Are the 8-string Galveston basses crappy, or are they just gems waiting to be discovered? I recently bought one off of a guy in California, and it hasn't made it here yet, but I want to know if I bought well. I paid $550 and I got a hardshell case. So, tell me...did I make a good buy?
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Galveston unpaired 8-string basses
- Thread starter DNote13
- Start date
Looks relatively decent. I just hope the neck was made well.
26 frets is cool.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/not-too-expensive-8-strings-bass-guitar-216404/
That thread was 7 years ago, though.
26 frets is cool.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/not-too-expensive-8-strings-bass-guitar-216404/
That thread was 7 years ago, though.
I haven't heard much at all about Galveston basses in all the time I've been here (TB), but please post pics, and a review once you get it - bookmarked.
I know this is an old thread, however this revival might be helpful.
Firstly - I've seen youtubes of these basses being played very successfully - so I know several good ones exist that don't need major setup/fret work when you buy them. I think it's pretty random based on what I've read and my own singular experience.
The setup of the thing when I got mine was absolutely horrid. the frets so uneven that it was playing completely the wrong notes in several seemingly random places along the neck. However nothing that couldn't be fixed, and the neck itself was far straighter and lacking in high fret ski-jump annoyances compared to most other basses I've bought over the past few years.
Anyhow, I filed a ton of frets, messed with action (dual truss rods thankfully, although the neck is pretty darn rigid already, and messed with the bridge for a while.
Then I plugged it in and tried again.
It sounds REALLY good.... the 3 band eq is very helpful. the pickups, sound really good.
the string to string tone is really balanced and even, hifi and modern with some meat to it.
playability is, well, complex - I mean it's an 8 string after all - and it certainly isn't the easiest bass to play.
I think if you get a good one, these basses are quite cool. Mine was a diamond (or at least ruby) in the rough. Worth the time and effort.
Firstly - I've seen youtubes of these basses being played very successfully - so I know several good ones exist that don't need major setup/fret work when you buy them. I think it's pretty random based on what I've read and my own singular experience.
The setup of the thing when I got mine was absolutely horrid. the frets so uneven that it was playing completely the wrong notes in several seemingly random places along the neck. However nothing that couldn't be fixed, and the neck itself was far straighter and lacking in high fret ski-jump annoyances compared to most other basses I've bought over the past few years.
Anyhow, I filed a ton of frets, messed with action (dual truss rods thankfully, although the neck is pretty darn rigid already, and messed with the bridge for a while.
Then I plugged it in and tried again.
It sounds REALLY good.... the 3 band eq is very helpful. the pickups, sound really good.
the string to string tone is really balanced and even, hifi and modern with some meat to it.
playability is, well, complex - I mean it's an 8 string after all - and it certainly isn't the easiest bass to play.
I think if you get a good one, these basses are quite cool. Mine was a diamond (or at least ruby) in the rough. Worth the time and effort.
I've played the seven-string version of that bass - other than having one fewer string, everything was identical. I was not at all impressed. The setup and fretwork were horrible, the string spacing at the nut was crazily and randomly uneven, and the finish seemed very cheap - like the kind you see on $20 "toy" instruments.
It was something like $300 used at a local store. I goofed around on it for a few minutes and it was fun, being my first time really playing a seven. I still wasn't interested enough to plug it in, so I can't comment on the electronics.
Someone did eventually buy that thing. I got a GTBD-7.
It was something like $300 used at a local store. I goofed around on it for a few minutes and it was fun, being my first time really playing a seven. I still wasn't interested enough to plug it in, so I can't comment on the electronics.
Someone did eventually buy that thing. I got a GTBD-7.
Same went for me. The local bass shop had one (7) and I fooled around with it for a bit. Totally NOT impressive. Even worse was it was set up with Low F# which was TRULY awful! I thought it might make a cheap back up 7 but quickly gave up on that idea. I've got a GTBD-7 and it's everything. Eventually I picked up a used Bass Mods 7 for a slightly more money as a backup, but quality was nearly to GTBD level though tone was rather average.
Nope Galveston just not bringin' it.
