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Want a 7 string but lacking options

K

kingbiscuitpant

Aug 10, 2010
113
1
Florida
#1
After several months of loving the hell out of my SX Ursa 6 string I find myself GASing for a 7 badly.

While I have no illusions about finding a deal like the now legendary SX Ursa 6 ($150.00) but I want options and dealers other than $1800.00 Conklins.

While I expect to spend a grand or more I just want to explore all my options before dropping the cash; so to all my Talkbass brethren any advice would be much loved.

P.S. Heck, I'd even take one of those wacky Galveston 8 (not doubled courses) off someone's hands for the right price.

As always thanks and have a safe, happy & prosperous new year to you and yours!:bassist::bassist::hyper:
 
#2
Here are 3 from a quick ebay search...

http://cgi.ebay.com/7-String-Raven-...d-/270685474269?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f061c8ddd

[This invalid link has been removed]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Right-hand-Natu...r-/320631709145?pt=Guitar&hash=item4aa7239dd9

I think Antonio Sai also does a 7 string but caveat emptor.

Bargain and 7 string don't go in the same sentence if you ask me. You're looking at having a lot of problems or replacing parts that will get you up in the price range of a used Bill Dickens anyways.
 
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#4
I recommend picking up a used Conklin GTBD-7 or GT-7. Keep an eye on our classifieds and CL.

I've seen the CL price range of the GT-7 range between $550-$750. I've seen the GTBD-7 listed between $900-$1000.

I purchased a used GTBD-7 in October for $900 (including shipping). I love this bass. It also made me wish for an actual custom Conklin one day.
 
#6
HIGHLY recommend the GTBD-7. It's now my main bass (see avatar). I picked mine up new from bass central for less than $1600, had to buy a case for it, though.

Spend the dough, you will NOT regret it. That extra few hundred dollars made the difference between "meh" and "holy crap that's awesome!" for me, at least.

EDIT: As pointed out, these show up used quite a bit, right here on TB. Keep your eyes peeled. Don't take a risk on the Sai or Galveston. Lots of guys are thrilled with their Groove Tools 7 strings, Bill Dickens model or otherwise. I keep seeing mixed reviews on the Sai, and nothing good about the Galveston.
 
#7
I can say that the Conklin GT-7's are excellent basses and I enjoyed playing mine very much. I hear even better things about the Bill Dickens model. I had one really big problem with it though. It was way to heavy for my taste. It was so heavy in fact that i chose to sell it just because it was so hefty. Your options are fairly slim in the price range you're looking at. I hope you find a good deal either way! -Luke
 
#8
The way I see it, if I can get used to the weight of my Bill Dickens model, I should be able to hold anything on the market with no problems. I also own a Warwick Thumb BO 6 which is also quite heavy. After playing the GTBD-7 or Thumb for awhile, my Ibanez feels like I'm holding a pillow.
 
#9
Having owned both a GT-7 and a GTBD-7, I must also say that the bill Dickens is a much better instrument. The neck feels better and the access to the upper frets are much better with the neck-through design. The electronics are also a lot better on the Dickens. The string spacing is slightly narrower and the fingerboard a little more curved. The almost flat fingerboard on the gt7 was hard to get used to, but is a personal issue more than an objective one. I was lucky and picked up this bass on the bay for 750 used, it has damage from a drop, but nothing that destroys the instrument.

I've also owned a eight string Galveston, and while there is nothing wrong with it, its not a quality instrument like the groove tools. The string spacing is way too tight for players used to regular bass spacing. This is a seven string that has just had another string added. The low b was not the best, and adding another string below would probably not sound good. However... The upper strings didn't really sound good either. Very uneven string to string output. And the electronics were standard cheap oversea quality... Decent, but won't make you wet your pants. :-)

Maybe it could pass as a seven string, in the sx class. But as an eight string... Highly not recommended from my point of view.

I also bought a tsai, although an unfinished one without hardware. That they sold it at all gives me reason to doubt their ethics. Everything was wrong with it, from the basic wood work to the fretwork... Even the choice of wood was terrible. I'm expecting the finished ones to be if higher quality, but to sell an apparent factory trash without blinking I'd say you'd ve lucky if you get a quality instrument. I've heard and read about people who get them to play well, but it takes work unless you're lucky.

The gt7s, on the other hand, are examples of why we love those oversea imports so much. Solid build quality and good electronics at a great price. Built at the same factory that makes Cort, I believe... And I also think they are building the Lakland skyline series, but could be wrong on that. But both mine has been awesome, although the Dickens is the big brotha! :-)

Good luck!
 
#11
Cause when you have decided you want one you want one. Lol I remember seeing a seven string Conklin back in the very early 90s or maybe even before... I just had to own one at some time.

To me, personally, six strings are the most I seem to be able to handle without getting messed up. So the seven is more of a fun instrument for me. I've reached my limit of comfort, so to speak. But this is a personal thing, if you want a seven and can afford it, go for it.

And about those five low notes... Wouldn't miss them for the world. Nothing sounds cooler than being able to shake the world a little with a low B. I was in love with that low B since I heard Nathan East and Jimmy Johnson use them the first time. :-)
 

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