it doesn't really have forearm contour. It's more a beveled body than forearm contour which felt kinda sharp edges when crossing forearm there, especially when playing it while sitting. The newer BTB747 seems to have a larger bevel at the edges where the forearm would cross. I haven't tried it my self but it looks like that it's more forearm friendly.
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Yes, I’ve managed to play a couple each of the newer five and six string basses, and they were extremely comfy to play both sitting and standing. I’m pretty sold!
 
#39
Uncle Hanky said:
*Allow me to preface this by saying I don’t give one blistered bleeding crap if you don’t like extended range instruments. “Jaco only needed four” wasn’t funny the first 16289092872626737389928175152684042718627949373 times. I know. I’m going to get flambeed for even saying this. But GAWD!!!!!*

::breathes:: I’m on the hunt for a seven string bass. I know that Conklin is pretty highly regarded. Wolf seems a bit hit or miss, perhaps? Are there any makers I’m missing that don’t want your firstborn and your favorite dog as payment? I’d like to buy used. I’d say my budget would be around a thousand dollars US, but a penny saved is a penny earned. I’d rather not deal with international shipping if it’s avoidable. Thanks in advance!!!
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Ibanez also makes them. This one is $999 new.
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My only experience with 7 strings was this Conklin GT7 I picked up used at a guitar center while out of town.
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I really liked the neck on this bass. The wenge and purple heart and its smaller frets. Was particularly fun and easy to play two hand tapping parts on. Tone wise it was kind of middle of the road. Not terrible but not as good as my Dingwall, warwicks, or even my musicmans in my opinion. The biggest downside to me was it’s weight. Basically if you mainly sit down to play it’s a decent bass to have, but it’s so heavy that you probably won’t want to stand up with it for long cover gigs or even a 45 minute originals set if your band likes to put on a energetic show.
 
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#40
I really like the Conklin GTBD7s. I'm not a fan of fat necks, so too me, the neck is way better than the GT7 or the BTB7. It's super comfortable to play on and the electronics on them blow the regular GT7s away. Lots of tone options. Played on the Ibanez for a bit and didn't find it comfortable. The body contouring just felt blocky and edgy and the neck was too fat. My GTBD7s weigh 12lbs.
 

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